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The story of Jonah is about the compassionate God whose mercy has no geographical, cultural, political, and economic frontier. The dialogue between God and Jonah (Jonah 4:1-11), which is considered the climax of the Book of Jonah, is an invitation to overcome intolerance and to cultivate compassion. The dialogue consists of two main parts: the anger of Jonah (v. 1-5) and the compassion of God (v. 6-11). In the dialogue, Jonah becomes angry, but God responds to him with two questions: “Is it good for you to be angry?” (v. 4) and “Is it good for you to be angry about the plant?” (v. 9) which indicate the limitless and universal mercy of God. In this way, the story of Jonah invites us to the pilgrimage of tolerance and compassion.

The third reflection of the "Seven Weeks for Water", of World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Water Network, is by Rev. Dr Dario Barolin, a pastor of the Waldensian Church in Uruguay. He is also the executive secretary of AIPRAL, the Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Latin America. In the following reflection he recalls an encounter with two youths of his church who are trying to revive a creek which has lost its freshness due to water pollution by industries. He then draws a parallel to the story of Exodus where Moses turns the bitter water of Marah into sweet, fresh water with the help of a plant, thereby implying plantation being key to watershed.

Sermon by Bishop (em) Bärbel von Wartenberg-Potter at worship service for climate justice, on 12 November 2017, 9:30 St Paulus Church, Bonn, Germany

‘Diamond Jubilee Message’ delivered on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Christian Conference of Asia, Yangon, Myanmar, 15 October, 2017 by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches

Resources and tools available for the implementation of Churches’ Commitments to Children

Sermon at St Stephen’s Uniting Church, Sydney, 16 October 2016.

Ecumenical Multicultural Worship Service

Text: Luke 24

Middle East Plenary Speech by Dr Tarek Mitri

The last in the series of theological reflections of the Lenten campaign “Seven Weeks for Water” is by Prof. Chung Hyun Kyung, a Korean Theologian teaching at the Union Theological Seminary in the USA. She reflects on the issues related to water from a Salimist (Korean eco-feminist) perspective. She highlights how we cannot serve both God and the Mammon at the same time and that Lent provides an opportunity to repent from our sins of abusing resources of mother earth, particularly of water, driven by capitalism. She emphasizes strongly on the “restorative justice” in making our relationship with God and nature – a just one!

Christmas Message 2013 from the World Council of Churches general secretary.

Adopted by the WCC 10th Assembly as part of the Report of the Public Issues Committee.

Speech of the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, to the WCC 10th Assembly

The WCC, WCRC and Council for World Mission (CWM) convened the Global Ecumenical Conference on a New Financial and Economic Architecture to engage diverse proponents, set criteria and framework and develop a plan of action and milestones towards constructing just, caring and sustainable global financial and economic structures.

From the Conference jointly organized by
Justice and Diakonia, Just and Inclusive Communities, and Mission and Evangelism programmes
of the World Council of Churches
in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 2-6, 2012

Olav Fykse Tveit offers a keynote address for the mission consultation of the Church of Pakistan. Although Christians in Pakistan country are a small minority, their contribution to the peace and development of Pakistan has always been highly significant through their Christian witness to the Gospel.

Address to the Centennial Ecumenical Gathering and General Assembly of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and Church World Service by the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

Speech given by Samuel Kobia at the Consultation on the "Peace of the World Free of Nuclear Weapons", organized by the Asia Pacific Graduate School, Korea; the National YMCA of Korea; and the DMZ Society, Hwacheon, Korea.

This material was compiled by members of the Ecumenical Centre worship committee as an inspiration for congregations taking part in the international bellringing for climate justice on 13 December 2009.

Statement from the Asia-Pacific Women's Hearing on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 02-03 November 2009.

A lecture in honour of the late Rev. Joseph Wing given during the 33rd Assembly of The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa - UCCSA-24th August,2009, Molepolole, Botswana