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Reinforcing the traditional role of faith communities in offering sanctuary and, indeed hospitality to refugees, 90 faith-based leaders today committed to offering their continued and additional support to refugees, including children, on their journey to safety, including in reception and admission, meeting protection or service delivery needs and supporting communities to find solutions such as private sponsorship or scholarship programmes.

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.

The World Council of Churches is concerned and saddened to hear about alleged actions taken against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

(Luke 4:18-19)

The current global context is marked by escalating conflicts, divisions, inequalities, resurgent racism, xenophobic attacks on migrants, antisemitism, violations of the rights of women and other forms of discrimination, threats against human rights defenders, as well as authoritarianism, populist nationalism, and religious and other forms of extremism, that threaten grave peril for the physical security and human dignity and rights of diverse communities and individuals around the world.

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. 

"War in Ukraine, Peace and Justice in the European Region", statement by the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany

"Seeking Justice and Peace for All in the Middle East", statement of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany

"The Things That Make For Peace: Moving the World to Reconciliation and Unity", Statement of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany

Statement on Threats to a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine, and to the Christian Presence in the Holy Land by the WCC Central Committee meeting, 15-18 June 2022

Statement of the World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca regarding the recent attack on a church community during a Sunday morning mass at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.

The WCC has supported the State of Israel since its inception in 1948. The council has consistently called for an end to violence, repudiation of all forms of anti-semitism, an end to the illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict there.

God of compassion and solidarity, we come together as people with open hearts...

This week in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we are praying with the people and churches of  Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara, Tunisia.

This order of service for the World Interfaith Harmony Week makes use of material from the document Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond, jointly produced by the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

Prayers were prepared in cooperation with the Lutheran World Federation.

Order of prayer for the livestreamed public prayer service on  the final day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021.

As the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force on 22 January, the World Council of Churches joined other global faith communities in welcoming the groundbreaking moment. A joint statement endorsed by 156 organizations celebrated the milestone and, at the same time, noted that there is urgent work yet to be done to ensure a nuclear weapons-free world.

Come and direct our hearts toward you...

With the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we pray for the churches and people of the Arabian Peninsula:

Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

AND

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021.

Theme: Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit

(John 15: 5 – 9)

O God of Sarah and Abraham, our tears are mixed with yours, weeping for the cities in the world...

With the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we pray for the churches and people of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Sermon by Rev. Dr Olav Fyke Tveit at the ecumenical peace worship, that took place at the Trinity Church in Oslo, Norway. The celebration was organised by the Church of Norway together with representatives of ICAN in connection with the award ceremony of the Nobel Peace Prize.