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WCC joins organizations presenting “Water Justice Manifesto” at UN Water Conference

A “Water Justice Manifesto”—signed by 500 organizations including the World Council of Churches—was presented at the UN Water Conference on 23 March, from the General Assembly Plenary hall podium, at the high-level segment, by the People’s Water Forum members.

24 March 2023

Feature story

Women peace-makers call for a holistic and sustainable peace

Meaningful participation by women in a conflict resolution and peace-building promotes a more sustainable peace, a panel discussion with women peace-makers concluded, after the screening of a documentary on the 2015 “Women Cross the DMZ” initiative.

23 March 2023

Message

WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay on the 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay commented on the synthesis of the 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released 20 March.

22 March 2023

WCC general secretary on climate change report: “Equity is the path to sustainability”

22 March 2023

Bible studies

Seven Weeks for Water 2023, week 5: "Water: a gift of God, a public good and a human right. Should we privatize it?", by Rev. Dr. Donald Bruce Yeates

Originally published in 2020, the fifth reflection of the seven weeks for water 2023 of the WCC’s Ecumenical Water Network is by Rev. Dr. Donald Bruce Yeates, a minister of Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church of Suva, Fiji and a consultant chaplain at The University of the South Pacific. Bruce has been active in the Pacific since 1975 as an academic in social work, community development and social policy having served at the University of Papua New Guinea and The University of the South Pacific. In the following reflection he underlines the importance of human right to water and the onslaught of privatisation in the backdrop of world’s most famous bottled water which comes from his home country, the “Fiji waters”.

20 March 2023

UN water summit: how we can make a difference

It is the first UN conference on water in almost 50 years. Taking place in New York from 22-24 March 2023, the “UN 2023 Water Conference” will be a key opportunity to influence and hopefully re-shape the global water discussion. Church and civil society activists are urging affected people, human rights defenders, social movements, and concerned leaders to raise their voices.

20 March 2023

Feature story

E1 land holds future promise for Palestinians—but will those dreams be shattered?

Dr Jad Issac tends to think in numbers. When it comes to the land in the West Bank on the outskirts of Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley—known simply as E1— Issac is weighing a stark figure: a loss of $2 billion a year for Palestinians versus the ability to net the same amount of revenue, pay off debts, and, in turn, help poorer countries. The astronomical figure amounts to lost tourism opportunities due to the lack of access to E1, Jordan Valley, and the Dead Sea—as per the Economic Cost of the Occupation Study done by the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem.

13 March 2023

WCC to co-host hybrid side event on “Blue Communities” at UN Water Conference in New York

The United Nations is organizing a global water conference during 22-24 March, 2023 at the UN headquarters, New York , after almost 50 years – the last being organized in 1977 in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. This conference is also organized as a Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028).

07 March 2023

Event

Girls get a drink of water at a public school in Battal, Pakistan.

“Faith Community is a Blue Community” - WCC official side event at the UN Water Conference

22 March 2023

The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Water Network and its partner organizations will host a hybrid side event, “Faith Community is a ‘Blue Community”,’ on 22 March in conjunction with the UN Water Conference in New York City.

UN Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York and online via Zoom

Bible studies

Seven Weeks for Water 2023, week 3: "Feminization of water poverty in Africa", by Dr Agnes Abuom

Originally written in 2017, The third of the seven reflections of the Lenten Campaign: Seven Weeks for Water 2023 of the Word Council of Churches’ (WCC) Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) is by Dr Agnes Abuom, former moderator of the WCC’s central committee.

Dr Abuom was the first woman and first African to hold this important position. She is also the Executive Director of TAABCO Research and Development Consultants, based in Nairobi, Kenya. In her reflection, being an African woman on the eve of International Women’s Day, she explores the linkages between poverty, water scarcity and its impact on women. It is also contextual in that today Kenya is reeling under a serious drought which is deteriorating the situation for women as they are mostly responsible for fetching water for their families.

06 March 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

Lecture - Speech

"What Future for the Ecumenical Movement?", by Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca

On 23 February 2023, at a special event at the University of Fribourg honoring his work, former acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, delivered a lecture exploring the question: “What future for the ecumenical movement?”

23 February 2023

Sermon

Church at the Crossroads, sermon by Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay

Church at the Crossroads, sermon by Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches at the service of his installation as the ninth general secretary of the WCC in the chapel of the Ecumenical Centre Geneva, Switzerland, 17 February 2023.

17 February 2023

Blog post

On Valentine’s Day, some insights on the power of love

As many celebrate Valentine’s Day, the WCC invited reflections on the power of love. Below are four reflections, all from people somehow involved in or leading, in their local contexts, a Thursdays in Black campaign for a world free from rape and violence. They share the joys, the pain, and the ever-changing perspective on what love is—and what it can become.

14 February 2023

N. Doreen, N. Faith, A. Yayra, Rev. Anaga

Message

Statement of Solidarity with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Statement of Solidarity with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church by Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches

03 February 2023

WCC mourns loss of Omega Chilufya Bula, who opened doors of opportunity for many

The World Council of Churches (WCC) joins The United Church of Canada and many other churches and peoples across the world who are mourning the death of Omega Chilufya Bula, a beloved justice leader, sister, elder, pioneer, mentor, friend, and colleague.

03 February 2023

Blog post

"Spiritualizing" the COP15 "Kunming-Montreal" agreement: Religious leaders urgently need to unite and harmonize with interfaith actions for halting biodiversity loss

On the occasion of the upcoming World Interfaith Harmony Week 2023, which is observed annually from 1-7 February at the United Nations, my thought goes to the urgent call for biodiversity protection from the COP15 held in Montreal, from 7-19 December 2022.

02 February 2023

Lucas Andrianos

9th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs

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 People’s 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.

26 January 2023