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Lecture - Speech

"What Future for the Ecumenical Movement?", by Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca

On 23 February 2023, at a special event at the University of Fribourg honoring his work, former acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, delivered a lecture exploring the question: “What future for the ecumenical movement?”

23 February 2023

General Secretary

Feature story

Human rights report urgently calls for reducing violence and promoting accountability in West Papua

A new report offering an overview of the human rights situation in West Papua found little progress in decreasing human rights violations in 2022 and calls for reducing violence and promoting accountability in 2023.

16 February 2023

Interview

Ecumenical theology at chapel, classroom, and office: Odair Pedroso Mateus reflects on serving the WCC

Rev. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus began to teach at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in 2004 and joined the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2007. Most recently he served as WCC interim deputy general secretary and Faith and Order director. Below, he reflects on his fondest memories, accomplishments, and hopes.

08 February 2023

9th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs

Symposium explores how religious communities can be agents of change in securing wellbeing and sustainability

More than 600 people attended the Ninth Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs, held online on 24 January. Exploring the theme “Securing People’s Wellbeing and Planetary Sustainability,” the symposium was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and a coalition of faith-based and UN partners. The event featured UN officials, representatives of international faith-based organizations, and other experts on climate change, disarmament, and other relevant topics.

26 January 2023

Interview

WCC moderator speaks on WCC journey amid difficult budget decisions

World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, reflecting on the WCC’s important journey amid difficult budget decisions, shares how the ecumenical movement is needed now more than ever to bring hope to the world.

20 December 2022

Feature story

A not aspired career that just happened

Attending the worship service on Sundays was often the highlight of the week for Archbishop em. Dr Anders Wejryd when he grew up. It still is. But becoming a priest was not something he envisaged.

30 November 2022

WCC-ExCom-EC-IvarsKupcis-08112022 - 1.jpeg

WCC executive committee concludes meeting with clear path toward peace, justice, and reconciliation

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, elected during the WCC 11th Assembly, has concluded its first meeting, held 7-12 November at the Ecumenical Institute Bossey and at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.

17 November 2022

Photo essay

COP27 in images – as Egypt hosts the United Nations climate change conference

The sun was just setting over Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt when hundreds of protestors turned towards the main plenary hall of COP27 – the United Nations climate change conference – to raise their fists into the air, shouting ‘Pay up! Pay up! Pay up for loss and damage!’

16 November 2022

Honduran women deported from the United States use their phones to contact family and friends after they arrived at a church-run center in the San Pedro Sula airport.

WCC statement urges that “technologies are placed at the service of people rather than governments or corporations”

A World Council of Churches (WCC) statement from the executive committee, “New and emerging technologies, ethical challenges,” addresses the ways in which new technologies are transforming our world and the multiple spaces in which we live, work, and witness.

12 November 2022

New and Emerging Technologies, Ethical Challenges (statement)

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love (Psalm 33:5)

New technologies are transforming our world and the multiple spaces in which we live, work and witness. These technologies offer us new ways to create, to heal, to communicate, and to navigate the world. However, many such technologies, while undoubtedly offering actual or potential advances in human wellbeing, have also raised concerns regarding their social and environmental impacts and ethical implications, especially in light of the rapidity of their development and application.

12 November 2022

Executive committee

Global Health and Wellbeing (statement)

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

When approaching the issue of health and wellbeing, we as Christians and churches affirm that the giver and sustainer of life is our Lord Jesus Christ, the healer of our bodies and souls, the one who heals our diseases, who redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with love and compassion (Ps. 103:3-4).

12 November 2022

Executive committee

Interview

Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, World Council of Churches president for Africa, Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

His Holiness, The Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, WCC President for Africa: “We need to truly live in the love of Jesus Christ”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly elected eight new presidents. Below, His Holiness, The Most Rev. Dr Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, WCC president for Africa, reflects on the new role, and a vision for how insights gained at the assembly will carry his task forward.

10 November 2022

Event

2022 Social Forum: Water for human rights and sustainable development

03 - 04 November 2022

A conference focusing on water for human rights and sustainable development will be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and online on 3-4 November.

Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland

WCC Staff Planning Days will carry forward a first reading of assembly mandate

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Staff Planning Days, being held from 4-7 October, will give WCC staff the opportunity for a first reading of the WCC 11th Assembly mandate, and a chance to begin work toward finalizing plans and budgets for 2023.

03 October 2022

WCC expresses solidarity, urges advocacy for the human rights and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples across the world

In a public statement released by the leadership of the WCC central committee, the WCC encourages continued advocacy, “with Indigenous Peoples and on their behalf in defence of their human rights, to protect the use of human rights language, to promote Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination and the right to participate in the decision making process within churches and in society.”

16 September 2022

Statement on Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

‘Behold I create new heavens in which life, justice and peace are possible for all’.
(Isaiah 65:17-25)

Indigenous Peoples are created with God-given identities that are beautiful. God was present in their lands and among their peoples before colonizers arrived. When Christians brought the Bible, Indigenous People recognized the voice of their Creator in Jesus’ teachings. They did not hear a call to reject their identities.

16 September 2022

Assembly

WCC statement urges confronting racism, revisiting “complicity of some religious bodies”

Declaring that “there is no justification in either faith or science for the racism, xenophobia and discrimination that we are witnessing in the world,” the leadership of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee adopted a public statement that condemns these social forces.

The statement was prepared by the Public Issues Committee at the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

16 September 2022

Statement on Confronting Racism and Xenophobia, Overcoming Discrimination, Ensuring Belonging

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness (Genesis 1:26)

The World Council of Churches, at its 11th assembly, in Karlsruhe, Germany, abhors the perpetuation of all forms of racism, xenophobia and related discriminations against humanity and the pervasive suffering it causes.

16 September 2022

Assembly