Search results

The Global Christian Forum, with its fourth global gathering underway in Ghana, is marking its 25^thanniversary at a time when the world is in dire need of justice, reconciliation, and unity.

A group of church leaders from Sweden met with the World Council of Churches (WCC) to prepare for the year 2025, with a focus on commemorating 100 years since the beginning of the Life and Work movement as well as the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, where bishops representing the whole of Christendom gathered together for the first time to discuss the faith and witness of the church.

Mount Zion, located just outside the current walls of the Old City, via Zion Gate, is of great importance to Christians because this is the area of Dormition Abbey, the Cenacle (the traditional spot for remembering the Last Supper and washing of the Apostles’ feet), and where the Holy Spirit descended upon them in the event of Pentecost.

Churches in South Sudan are appealing for humanitarian assistance, amidst fears that the consequences of climate change, macro-economic shocks, and the war in Sudan could sink the country further into the worst humanitarian crisis since independence.

The stretch of time since 7 October 2023 has been described in many ways—and Robi Damelin’s words are “a real test of your belief systems.”

“We won’t leave Gaza as long as there is a standing church.” 

“We will not be the last Christians living in Gaza.” “

“We lost everything, but we can’t lose our mission and our belonging to this place dear to our hearts.”

“Christianity started here and will continue to be here.”  

These are the words people are uttering as Nader Abu Amsha, executive director of Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches (DSPR-MECC), tries to help them simply survive the next day. 

Father Frans Bouwen, a priest in the Catholic church who has been living and working for ecumenism in Jerusalem since 1969, has a stark description of the situation in Palestine and Israel today. 

In an online conference organized by the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations on 5 March, the World Council of Churches (WCC) was represented among inter-religious voices bringing their concerns and sense of solidarity in the lead-up to International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on 8 March. 

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) received an honour from Geneva Engage on 1 February, the communications team shared the types of inspiration and strategic thinking required for award-winning global digital outreach, social media engagement, and inclusivity. 

Meet Eri Yoon, a passionate scholar from South Korea with a journey that intertwines faith, music, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of love and unity. Currently amid her Ph.D. candidacy, Yoon shares profound insights from her rich experiences, focusing on the transformative power of prayer, the significance of loving one's neighbor, and the hope embedded in God's boundless love.

In a world rife with challenges, Mena Shawky, a Coptic Orthodox from Egypt, shares reflections on faith, unity, and the transformative power of prayer. Currently working in an international organization to aid refugees, Shawky's journey and perspectives offer a beacon of hope and wisdom.

Samson Waweru, a visually impaired Kenyan, holds the position of executive director at the Kenya Society for the Blind. In this capacity, he is responsible for executing a comprehensive mandate aimed at assisting blind and visually impaired individuals in Kenya. His focus encompasses areas such as prevention, education, rehabilitation, employment, and overall welfare. Beyond his professional duties, Samson also serves as the vice-chair of the St Cosmas and Damianos Cathedral in Nairobi, showcasing his dedication to both his professional and spiritual obligations.

After four years as general secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen has returned home to Denmark, filled with confidence in the future of CEC and its growing influence on European affairs. With a clear mandate to sharpen CEC’s purpose and profile fulfilled, and strategic directions for the future affirmed at last year’s general assembly in Estonia, he now continues an extraordinary ecumenical journey, a journey where the search for his own Christian identity has played a significant role.

In an annual audience during the ongoing Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Bishop Bo-Göran Åstrand of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland gifted a pair of gloves to Pope Francis, described as “a modest gift, to warm the Pope’s hands in an otherwise cold world.” 

Communication from the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2023 involved prophetic storytelling and growing channels to highlight justice, reconciliation, and unity across the world. 

Across the globe, churches shared Christmas and New Year messages expressing hope amid the grave challenges in the world.