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Around 35 theologians and leaders representing communities, churches and organizations of indigenous peoples in 16 countries in many parts of the world attended a consultation from 21-26 October, 2008 in Baguio City, Philippines. This consultation was called in response to a proposal by the Ninth General Assembly of the WCC to facilitate the theological contributions of indigenous peoples to enrich the life and work of the WCC. In solidarity with the struggles of the largest indigenous peoples' population in Asia, Baguio City in the Philippines was chosen as the context for this theological conversation.

"Warmest congratulations" were expressed by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia to the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, who has begun his second tenure in the post. In a 25 May letter to Singh, Kobia wrote: "Your return to power as Prime Minster, with a clear mandate, gives the people of India confidence that your much-valued assurances of India’s secular democratic principles will be upheld and that all people in your great nation – the poorest of the poor, and those who experience discrimination on the basis of caste or religion – will find protection and dignity".

This is the text of a keynote lecture delivered by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I at an ecumenical consultation, organized by the World Council of Churches, together with Secretaries of Christian World Communions 18-20 October 2008, Geneva, Switzerland.

Members of ECHOS, the World Council of Churches (WCC) commission on Youth, met in Bangalore, India 1-10 October 2008.
The 25 members of ECHOS represent a variety of WCC consultative commissions, Central and Executive Committee, the Catholic and Pentecostal Youth and Students Networks as well as regional and global youth organizations, like the World Students Christian Federation (WSCF). Their goal is to facilitate more coherent youth participation within the WCC.

This statement on religious violence and intolerance in India expressing concern about the alarming trend of growing communal violence and religious intolerance in India was approved by the WCC executive committee in Luebeck, September 2008

By the Rev. Robert O. Smith, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Global Mission, USA

Madrid, Spain

By Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia

On 13 October 2007 a group of 138 Muslim scholars addressed an open letter to Christian leaders. Among those addressed was the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
Based on initial responses from member churches, the WCC initiated a process of responding to the letter. Since November 2007 the WCC commenced consultation with its member churches and ecumenical partners, a number of whom responded with great enthusiasm. This was followed by a meeting of scholars and church experts engaged in the field of Christian-Muslim relations. Their deliberations produced the following commentary on the letter entitled "Learning to Explore Love Together". The commentary is intended to assist the churches in reading and responding to the letter "A Common Word". The document includes suggestions to encourage member churches and ecumenical partners in their reflection on the Letter and in its invitation to explore together with Muslim fellows the love of God and the love of neighbour in their respective contexts.
Churches and ecumenical partners are then invited to share their reflections with the WCC as a contribution to a common understanding of and a common response to this initiative.

An Intercultural and Interfaith Programme for Ethics Information. Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children, Global Networks of Religions for Children, Arigatou Foundation.