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Dr Agnes Abuom reflects on “compassionate love, inclusivity and dignity”—for all

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) focuses on final preparations for the upcoming WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, WCC moderator Dr Agnes Abuom offered some personal reflections on her leadership role within the WCC, the importance of ecumenical work, the loss of ecumenical luminary Metropolitan Gennadios of Sasima, and the most vital part of her own Christian faith.

25 August 2022

WCC adopts Code of Conduct, offers pastoral care team for all at 11th assembly

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has approved a Code of Conduct for participants at the WCC 11th Assembly. Participation in the assembly presupposes agreement and adherence to the code, which will be applicable at all times and in all places during the assembly, including the assembly venue, the city of Karlsruhe and any excursion. The Code of Conduct outlines behavioral expectations related to sexual harassment, intimidation, corruption, fraud, and many other areas.

22 August 2022

As tapestry panels travel from South Korea to the WCC 11th Assembly, women feel they are not alone

As colorful panels traveled from South Korea to be included in the Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, women in South Korea shared a sense of global support.

18 August 2022

Rev. Dr Lydia Mwaniki reflects on deep roots of gender justice—and hope for the future

Rev. Dr Lydia Mwaniki believes her call from God to serve actually began when she was in her mother’s womb. “When my mother was four months pregnant and was splitting firewood, she said to God, ‘if you send me a baby boy, he will serve in your house."

11 August 2022

Communities and individuals of all faiths and none are invited to make a powerful, international statement of their commitment to end rape and violence through contributing to a large tapestry exhibit being developed by the World Council of Churches for its Assembly, 31 August-8 September 2022. The tapestry is designed as a waterfall with messages and images from around the world. In addition to the WCC Assembly, it is intended to be displayed at other prominent locations

Thursdays in Black ambassadors: “we cannot be silent” about gender-based violence in faith communities

In a joint message on gender-based violence, sexual abuse, and faith communities, 26 World Council of Churches (WCC) Thursdays in Black ambassadors lament that the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence continues unabated—and call on faith communities to prevent such violence in their own spaces.

11 August 2022

Tapestry artist Janine Marja Schneider sews regret, hope, and love into “Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance”

As Brazilian artist Janine Marja Schneider pieces together the “Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance” tapestry, she brings mixed emotions to her endeavors. On one hand, she’s inspired to bring the stories of women from around the world to life on the colorful blocks that cascade downward like liquid. On the other hand, with every stitch, she more deeply absorbs what brings these women together: it’s what they’ve survived.

04 August 2022

A pice of the TiB exhibition for the WCC 11th Assembly

Carrying women‘s stories of survival and hope, Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance makes its way to WCC 11th Assembly

There are 181 blocks—and every single one tells a story. Arranged in colorful strips that flow like liquid, they will gently move when people pass by them at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe.

03 August 2022

Prof. Dr Sarojini Nadar: “I believe knowledge is power, and critical for justice work”

Prof. Dr Sarojini Nadar is director of the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, University of Western Cape, South Africa. Below, she reflects on outcomes from the inaugural “Ecumenical Women’s Initiative for Leadership and Learning” held in May.

28 July 2022

Education, ambition, independence: Mathilda Johnson shares hope for her sisters in Africa

Mathilda Johnson is world vice president of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women. She also serves as lay president for the Methodist Church in The Gambia. Below, she reflects on her childhood, her top women’s issues, and her hope for her sisters in Africa.

20 July 2022

Water and justice at the WCC 11th Assembly

“The global water crisis is not simply about dealing with scarcity, it’s about fighting inequality and discrimination, about addressing blatant mismanagement and often also corruption.” For Bishop Arnold Temple, chair of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network, this is why it is so important for churches to keep raising awareness and speaking up about water being a matter of justice and rights. "It's great to see that the importance of water and the churches' commitment to water justice are going to be reflected in the programme of the upcoming WCC 11th Assembly", Temple notes.

20 July 2022

Rev. Prof. Dr Heike Springhart: “We as churches are strong when we keep the horizon open”

Rev. Prof. Dr Heike Springhart is bishop of Landeskirche in Baden. Below, she offers reflections on her hopes for the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly and, more broadly, how ecumenical relationships can help us all sustain a sense of hope during these challenging times.

07 July 2022

Student Christian movements urge support for Thursdays in Black

"There is a dire need to continually engage church leaders and society at large on how domestic violence can be reduced and brought under control. Thursdays in Black should continue to address and remind us of these problems, especially in the developing countries where gender-based violence prevails more,” said Ebere Ubesie, national president, Student Christian Movement of Nigeria.

07 July 2022

GEM School grounds economic justice biblically

The first face-to-face GEM School held since 2019 has opened in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on ecological and feminist economics.

06 July 2022

World Student Christian Federation shares message of “speaking truth to power”

The World Student Christian Federation, after holding its General Assembly 23-30 June, shared a message of its shared vision and values that celebrate the central place of Christian faith in young people’s journey together toward justice and peace.

05 July 2022

WCC celebrates life and legacy of Archbishop Willem T.P. Simarmata

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is celebrating the life and legacy of Archbishop (Ephorus) Willem T.P. Simarmata, who was the moderator of the Christian Conference of Asia. He passed away on 17 June at a hospital in Medan, North Sumatra, in Indonesia. He was 68 years old.

29 June 2022

On Juneteenth, WCC calls for serving those most affected by sins of racism, capitalism and militarism

On the anniversary of Juneteenth, remembering the enslavement of African peoples in the United States and their emancipation announced in 1865, leaders from the World Council of Churches (WCC) urged an end to hate speech and to the sin of racism.

19 June 2022

Women’s meeting brings heartfelt reflections, resolve for the future

Almost 70 women—members of World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee and staff—met together on 16 June for an hour of sharing, networking, and marking “Thursdays in Black,” the growing global campaign for a world free from rape and violence.

17 June 2022