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Churches worldwide to advocate for just peace in Palestine and Israel, 3-9 June 2007

To highlight the urgency of peace in Palestine and Israel after 40 years of occupation, the World Council of Churches (WCC), member churches and related organizations are organizing a week of prayers, seminars and advocacy to mark this June's anniversary of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The goal of the week is to raise awareness in churches and civil society and to impress upon governments the need for new efforts to end the conflict and negotiate a just settlement.

Message of the presidents of the WCC at Pentecost 2007

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from Heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they where sitting. Divided tongues, as a fire, appeared among them. And a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability" (Acts 2:1-4 NRSV).

WCC general secretary to visit Latvia and Estonia

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia is to pay an official visit to Latvia (29-31 May) and to Estonia (31 May - 2 June). The main topics of the agenda will be the role of churches and the ecumenical challenges in secularized, post-communist societies which have recently regained independence. Press conferences are scheduled in both countries (see below). Â

Bishop Pierre Duprey

Writing to Walter Cardinal Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPU) on 14 May, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia expresses "deep sadness" at the passing away of Bishop Pierre Duprey. Kasper succeeded Duprey as PCPU secretary when the latter retired in 1999 at the age of 75.

WCC general secretary visits Eritrea

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia is visiting Eritrea 16-19 May 2007. Kobia will meet church and other religious leaders as well as top government officials.

International ecumenical conference to explore Christian thought and contributions to peace, reconciliation and forgiveness

Christian scholars from Europe and US will discuss peace, justice and security and how they relate to religion, spirituality and healing at an international ecumenical conference on "Forgiveness, peace and reconciliation" to be held 17-20 May 2007 in Volos, Greece. The current situations in Cyprus, Serbia, Russia, Ireland and the Middle East will be amongst case studies considered in a conference section on "Orthodoxy in situations of conflict".

Ecumenical gathering in Stuttgart reflects a "new Europe", says Kobia

"Together for Europe 2007", an ecumenical gathering to be held 10-12 May in Stuttgart, Germany, has been hailed with "great joy" by Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). In a message to participants, Kobia expressed his hope that their experience will enable Christians "to continue growing together in a spirituality of unity and love".

Theologians reflect on Inclusivity from the point of view of the excluded

Representing the experiences, perspectives and visions of different excluded groups, a select group of 25 theologians from many parts of the world gathered in La Paz, Bolivia during May 2007, perhaps for the first time, to articulate their visions of the world and the church. Their attempt was to identify the possible thematic directions for the new programme