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A reflection based on the Genesis 34, for morning prayers on 9 December 2020 for staff of the World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance and sister organizations.

Reflection brought to the Ecumenical Centre morning prayer by Bishop Dr Staccato Powell, WCC Central Committee member for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, during a meeting of the Assembly Planning Committee and on the same day as the new book of former general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser was presented to the public at the Ecumenical Centre, in the presence of the author. The event is par of a year-long series of events commemorating the WCC’s 70th anniversary.

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary World Council of Churches

Sermon in Chongwenmen Church, Beijing, 7 January 2018

Theme: Jesus Christ – the Joy of the World

Reflection during the Ecumenical Centre morning prayer by Marianne Ejdersten, director of communication for the WCC.

Reflection during the Morning Prayer in the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, 30 May 2016, by Rev. Dr Hielke Wolters, associate general secretary, WCC.

Water and fire are indispensable life forces. As such, they are the gifts of God to the human being. At the same time, they can turn into destructive forces when not treated with care.

The gap between demand and supply of water in the Middle East--and the urgent need to reduce the gap needs to be discussed seriously. We need to address the challenges and the available opportunities to ensure sustainability of water in the region. Today, on the eve of Lent, and upon the attention of the international organizations and non-governmental and humanitarian organizations upon the subject of water, due to its importance for the continuity of life and by coincidence with the World Water Day, several questions are asked in terms of the Middle East as a whole or the Holy Land in particular. Water is a basic necessity of daily life, and cannot be dispensed with because of its importance for humans, animals and plants. Towns and villages were established only where there was a resource of water. In this context, Apostle Peter says, "By God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water." (2 Peter 3:5).

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..." 

(Matthew 5:6a)

The justice and righteousness of the fourth beatitude are presented by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew as a necessity. This justice is the way to happiness promised by the fourth beatitude: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Only those who hunger and thirst for divine justice will be satisfied and filled with happiness. However, for centuries, a major question arises over the meaning of this justice: what is the justice that Matthew presents? Why, contrary to the evangelist Luke who presents a physical hunger and thirst (Luke 6:21), does Matthew emphasize the need to suffer hunger and thirst for righteousness? What kind of justice does the first Gospel present?

Salaam and grace to you from Jerusalem, the Holy City. As an Arab Christian, I am thankful for the opportunity to write a reflection for this year’s “Seven Weeks for Water”. Of course, this part of the world always has been dealing with water issues because of its dry climate and few water resources. Today, however, the Palestinian people face an even greater water challenge. It is a crisis that grows worse year after year.

The second Biblical reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2014 is by Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, Germany. Citing  examples from the Bible, he highlights that water is absolutely necessary for life and that everybody has the right of free access to water for their sustenance,  irrespective of their economic status.

Bible study on Acts 8:26-40 by Eleni Kasselouri-Hatzivassiliadi for the WCC Assembly, 4 November 2013: The text relates the mission of the Spirit to the symbol of the water of life. The Holy Spirit is the Life-giver, who sustains and empowers life and sends out God’s people to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. How and where do we discern God’s life-giving work, and how are we enabled to participate in God’s mission today?

Bible study on Genesis 2:4b-17 by Jione Havea for the WCC Assembly, 31 October 2013: The God of life created human beings from the earth with God’s breath of life. The very nature of human life is in connection with God and creation. God entrusted us with the mission to look after the garden of life and forbad us to eat the fruits that tempt us to be like the Almighty God. The opening Bible study is a reflection on the nature of life and how to celebrate, sustain and affirm it in relation to the theme of the assembly. Diverse contextual readings of the text are possible.

Statement condemning violence against religious leaders and religious communities in Syria

A statement issued by the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches at the international and ecumenical conference on "Christian Presence and Witness in the Middle East" from 21 – 25 May 2013 at the Notre-Dame du Mont Monastery, Lebanon.

Statement on the kidnapping of the Greek Orthodox and the Syriac Orthodox metropolitans of Aleppo. This statement was issued at the international and ecumenical conference on "Christian presence and witness in the Middle East" organized by the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches, from 21 to 25 May 2013 at the Notre-Dame du Mont Monastery, Lebanon.

Statement condemning the attacks against St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, and the killing of Christians in the village of Al-Khosous.

Joint letter by the general secretaries of the WCC and the Conference of European Churches to the European Union about the situation in Greece.

Congratulatory message to new Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church