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Three WCC commissions close historic meeting, expressing hope in future work

As three World Council of Churches commissions—the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, Commission on Health and Healing, and Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development—completed their meeting on 8 March in Geneva, they came away with a sense of collaborative determination to address the worlds challenges with hope and with practical actions. 

Tackling sexual violence in war

War has always tragically impacted women and children, but the traumatic effects of weaponizing women in war have long been swept under the carpet.On 8 December, the World Council of Churches (WCC) held a hybrid discussion watched globally as part of the 16 Days Against Gender-based Violence. 

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 Peoples 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.

Symposium untersucht, wie Religionsgemeinschaften Botschafterinnen des Wandels sein und Wohlergehen und Zukunftsfähigkeit sichern können

Mehr als 600 Menschen haben am 9. Jährlichen Symposium über die Rolle von Religion und Organisationen, die aus dem Glauben heraus handeln, in internationalen Angelegenheiten teilgenommen, das am 24. Januar stattgefunden hat. Die Veranstaltung unter der Überschrift „Securing People‘s Wellbeing and Planetary Sustainability“ (Das Wohlergehen der Menschen und die Zukunftsfähigkeit des Planeten sicherstellen) war vom Ökumenischen Rat der Kirchen (ÖRK) und einer Koalition von Partnern, die aus dem Glauben heraus handeln, und UN-Partnerorganisationen organisiert worden. Es nahmen Vertreterinnen und Vertreter der Vereinten Nationen, Vertreterinnen und Vertreter von internationalen Organisationen, die aus dem Glauben heraus handeln, und weitere Fachleute aus den Bereichen Klimawandel, Abrüstung und anderen einschlägigen Fachgebieten daran teil.

Christian Witness and Action for Human Dignity and Human Rights (statement)

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.

Executive committee

A hopeful, but not optimistic Palestinian ecumenist

With olive harvest season coming to an end, life under occupation returns to “normal” for Palestinian communities on the West Bank. Under that “normal,” which means forced displacements and constant fear of threats and harassments, now also looms a threatening Israeli annexation of large chunks of fertile land owned by Palestinian farmers – a move which would “undermine peace and justice and be in direct violation of international law,” according to a joint ecumenical statement by the WCC and other ecumenical organizations earlier this year.  

Morning Prayer for Monday, 30 November 2020

O Lord, open to us the gates of righteousness…

This week, on the first week of Advent, in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we are praying with the people and churches of Myanmar and Thailand.

In the context of the 16 Days against Gender-Based Violence, this week marks World AIDS Day (December 1), the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (2 December) and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December).

WCC Programmes