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WCC offers insights at Youth Pre-assembly for National Council of Churches in India

The World Council of Churches (WCC) offered insights and participated in dialogue at the Youth Pre-assembly for National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), held 17-19 April in Hyderabad.

Organized by the India Peace Centre, the Youth Pre-assembly was held under the theme “The Hour has Come: The hour of Youth Building a World of Peace and Sustainability.”

 

“All groups should be allowed to come and worship”

This year at Easter, the WCC is highlighting current realities and challenges related to religious holidays in the Holy Land, joining with local communities in action and prayer; to ensure that freedom of worship is protected in a land so worthy of justice, peace, and dignity. The reflections and voices presented here are meant to welcome the reader into the details of everyday lives—lives met with challenges that often turn into obstacles impeding everything from simple family celebrations to livelihoods, to freedom of religion and movement. Together, these voices also raise the hope for a less divided and conflict-ridden Jerusalem, and a Holy Land in which people of all faiths enjoy an equal measure of freedom of movement and religion.

During solidarity visit to Türkiye, WCC and ACT Alliance witness great needs yet great collaboration: “the churches are all working together”

After returning from a solidarity visit to Türkiye, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and ACT Alliance general secretary Rudelmar Bueno de Faria appear in a video interview speaking about what they saw, how churches are working together, and their unique reflections on their visit—held 4-6 April—took place during western Holy Week.

Sieben Wochen im Zeichen des Wassers 2023, woche 7: "Und wir dürsten noch immer nach Wasser! ", Bishop Munib Younan

Die ursprünglich 2016 veröffentlichte siebte Bibelstudie der Fastenkampagne 2023 des Ökumenischen Wassernetzwerks des ÖRK „Sieben Wochen für Wasser“ stammt von The Rt Rev. Dr. Munib Younan von der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche in Jordanien und im Heiligen Land.

Und der Engel zeigte mir einen Strom lebendigen Wassers, klar wie Kristall, der ausgeht von dem Thron Gottes und des Lammes; mitten auf dem Platz und auf beiden Seiten des Stromes Bäume des Lebens, die tragen zwölfmal Früchte, jeden Monat bringen sie ihre Frucht, und die Blätter der Bäume dienen zur Heilung der Völker.

(Offenbarung 22,1-2)

Seven Weeks for Water 2023, week 7: "And we are still thirsty for water!", by Bishop Munib Younan

Originally published in 2016, the seventh reflection of the WCC's Ecumenical Water Network Lenten campaign 2023 "Seven Weeks for Water" is from The Rt Rev. Dr Munib Younan, from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

Salaam and grace to you from Jerusalem, the Holy City. As an Arab Christian, I am thankful for the opportunity to write a reflection for this year’s “Seven Weeks for Water”. Of course, this part of the world always has been dealing with water issues because of its dry climate and few water resources. Today, however, the Palestinian people face an even greater water challenge. It is a crisis that grows worse year after year.

Sieben Wochen im Zeichen des Wassers 2023, woche 6: "Wasser zum Leben", Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm

Die ursprünglich 2014 veröffentlichte sechste biblische Reflexion der Sieben Wochen für Wasser 2023 stammt von Bischof Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm von der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche in Bayern, Deutschland, und Vorsitzender des ÖRK-Zentralausschusses. Anhand von Beispielen aus der Bibel betont er, dass Wasser absolut lebensnotwendig ist und dass jeder das Recht auf freien Zugang zu Wasser für seinen Lebensunterhalt hat, unabhängig von seiner wirtschaftlichen Situation.

Seven Weeks for Water 2023, week 6: "Water for Life", by Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm

Originally published in 2014, the sixth Biblical reflection of the Seven Weeks for Water 2023 is by Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, Germany, and moderator of the WCC central committee. Citing examples from the Bible, he highlights that water is absolutely necessary for life and that everybody has the right of free access to water for their sustenance,  irrespective of their economic status.

"Faith Community is a Blue Community” unfolds alongside UN Water Conference

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Water Network and its partner organizations hosted a hybrid side event, “Faith Community is a ‘Blue Community,” on 22 March in conjunction with the UN Water Conference in New York City.Prof. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, UN Special Rapporteur, human right to water, opened the event with a video message on how this is the first time in almost 50 years that the United Nations has convened a global event to reflect on the global water crisis—a crisis that finds 2 billion people without access to clean water, and 4 billion without access to adequate sanitation.

Sieben Wochen im Zeichen des Wassers 2023, woche 5: "Wasser: Gabe Gottes, öffentliches Gut und Menschenrecht. Dürfen wir es privatisieren? ", Pastor. Dr. Donald Bruce Yeates

Die fünfte Reflexion der sieben Wochen für Wasser 2023 des Ökumenischen Wassernetzwerks des ÖRK wurde ursprünglich im Jahr 2020 geschrieben und stammt von Rev. Dr. Donald Bruce Yeates, einem Geistlichen der Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church of Suva, Fidschi und beratender Seelsorger an der Universität von der Südpazifik. Bruce ist seit 1975 im Pazifik als Akademiker in Sozialarbeit, Gemeindeentwicklung und Sozialpolitik tätig, nachdem er an der Universität von Papua-Neuguinea und der Universität des Südpazifik gedient hat. In der folgenden Reflexion unterstreicht er die Bedeutung des Menschenrechts auf Wasser und den Ansturm der Privatisierung vor dem Hintergrund des weltweit berühmtesten Flaschenwassers, das aus seinem Heimatland, den „Fidschi-Gewässern“, stammt.

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”.

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.