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During an Africa-Europe Ecumenical Forum on Migration, held 15-19 March In Hamburg, Germany, nearly 60 people gathered to discuss, among many other issues, the negative effects of “irregular” migration, caused in part by the growth of inequality within and between countries.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general sectary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay delivered a video message to the United Nations 2023 Water Conference on behalf of the global fellowship of 580 million Christians. The event will take place 22-24 March, in New York.

A webinar on 1 March gave speakers and participants the opportunity to express solidarity with communities discriminated on work and descent globally.

Faith-based and humanitarian groups across the world were setting in motion appeals for aid and prayers as response expands in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey on 6 February.

At an ecumenical service hosted at St Paul’s Anglican Church by the Barbados Christian Council, those gathered prayerfully explored the symbols of stones and water as “the beginning of a decolonized spiritual practice.”

After the assassination of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, statements and messages of condolences began pouring forth from churches and governments across the world. Maseko was shot in his home in Eswatini on 21 January by unknown attackers.

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) staff and partners gathered on 9 January, they observed the annual Blessing of the Waters, which  according to Orthodox tradition celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.

A two-day capacity building in India held at the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC) focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Held 4-5 January, the event drew about 400 pastors and lay people.

The second week of the COP27 conference in Egypt focused on the link between global warming and water. This is the first time that water has been included on the agenda of a major global environmental event.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has postponed its Eco School in North America until 2023, when it will be held in Europe. To accommodate participants from North America, a special event will be conducted in the region. Details about the event and the venue will be announced soon.

On the day before the official opening of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, representatives from different faiths gathered at Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, or The Heavenly Cathedral, home to congregants of the Coptic Orthodox Church, to share their perspectives on the climate crisis.

During a conference focusing on water for human rights and sustainable development in Geneva, World Council of Churches (WCC) deputy general secretary Prof. Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri spoke on “Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment.”