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WCC webinar explores decolonizing beauty

With a close look at the “skin-whitening pandemic,” a 4 December webinar hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) explored the intersections of mission, gender, racism, and health.

11 December 2023

Event

WCC webinar: “Decolonizing beauty: mission, gender, racism, and health in the skin-whitening pandemic.”

04 December 2023

A webinar on 4 December will focus on “Decolonizing beauty: mission, gender, racism, and health in the skin-whitening pandemic.”

Online

Webinar will focus on decolonizing beauty, define the harms of skin whitening

A webinar on 4 December will focus on “Decolonizing beauty: mission, gender, racism, and health in the skin-whitening pandemic.”

16 November 2023

WCC retirees joyfully gather to celebrate 75th anniversary of the global fellowship

Forty retired World Council of Churches (WCC) staff gathered at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey on 22 August to celebrate the WCC’s 75th anniversary and to receive greetings and reflections from WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay.

24 August 2023

Refugees from Zimbabwe and other African countries pray during evening worship at the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa, Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth Pictures

Africa-Europe Ecumenical Forum on Migration finds “churches need to embrace role as safe spaces”

During an Africa-Europe Ecumenical Forum on Migration, held 15-19 March In Hamburg, Germany, nearly 60 people gathered to discuss, among many other issues, the negative effects of “irregular” migration, caused in part by the growth of inequality within and between countries.

21 March 2023

Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata: “God summons us to take action that is hope giving”

Below, Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, World Council of Churches (WCC) director of Public Witness and Diakonia, reflects on the relevance of ecumenical diakonia and public witness today.

16 March 2023

Prof. Jace Pillay reflects on importance of churches in upholding children’s rights

Prof. Jace Pillay, South African research chair for Education and Care in Childhood at the University of Johannesburg, reflected on the importance of churches in ensuring the rights of children.

Twin brother of World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, Jace Pillay noted that South Africa has very good policies with regard to children’s rights —but in many areas those policies exist only on paper, as they are not implemented.

14 March 2023

Ecumenical theology at chapel, classroom, and office: Odair Pedroso Mateus reflects on serving the WCC

Rev. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus began to teach at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in 2004 and joined the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2007. Most recently he served as WCC interim deputy general secretary and Faith and Order director. Below, he reflects on his fondest memories, accomplishments, and hopes.

08 February 2023

9th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs

Symposium explores how religious communities can be agents of change in securing wellbeing and sustainability

More than 600 people attended the Ninth Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs, held online on 24 January. Exploring the theme “Securing People’s Wellbeing and Planetary Sustainability,” the symposium was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and a coalition of faith-based and UN partners. The event featured UN officials, representatives of international faith-based organizations, and other experts on climate change, disarmament, and other relevant topics.

26 January 2023

Blog post

Reflections on COP27

A reflection on my fist day at COP27 – a perspective from a young Sami Christian from Norway.

17 November 2022

Kristoffer Strand

Kathryn Lohre (right) with Rev. Nicqi Ashwood (left), WCC Program Executive of the Just Community of Women and Men, and Dr Agnes Abuom (center), former moderator of the WCC Central Committee, Photo: Courtesy of Kathryn Lohre

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America looks back on WCC assembly as “a beautiful reunion”

To the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, relationships are at the heart of its membership in the World Council of Churches (WCC).

06 October 2022

Indigenous women struggle for identity in Asia and beyond

The contributions made by indigenous women in Asia to society and community often go unnoticed and unrecognized due to continued marginalization and discrimination in the region and beyond. Participants in a September 2 workshop at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th assembly heard that while gender equality is slowly gaining momentum globally, indigenous women are still struggling for their rights - first as women and second as indigenous women.

05 September 2022

A woman sings during a joint opening prayer for pre-assemblies

Choose the power of love: Pre-Assemblies deliver powerful calls

Karlsruhe, a city built over 300 hundred years ago without walls, open to friends and guests —at a time where other cities still hid behind their fortifications —welcomed people from all over the world to four pre-assemblies that are bringing forward powerful calls to the 11^thAssembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

31 August 2022

Women joining hands in the Walk of Peace

WCC pre-assemblies will convene to harvest honest reflections, meaningful messages

Four World Council of Churches (WCC) pre-assemblies are about to convene, drawing hundreds of people eager to, in a safe space, share their honest reflections and life challenges. The pre-assemblies include Indigenous Peoples, Ecumenical Youth Gathering, Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, and Just Community of Women and Men.

25 August 2022

A WCC pilgrim team visit to Italy was facilitated by the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) and hosted by the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI).The group visited church-related initiatives to support refugees and migrants in Palermo, Lampedusa and Rome. At the Methodist temple in Rome, the WCC delegation had the opportunity to visit the exhibition "Listen to my Voice", sponsored by the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy and the Clewer Initiative, May 2022, Photo: WCC

Webinar on World Refugee Day will focus on statelessness and the “Interfaith Affirmations on Belongingness”

On 20 June, World Refugee Day, a World Council of Churches (WCC) webinar will focus on statelessness and the recently addopted “Interfaith Affirmations on Belongingness.”

14 June 2022

WCC Pilgrim Team Visits accompany communities in Italy, Armenia, Norway

Three World Council of Churches (WCC) Pilgrim Team Visits, one to Italy, a second to Armenia and a third to Norway, are continuing the WCC’s accompaniment for communities in their quest for justice and peace under the theme of “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity,” through the lenses of post-war trauma healing, gender justice, and migration.

31 May 2022

Candlelight vigil for peace in the Korean Peninsula, part of "A Light of Peace" campaign sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches of Korea December 2017, Photo: Paul Jeffrey/WCC

On Korean Peninsula, “the churches and the country need reconciliation and unity”

Rev. Dr Hyunju Bae represents the Presbyterian Church of Korea on the World Council of Churches central and executive committees and serves on the WCC Gender Advisory Group. She is a former professor of New Testament Studies at the Busan Presbyterian University, Republic of Korea, and now a co-president of the Korea Christian Environmental Movement Solidarity for Integrity of Creation. Below, she reflects on a recent prayer vigil for peace, as well as other ecumenical activities in South Korea.

30 May 2022

On UN International Day of Conscience, WCC officially releases volume “I Belong”

On the UN International Day of Conscience, 5 April, the World Council of Churches (WCC) releases a new volume of “I Belong – Biblical Reflections on Statelessness”. The day highlights the need for the creation of conditions of stability, peaceful coexistence, respect for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, language or religion.

05 April 2022