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Inter-religious voices of concern in lead-up to International Women’s Day

In an online conference organized by the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations on 5 March, the World Council of Churches (WCC) was represented among inter-religious voices bringing their concerns and sense of solidarity in the lead-up to International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on 8 March.

07 March 2024

What is gender-based online disinformation—and what can we do about it?

Lucina Di Meco, co-founder of #ShePersisted, shared research on gendered disinformation and online abuse against women in politics. She also shared suggestions for action during her presentation, part of a workshop for young church leaders on “Tackling Online Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.”

08 January 2024

Climate crisis: have we learned lessons from the past?

"2000", "3000", "10 000,” and "we cannot provide reliable estimates regarding the number of victims”—these were heard and read in the last days ever too often about the situation in Libya. This situation highlights the pressing issues of climate change and global injustices also regarding the youth. Again and again.

03 October 2023

Pawel Pustelnik

Celebratory event discusses Black leaders’ contributions to WCC

A public online celebration and panel discussion on 31 August, “They too were Gathered: Paying homage to Black people’s contributions to 75 years of World Council of Churches (WCC),” uncovered the contributions of Black people from different parts of the world in the formation and growth of the WCC.

06 September 2023

Eileen Peralta and her 12-year old daughter Erin, who has autism, sit on the step of their home in the Malate neighborhood of Manila. They're being visited by other members of Kaisahan ng Magulang at Anak na Maykapansanan (Kaisaka), a mothers' group that carries out community based rehabilitation with families which have members with disabilities.

Recognizing autism as a disability

As a parent of an autistic child, it is important for me not only to embrace and accept that my child has autism but also to raise awareness on autism. We are all called upon to champion acceptance, embrace, appreciate, and accept autistic people as valued members of the community.

25 July 2023

Ann Kioi

WCC general secretary, with USA churches, explores how to strengthen relationships

A World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation led by WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Pillay visited New York City and Washington, DC this week, meeting with United Nations representatives, the Papal Nuncio, the National Council of Churches in North America, other church leaders, and ecumenical organizations and state officials.

22 July 2023

Interview

Boy lays out the framework for the roof in circles

WCC reaffirms importance of diaconal service and mission

Rev. Matthew Ross, who served as WCC programme executive for Diakonia and Capacity Building from 2018-2023, reflects on how the document “Called to Transformation – Ecumenical Diakonia,” which he edited, is being received in ways that affirm the importance of diaconal service and mission.

04 July 2023

At diakonia conference in Norway, world’s pressing challenges and gratitude share the stage

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay served as a keynote speaker at the Ninth Conference for Research in Diakonia and Christian Social Practice, hosted by the International Society for the Research and Study of Diakonia and Christian Social Practice and VID Specialized University. The theme of the conference was “Contested Spaces of Diaconia – Seeking Justice, Safety and Well-Being.”

08 June 2023

Barbados Gospelfest 2023, Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network Rev. Dr Gordon Cowans offering a public lecture on 22 May

In Barbados, public lecture explores “Touching Lives of Persons With Disability: Freed to Simply Be”

As part of the Barbados Gospelfest, Caribbean co-coordinator of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network Rev. Dr Gordon Cowans offered a public lecture on 22 May, exploring the theme “Touching Lives of Persons With Disability: Freed to Simply Be.”

01 June 2023

Making Africa Day, “as Christians we are stakeholders in the present and future of Africa”

A webinar on 25 May, “Exploring the nexus between racism, xenophobia and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and African Union (AU) free movement protocol,” marked Africa Day by focusing on the potential of faith communities, especially Christians, in bridging the gaps that continue to frustrate the free movement of people and goods around the continent.

31 May 2023

Becoming true witnesses of God’s love

A reflection originally shared at the "Working Together" meeting between the World Council of Churches and specialized ministries, convened 3-4 May in Bossey, Switzerland.

23 May 2023

Jakob Sundmark

Event

Religious leaders carry a large red ribbon--the symbol of AIDS--as they participate in a July 20, 2010, human rights march through the streets of Vienna, Austria, during the XVIII International AIDS Conference. The theme of the conference was "Rights here, right now."

HIV Stigma and discrimination revisited: challenging our ideas for the next phase of the HIV response

19 April 2023

This zoom round table has the objective of re-opening a deep conversation about HIV stigma and discrimination, based on evidence, and seeing it with programmatic lenses, in the context of faith and theology. The round table will discuss studies, current programs and theological reflections on the manifestations of stigma and discrimination in HIV with the aim to promote collective thinking to sharpen our response.

Event

Banana production at the São Pedro quilombo in São Paulo state, quilombos are remote hinterland settlements in Brazil set up by escaped slaves of African origin, Photo: Sean Hawkey/Life on Earth Pictures

Webinar: International Day for the remembrance of victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade – focus on Europe

05 May 2023

A 5 May webinar will remember the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, this time with a focus on Europe.

Online

Improving financial literacy among rural women in Uganda

Women’s wellness and mental health as part of the mission of the church – a wounded healer’s balm

I received a call from a friend of mine - we both work as medical doctors and had earlier realised that our husbands, who are ministers in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, had been friends for years —this is one of the reasons that drew us to each other. She had been attending the February meeting of the Methodist Women’s Prayer and Service Union (Manyano), Connexional Extended Executive Meeting. My friend said that the general president, Gretta Makhwenkwe, had appointed us to the Wellness Committee.

30 March 2023

Dr Nomonde Mqhayi-Mbambo

With a focus on Europe, webinar will remember victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade

A 5 May webinar will remember the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, this time with a focus on Europe.

27 March 2023

Honduras_Hawkey_World_Renew_drought_20140805_919

Overcoming obesity—more than changing one's behaviour; it is a matter of ensuring systemic justice!

We mark 4 March as World Obesity Day. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. Obesity has more than tripled since 1975, and more than 1 billion people are obese in the world today.

04 March 2023

Masimba Kuchera

At WHO Faith Network webinar, WCC focuses on amplifying the voices of those living with HIV

During a WHO Faith Network webinar—entitled “Addressing stigma and discrimination: Faith partner resources”—the World Council of Churches (WCC) was represented by Gracia Ross, WCC programme executive for Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy.

16 November 2022

2 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: A young woman holding up a sign that says "no faith in fossil fuels"

Interfaith voices want UN General Assembly to hear: “There is so much that needs to be done—and time is running out”

An interfaith panel discussion on climate, held 21 September, sent a clear message to the world’s governments: a social and spiritual transformation must underpin policies that care for the earth and the most vulnerable people living on it.

22 September 2022