A World Council of Churches (WCC) pilgrim team engaged in online visits to indigenous communities on Standing Rock, 25-28 May. The WCC delegation stood in solidarity with the local indigenous communities, particularly along the shore of the Missouri River (Lake Oahe), in their struggle for justice, including water justice.
The WCC Pilgrim Team Visits (PTV) will focus on indigenous communities on Standing Rock, particularly along the shore of the Missouri River (Lake Oahe) and their struggle for justice, including water justice. The PTV is hosted by the The Standing Rock Episcopal Community & North Dakota Council on Indian Ministries. Rev. Dr John Floberg is the focal point for the host.
This Lakota chant rang out anew as the Youth Council from the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Nations gathered with elders, tribal leaders and other water protectors for a springtime rally. Religious leaders continued to stand with them in solidarity for water justice.
The pre-launch of the Lenten campaign “Seven Weeks for Water” was held in Suva, Fiji, on 21 January, under the theme “A Pilgrimage of Water Justice in the Pacific Region.” In 2020, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace has a regional focus in the Pacific region.
“The Pacific Conference of Churches welcomes you on board our ecumenical canoe, as we sail and voyage together beyond the fringing reefs and rocks of the many issues that affect us here in the Pacific and globally, and set sail with our eyes firmly fixed on the island of hope,” said Rev. Dr James Bhagwan, Pacific Conference of Churches general secretary as he welcomed participants of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace to Fiji, on 20 January.
A delegation from the WCC attended the 12th World Social Forum in Montreal, Canada, which concluded on 14 August. More than 30,000 participants from around the world gathered to discuss global issues based on their local experiences, network with others working on similar problems, and create new joint initiatives advancing a progressive path forward.
In Tonga there is lot of water to see, but not necessarily a lot for people to use. Mele’ana Puloka, a member of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, is World Council of Churches president for the Pacific, living on the islands that have a population of about 106,000.
The United States has the biggest economy on planet earth. It is of great concern to Rev. Dr Susan Henry-Crowe, however, that such a moniker for her country does not always mean resources are available to the population in an equitable way.
Everything that is celebrated about that speech was completely spontaneous,” said a man who should know. On 28 August 1963, Clarence B. Jones stood 15 metres behind the Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr as he set aside a prepared speech and began to describe his “dream” for America.
