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Voices from a solidarity visit to Zimbabwe

A delegation of church leaders from three continents led by the general secretary of the World Council of Churches was invited on a solidarity visit to Zimbabwe 17-20 May. The purpose of the visit was to show support for the churches in Zimbabwe in their peaceful efforts for the well-being of the people of Zimbabwe, and their work for a national dialogue with the government, political parties and other organizations.

Clear priorities set for Zimbabwe

Last week the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and its 26 member churches took another step forward towards a united fellowship by agreeing on a clear set of priorities. Five areas of special importance for the process of nation building have been identified and were discussed with church leaders during a solidarity visit led by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit last week.

In Zimbabwe, connections could strengthen peace

Friday morning a delegation of church leaders led by World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit was received on a courtesy visit in Harare by Zimbabwe vice president Hon. Emmersom Mnangagwa and government officials.

Lutherans from around the world gather in Namibia

Almost 800 participants, including 324 delegates, are gathering in Windhoek from 10-16 May for the Twelfth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the highest LWF decision-making body that meets every six years. World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit will address the plenary on 12 May.

2nd consultation for the Ecumenical Global Health Strategy

24 May 2017

The WCC held the 1st consultative meeting on ecumenical global health strategy in Maseru, Lesotho on 27 February 2017. A second consultation takes place in Geneva on 24 May, to reinforce the unique contribution of the ecumenical movement to global health issues, and to strengthen the coherence of the ecumenical global health strategy being developed.

Ecumenical Centre, Geneva

Youth engagement fundamental to HIV response

In the West African countries of Togo and Benin, adolescents and young people are confronted by various obstacles in accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Organized by the World Council of Churches Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy West Africa regional office in Lomé, Togo, a workshop for 25 adolescents and young people from Benin and Togo helped participants make safe, responsible choices that prevent HIV infection.

An interview with the Ethiopian Patriarch, Abune Matthias

The visit 9-10 February 2017 to the World Council of Churches by the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, H.H. Abune Matthias, occasioned reflection on the distinctive history and traditions of that ancient church, as well as its role in Ethiopian society and in the larger ecumenical landscape. Coming to his work from a lifetime of service in the church and its monasteries and schools during an especially turbulent time, Abune Matthias was elected in 2013. The church numbers about 50 million members, including several million outside Ethiopia itself, where it accounts for about half the population. What follows is a brief interview with the Patriarch.

Patriarch Matthias: “Peace is the message of every day”

Patriarch Abune Matthias of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church offered a special greeting at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 10 February, commending the success of global ecumenical work while acknowledging the grave crises tearing the world apart.

Gathering in Kenya explores eliminating HIV stigma through love and dialogue

More than 120 religious and spiritual leaders, health workers and young people met on 7-8 February to focus on strengthening the fight against stigma in the HIV response in Kenya. They were joined by representatives from the Kenyan government, civil society organizations, networks of people living with HIV, and development partners for an event in Nairobi. The meeting, “Faith on the Fast Track: Eliminating Stigma and Discrimination Through Love and Dialogue” aimed to assess the impact of the Framework for Dialogue methodology which has been implemented in several countries since 2013.

Food and land justice focus of Mozambique workshop

A workshop in Mozambique examined the connections between finance on the one hand and food and land on the other. Titled “From the Financialization of Food to Life-giving Agriculture,” the workshop took place in Maputo from 7-11 December. It was organized by the WCC together with Bread for All and was hosted by the Christian Council of Mozambique.

East African communities discuss disability, theology

Twenty church leaders from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania met in Arusha, Tanzania from 7-11 November to discuss deepening inclusion, participation and active involvement of persons with disabilities in the spiritual, social, economic and structural life of the church and society. The forum was organized by the WCC Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network and hosted by the Council of Churches in Tanzania.

Faith communities explore concrete climate action at COP22

Joining efforts to explore how to move from dependency on fossil fuel to a sustainable future, faith representatives gathered at the Indonesian Pavilion at COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco on 8 November, for an event hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Bible study gives hope as youth reflect on HIV

“In our community, HIV is not spoken about openly. And the challenge is, it’s like people are both informed and not informed. They know what HIV is, that it’s an illness that can be treated, but still they don’t want to really talk about it, like they don’t really want to know about it…”

Kenya: Voice of faith communities crucial in overcoming HIV

“Is there a way we can address stigma and discrimination among faith communities, to set an example, so that those who are there to provide services, to give care, do not themselves stigmatize? Because when it comes to HIV and AIDS, it doesn’t matter if we are Christians or Muslims, women or men. With HIV and AIDS, we need to deal with it as human beings.”

Reinstatement of South Africa’s Dutch Reformed Church likened to "return of the prodigal son"

When the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa re-joined the WCC in June after 55 years, other churches in the country rejoiced at “the return of the prodigal son”. The church, started in the 17th century by European settlers in southern Africa, was once referred to as “the National Party at prayer” so closely tied was its doctrine to the racist ideology of apartheid, and its influence reaching into the cabinet.