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WCC addresses territorial crises in eastern Mediterranean

The WCC central committee expressed continuous concern about two significant territorial crises in the eastern Mediterranean: those within Palestine and Israel, and those within Cyprus. “These politically driven conflicts have resulted in illegal occupations that have spanned decades,” reads a minute released by the governing body.

27 June 2023

Interview

Churches must talk about issues even if they are not comfortable with them, says Disciples' leader

Rev. Terri Hord Owens, the general minister and president of the Christian Church, the Disciples of Christ (USA and Canada), says the World Council of Churches (WCC) must offer an environment where people can talk on all issues, even if it is uncomfortable or "messy" to do so.

27 June 2023

Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm speaking at the plenary

WCC important “to proclaim healing to a broken world,” moderator urges

World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, speaking at the WCC central committee meeting, focused on how the WCC can possibly address and respond to so many challenges in the world today.

22 June 2023

Report

Report of the General Secretary to the WCC Central Committee, June 2023

Report of the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay to the WCC Central Committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, 21 - 27 June 2023.

21 June 2023

Central Committee

Report

Moderator’s Address to the Central Committee, June 2023

Address of Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee, at the WCC central committee meeting on 21-27 June 2023.

21 June 2023

Central Committee

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk

UN rights chief delighted at child participation during conference on children at WCC

Despite changes in child rights in recent decades, the world faces attacks on democracy, shrinking civil society space, and an unprecedented backlash against universal human rights, and these undermine child rights.

12 June 2023

Ecumenical accompaniers report violence, intimidation, and demolitions in the West Bank

The latest group of World Council of Churches (WCC) ecumenical accompaniers reported incidents between 14 April and 22 May that ranged from violence to displacement, from harassment to intimidation in the West Bank.

01 June 2023

Man dressed in religious garb pictured in a church standing at a microphone speaking.

WCC shares congratulations to Archbishop Hosam Naoum on installation as new primate of Anglican Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay shared joyful congratulations with Archbishop Hosam Naoum, who was installed as new primate of Anglican Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.

23 May 2023

Seventy-five years since Al-Nakba, religious leaders reiterate calls for a just, lasting peace

Marking 75 years since Al-Nakba—the Arabic term for the events of 1948, when many Palestinians were displaced from their homeland by the creation of the new state of Israel—religious leaders reflected on what Al-Nakba means today.

16 May 2023

WCC marks 75th commemoration of “Al-Nakba”

During the 75th commemoration of what Palestinians refer to as the nakba, or “catastrophe”—when hundreds of thousands of people were uprooted during Israel's creation in 1948—World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed solidarity with member churches in the Holy Land.

16 May 2023

Statement: public statement

WCC marks 75th commemoration of “Al-Nakba”

This week marks the 75th commemoration of what Palestinians refer to as the nakba, or “catastrophe,” when hundreds of thousands of people were uprooted during Israel's creation in 1948.

16 May 2023

General Secretary

In prayer, WCC observes UN International Day for Living Together in Peace

During an ecumenical morning prayer held 15 May, the World Council of Churches (WCC) staff and partners observed the UN International Day of Living Together in Peace, holding in prayer many nations across the world facing challenges to living together in harmony.

15 May 2023

Interview

Cycling for peace: Andreas has bicycled 847km - and “It’s becoming a trip full of gifts"

Andreas is currently in the midst of a “Cycling for peace” initiative in which he is bicycling from Linz, Austria, to Hamburg, Germany—a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers! Part of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, Andreas is also part of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, which is helping to support his trip.

As he continues on his way, he took time to share some reflections.

12 May 2023

Members of the National Jewish-Christian Dialogue

National Jewish-Christian Dialogue meets in New York, continues consideration of reparations

The National Jewish-Christian Dialogue, co-sponsored by the National Council of Churches (USA) and the National Council of Synagogues, met 19-20 April in New York City. The dialogue continued its in-depth discussion of reparations and national healing, following previous remote sessions on the broad topic of reparations and specific efforts to consider reparations by the cities of Evanston, Illinois, and Providence, Rhode Island.

01 May 2023

“Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity” - WCC publishes its Annual Review 2022

As of 26 April 2023, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Annual Review 2022 is available for download online. The annual review records many of the WCC’s activities undertaken in 2022 and continuing into 2023.

25 April 2023

Report

WCC Annual Review 2022

This annual review of the activity of the WCC records many of the activities undertaken by the council during 2022 and continuing into 2023.

25 April 2023

WCC Programmes

Background document

Fact sheet: East Jerusalem Demolitions, April 2023

Between the period of the 13^th of September 1993 (when the Oslo Agreement was signed) and the 31^st of December 2022: Israel demolished 2787 structures in East Jerusalem including 213 donor-funded structures, and it displaced 5093 persons including 2582 children. These included homes; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities; and agricultural structures.

24 April 2023

WCC Programmes

People wearing yellow vests reading 'EAPPI' gathered in a church where a pastor is giving them a blessing.

Ecumenical accompaniers help people feel safer in Palestine and Israel

"The soldiers went away because you were watching.”

“I am able to herd my sheep near the military base because I feel safe in the presence of ecumenical accompaniers, and settler harassment is much less when you are around.”

“We feel safe when the ecumenical accompaniers are present.”

24 April 2023