In a message to the Global Refugee Forum released 12 December, faith-based leaders underscored their commitment to offering sanctuary for refugees as well defending their human rights.
Reinforcing the traditional role of faith communities in offering sanctuary and, indeed hospitality to refugees, 90 faith-based leaders today committed to offering their continued and additional support to refugees, including children, on their journey to safety, including in reception and admission, meeting protection or service delivery needs and supporting communities to find solutions such as private sponsorship or scholarship programmes.
During an inter-religious ceremony, refugees, religious leaders, and UN Refugee Agency representatives gathered on 12 December in the Ecumenical Centre chapel to pray, sing, and listen deeply to one another. Titled “This is My Story, This is My History,” the ceremony offered prayers from various traditions including Buddhist, Jewish, Bahá’í, Muslim, Hindu, and Christian.
Address by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the WCC Town-Hall Discussion on Interfaith Dialogue, Climate Change, and Refugee Displacement - at the Religious Leaders Unite for Climate Peace in Solidarity with Refugees, Ecumenical Center, Geneva, Switzerland 12 December 2023.
Message of the H.E. Archbishop Dr Aykazian Vicken, Vice-moderator of the WCC central committee at the "Religious Leaders Unite for Climate Peace in Solidarity with Refugees" event at the Ecumenical Center, Geneva, Switzerland 12 December 2023.
A COP28 side event on 10 December, entitled “Faith communities have a moral imperative to address Water-food-climate Justice,” reimagined a world in which climate action policies help create a habitable world for all.
On 9 December, during a COP28 side event titled "Faith communities & resilient frontliners responding to the nexus of food-water-climate change,” 12-year-old Faith Sebwa had a clear message to the world.
The World Council of Churches (WCC), in collaboration with the Anglican Consultative Council, South African Faith Communities Environment Institute, and the Episcopal Church in the USA, hosted a COP28 side event on 6 December.
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay commemorated the legacy of Nelson Mandela on 8 December at a piano concert for peace.
Churches should promote disability studies in theological institutions and recruit persons into ordained ministry, youth with disabilities urged after attending the 12th General Assembly of the All Africa Conference of Churches in Abuja, Nigeria.
Religious leaders will gather on 12 December for an event inked to the Global Refugee Forum. Hosted by the UNHCR, the World Council of Churches (WCC), and Religions for Peace (RfP) at the Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, the programme is entitled: “Religious Leaders Unite for Climate Peace in Solidarity with Refugees.”
Le 5 décembre, le Conseil œcuménique des Églises (COE) a signé la charte «2050Aujourd’hui» par laquelle il s’engage à réduire ses émissions de gaz à effet de serre. 2050Aujourd’hui est un forum d’action climatique genevois qui fédère les institutions de Genève déterminées à réduire ces émissions.
Gloria Pua Ulloa is gender justice and youth programme officer for the Evangelical Service of Diakonia, an ACT Alliance member. She is part of the ecumenical delegation at COP28.
Events with involvement of the World Council of Churches and ecumenical partners at the COP28 conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 30 November - 12 December.
On 5 December, the World Council of Churches (WCC) signed a “2050Today” charter that commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Geneva-based 2025Today is a climate action forum where institutions of Geneva come together and commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Students who recently completed the WCC Eco School in Crete, Greece, took time to compile their reflections on how the experience helped them hone their messages and actions related to climate justice and a transition to green energy. This is first of a series of blog entries from Eco School students.
Bedi Racule, is an interning ecumenical enabler for climate justice with the Pacific Conference of Churches. She took time to reflect on her experience at COP28, and how her faith is an integral part of her climate justice work.
Co-organized by Christian Aid and the All Africa Conference of Churches, an event at the Faith Pavilion of COP28 explored the crucial intersection of financing, ethics, human rights, and climate justice from a faith perspective, delving into the role of faith actors in mobilising communities and advocating for climate justice.
In a session held at COP 28's Faith Pavilion, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Green Hope Foundation collaborated to shed light on the urgent need for interfaith feminist actions addressing climate change's disproportionate impact on women and girls.