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First Seven Weeks for Water reflection available: “everyone who thirsts, come to the water”

The first installment of the World Council of Churches Seven Weeks for Water Lenten series is available. Penned by Bishop Dr Munib Younan, bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the reflection is entitled “Water for peace in the Middle East region.”

14 February 2024

Bible studies

Seven Weeks for Water 2024, week 1: Water for peace in the Middle East region

The first reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2024 series of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network is written by Dr Munib Younan,* bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and former president of the Lutheran World Federation. In this reflection, the author, as a Palestinian, in line with this year's theme of "leveraging water for peace,” reflects on Isaiah's promise of free water for the thirsty in the context of the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza that has worsened the water situation in Gaza to catastrophic levels.

14 February 2024

WCC central committee young leader inspires African legislators to fight corruption and promote tax transparency

Brian Muyunga, a youth member of the World Council of Churches central committee representing the Anglican Church of Uganda and executive secretary of youth at the All Africa Conference of Churches, shared an uplifting message in a gathering of over 120 African lawmakers from 40 countries.

02 November 2023

WCC inspires “Theology of Work” discussion for churches in Malaysia

World Council of Churches (WCC) programme director for Public Witness and Diakonia Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata delved into the heart of “Theology of Work” in a keynote address during the opening of the New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) Consultation on Labour, being hosted 21-23 August by the National Council of Churches in Malaysia.

22 August 2023

Feature story

The church grounds of the Community United Church of Christ in Fresno, USA,

Beyond gravel: designing water-wise church grounds

Becoming better stewards of Creation by killing off your church lawn? It sounds odd, but it is exactly what the Community United Church of Christ (UCC) in Fresno, USA, did. Facing increasing drought and water scarcity in their home state California, the congregation embarked on a project to drastically reduce their water use. Thanks to the massive support of volunteers, an entirely new, water-wise landscape was created that offers a lot to discover.

29 May 2023

Group photo of some keynote speakers at the ZacTax relaunch in Africa May 2023

ZacTax Campaign relaunched in Africa

“Tax justice is a matter of faith,” said Suzanne Matale. “By faith, [all] are entitled to abundant life. Ordinary people have a right to know and to participate in decision-making tables that affect our own God-given dignity.”

23 May 2023

Feature story

Participants in the Fridays for Future march in Glasgow, UK, 5 November 2021, during COP26.

Anglican Communion supports the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

According to the fifth mark of the Anglican Church's mission, the church aims to protect and renew the earth's creation and sustain it. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa environmental network is dedicated to helping churches and dioceses fulfill God's calling to be earth-keepers and to care for creation.

02 March 2023

Feature story

Christian Brooks: “Faith and climate really go hand-in-hand”

Below, Christian Brooks, from the Presbyterian Church (USA), reflects on her work at COP27, and how faith informs her sense of unified advocacy for the climate.

14 November 2022

Bible studies

Seven Weeks for Water 2021, week 3: "Water for creation: protecting water for the sacred C’iyaal, C’waam and Koptu", by Jesse Cruz Richards

The 3rd reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2021 of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Water Network is written by Jesse Cruz Richards.* The following reflection draws inspiration from the restoration of the Israelites from Babylonian exile as promised by Ezekiel, and from hopes and prayers for the restoration of the Klamath Tribes and other indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest to their rivers, waters and fishes, namely the C’iyaal, C’waam and Koptu.

01 March 2021

7 Weeks for Water 2008, week 6: "Although it is night", by Guillermo Kerber

This meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan woman shows Jesus going beyond conventional rules and talking to a Samaritan woman, which astonishes the disciples when they see him (v. 27).

06 April 2020

Rev. Susan Durber, moderator of the WCC's Faith and Order Commission, takes part of the opening service of Seven Weeks for Water 2019, in Chiang Mai. Photo: CCA

As Seven Weeks for Water begins, water scarcity “no act of God”

“It is not God’s will that the earth is destroyed. We the creatures, we who are supposed to be stewards of creation, are unjustly self-destructive”, read the sermon of the Rt. Rev. Arnold C. Temple, president of the All Africa Conference of Churches, at the opening service of World Council of Churches (WCC) Lenten Campaign “Seven Weeks for Water”, on 5 March, in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

06 March 2019

HAH Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

COP24: “Time for reflection and deliberation is long gone”, says Ecumenical Patriarch

“We wonder when the leaders of our world will realize how late we have left our response to the climate crisis”, wrote His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in a letter to the participants of the United Nations climate conference underway in Katowice, Poland.

11 December 2018

Water and Faith day participants walk through central Stockholm after the public showcase. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

Faith and Water: Translating words into action

“Water is a gift of God, a gift of creation, and it is necessary for survival,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, introducing through a video message a World Water Week public showcase on “Water and Faith: Acting in Partnership to achieve SDG 6” in Stockholm, Sweden.

30 August 2018

Prayer for Creation at the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC

Christians around the world pray for creation

Monday morning prayer at the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva today celebrated the Season of Creation – the time of year when the worldwide Christian family joins in praying and caring for our common home.

04 September 2017

Seven Weeks for Water 2016, week 5: "When Israel uses water as a tool of coercion, churches must act decisively", by Ranjan Solomon

In Gaza, 30 to 40 percent of all disease-related deaths are caused by bad water. The multiple cases of kidney and liver diseases Gaza have to do with salts and minerals in the water. 95% of the water that Palestinians in Gaza have been consuming for decades has been proven unfit for human consumption.

05 March 2016

Seven Weeks for Water 2015, week 6: "Bringing Paradise Closer to Earth", by Susan Smith

The 6^th biblical reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2015 is by Susan Smith, a Professor of Law and Director of the Certificate Program in Sustainability at the Willamette University, USA. She teaches environment law, including water law and is a water activist. She represents the United Church of Christ at the International Reference Group of the Ecumenical Water Network of the WCC. In this reflection she highlights that the kingdom of God/ paradise can be witnessed here on this earth, if we make water available for all for their basic sustenance with dignity, contrary to the model where water is “harnessed as fuel for the engine of economic growth to serve the twin gods of economic efficiency and profit”.

06 March 2015

Seven Weeks for Water 2014, week 4: "Water – A Gift of God and a Human Right: A Critique of Anthropocentrism", by Geoff Davies

The fourth Biblical reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2014 is by the “Green Bishop” Geoff Davies, executive director of the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environmental Institute. Citing several examples from the Bible, he brings a strong critique of the anthropocentric understanding of our theology and encourages us to become “earthkeepers”. He also strongly advocates that water is a gift of God and no one should be denied of this life giving resource.

04 March 2014