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 “There’s one thing I always say to young people when you start off in the stewards programme– be very careful, because the ecumenical bug gets you as this is a mind blowing exposure and you start to think about the church in a very different way – and this is not a bad thing", remarked World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay in his welcoming address to the young people from all over the world who were welcomed at the Ecumenical Centre on 16 June as stewards, in preparation for the upcoming central committee which is taking place 21-27 June in Geneva. 

A World Council of Churches prayer prepared by students from the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey offered voices of pain, hope, and reconciliation.

Le 5 septembre, lors d’un vote, en présence de 574 délégué-e-s, la 11ᵉ Assemblée du COE a élu huit nouveaux et nouvelles président-e-s, six régionaux et deux d’Églises orthodoxes.

Witnessing a spectacular display of movement and grace through para-dance, the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly was challenged to boldly proclaim the truth about injustices, show a commitment to transformation, and be agents of reconciliation by recognizing complicity.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly elected eight new presidents, six regional and two from Orthodox churches, in a vote on 5 September with 574 delegates present.

Youth from the World Council of Churches (WCC) ECHOS Commission on Youth from different parts of the world met online to raise their voices in prayer and hope in light of the current situation in Ukraine.

World Council of Churches (WCC) interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed grave concern over the renewed and very serious escalation of conflict in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region since Sunday 27 September – reportedly following an attack by Azerbaijan’s military forces – which has already resulted in dozens of casualties including civilians, and which risks provoking a wider armed conflict in the region.

The year 2020 is one etched forever in our memories. The unimaginable happened when a virus seized the world. Vulnerability became the norm, and fiction became a reality. Overnight life became more precious for all of us, the world’s billions. Normality took a break; frustration set in. Everything we took for granted went on hold.

From 31 January - 2 February in Beirut, Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, hosted a group of church leaders at Antelias who explored a more responsive and inclusive ecumenical vision.

The Helsinki Orthodox Parish Council has endorsed the Thursdays in Black global campaign for a world free from rape and violence.

Maria Mountraki, a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, also serves as the second vice president of the Helsinki Orthodox Parish Council.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomed a wide variety of visitors during August and September, including leaders from the World Communion of Reformed Churches, an ecumenical pilgrimage from Austria, and representatives from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.