Search results

Church leaders and public gathered in large group on the top of a hill.

Heads of churches in Holy Land voice objection to Mount of Olives being enfolded into national park

After heads of churches in the Holy Land voiced their objections to a proposal to expand Jerusalem Walls National Park to include property owned by several churches in the city, Israel's Nature and Parks Authority announced on 21 February that it was backing down from the plan.

23 February 2022

Some 30 people on a field planting olive trees.

Planting trees and working for peace in Palestine

One hundred and thirty Jewish volunteers planted 400 olive trees last week in Palestinian villages, continuing their work even following at least one violent attack.

26 January 2022

Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem release “Statement on the Current Threat to the Christian Presence on the Holy Land”

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem have released a “Statement on the Current Threat to the Christian Presence in the Holy Land,” reiterating the concern that, throughout the Holy Land, Christians have become the target of fringe and radical groups.

16 December 2021

Statement: public statement

WCC statement in solidarity with the churches and Christian communities in the Holy Land

14 December 2021

General Secretary

View of castle tower with a yellow flag at the top, and with pedestrian streep and various shops in the foreground.

WCC executive committee lights the way for WCC 11th Assembly

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee closed its meeting after convening from 12-17 November, leaving with a sense of hope, even while publicly expressing grave concern over many global injustices facing the world today.

26 November 2021

Statement: public statement

Statement on recent developments in Palestine and Israel

By the WCC Executive Committee, November 2021.

17 November 2021

Executive committee

Patch of grass in the foreground with blurry beige coloured concrete buildings seen in the distance in the background.

In East Jerusalem, “we will never give up our rights”

What is it like to face the fear of eviction or demolition of your home, day after day, year after year? Personal testimonies during a 28 October webinar portrayed the reality of living in East Jerusalem today.

29 October 2021

Three women stand on the groound underneath a tree, each reaching into different branches to pick olives.

WCC accompaniers, Rabbis for Human Rights lend hands and hearts for olive harvest

On 12 October, representatives from the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (WCC-EAPPI) joined with Rabbis for Human Rights to be a presence of helping hands and hopeful hearts in villages during olive harvest.

18 October 2021

Two people stand on ladders in order to glue a poster onto a tall concrete wall, supported by a third person standing on the ground.

In Bethlehem, sense of “sumud” keeps peace workers pursuing their vision

The World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel may be officially over for the year but for Fuad Giacaman, it continues week after week, one day at a time, every minute at the grassroots—as it has for decades.

05 October 2021

Group photo of the Protestant Church of Switzerland in the EC

Protestant Church in Switzerland visits WCC to focus on 11th Assembly plans, Bossey and public witness

Leaders from the Protestant Church in Switzerland visited the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva on 1 October, focusing on highlights of the WCC’s work in the past two decades and looking ahead to plans for the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2022.

04 October 2021

WCC to host webinar on Forced Displacement of Palestinians from East Jerusalem

With families in East Jerusalem facing growing threats of forced evictions and displacement, the World Council of Churches (WCC) will convene a webinar on 20 September to shed light on key issues at stake, currently and historically.

02 September 2021

Event

Webinar on Forced Displacement of Palestinians from East Jerusalem

28 October 2021

This webinar takes place following the annual World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel and forms part of a range of efforts made by the WCC and its Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (WCC-EAPPI) to advocate for just peace in the region. It also follows a recent ‘East Jerusalem Initiative’, through which the WCC has accompanied Palestinian families facing eviction and displacement through global advocacy efforts.

Online

Letter

WCC solidarity letter to heads of churches in Jerusalem on the occasion of wildfires

World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, in a letter to heads of churches in Jerusalem, reached out with prayers and solidarity in the wake of wildfires near the city of Jerusalem and throughout the region.

19 August 2021

General Secretary

Interview

South Hebron Hills families share stories of life under occupation

Jack Munayer, coordinator for the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (WCC-EAPPI), recently visited the South Hebron Hills area with diplomatic delegates from eight different countries, as well as Israeli activists. The visit was organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The group visited families and listened to their stories with the goal of discerning the nature of hardship and trauma that the occupation continues to cause.

14 July 2021

Interview

East Jerusalem Initiative: accompanying families facing eviction and displacement

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) is beginning an East Jerusalem Initiative, through which the WCC-EAPPI is accompanying—even without a physical presence—families facing eviction and displacement, as well as people facing other violations of their rights. Below, WCC director of the Commission for the Churches on International Affairs Peter Prove explains the goals and history behind the East Jerusalem Initiative.

08 July 2021

WCC executive committee sees hope for the future while making urgent calls to address global crises

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, convening from 17-20 May, set a tone of hope for the future while, at the same time, addressing multiple global crises with statements, pastoral messages, and calls for prayer.

21 May 2021

Christian delegation sits in a circle while visiting the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah

Christian delegation stands in solidarity with people of Sheikh Jarrah

A Christian delegation visited the Sheikh Jarrah community on 14 May, standing in solidarity with 28 families who not only face the threat of eviction but are living their day-to-day lives under worsening oppression.

17 May 2021

WCC laments “precious lives lost,” abhors violence affecting places of worship in Holy Land

World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed mounting concern and profound grief at the rising toll of people killed and injured in the escalating violence in Israel and Palestine.

12 May 2021