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Participants visited various sites in Cape town during the seminar, here at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Centre, Photo: Teddy Chalwe Sakupapa/WCC

Seminar addresses decolonising the Bible

A seminar entitled “The word of God is living and active: Decolonising the Bible in the midst of colonial legacies and idolatrous powers” was cohosted on 18-24 November, by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and University of the Western Cape.

28 November 2024

Seminar will address decolonising the Bible

The World Council of Churches (WCC), with the University of the Western Cape, will hold a joint seminar from 18-23 November, in Cape Town, South Africa.

07 November 2024

WCC sends greetings to United Congregational Church of Southern Africa assembly

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay sent greetings to the 42nd General Assembly of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, gathering under the theme "Reaching New Frontiers: Hope and Healing.”

12 September 2024

Churches in Africa agree on guidelines for disability inclusion

“I have cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia, meaning all of my limbs are severely affected by my cerebral. However, I am not defined by my cerebral palsy. There's much more to me than my cerebral palsy,” Julius Van Der Wat, a member of the Dutch Reformed Church in Pretoria, South Africa, told a recent churches’ disability conference in South Africa.

19 December 2023

WCC general secretary at University of South Africa: “Christian voice for unity is not restricted to the church”

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay delivered a public lecture, “A Christian Voice in a World of Conflict,” at the University of South Africa on 27 November.

27 November 2023

WCC offers prayers for General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa

The World Council of Churches (WCC) sent a message with prayers and hope to the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. “As you know the WCC is a fellowship of churches that seeks the unity of Christians in the world,” wrote WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay.

13 October 2023

Meeting with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa

WCC general secretary meets with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss local and global peace

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay met with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, discussing peace initiatives across the globe—and the role of the WCC and South African leaders.

10 August 2023

Blog post

A communal water tap in an informal settlement of Cape Town.

Water and social inequality: lessons learnt from “Day Zero”

Following three years of severe drought, in 2018 the City of Cape Town faced an unprecedented water crisis, known as “Day Zero.” Severe water restrictions were introduced to avoid Day Zero, the day in which the city would run out of water.

28 May 2023

Dr Rachel Mash

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

Blog post

Improving financial literacy among rural women in Uganda

Women’s wellness and mental health as part of the mission of the church – a wounded healer’s balm

I received a call from a friend of mine - we both work as medical doctors and had earlier realised that our husbands, who are ministers in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, had been friends for years —this is one of the reasons that drew us to each other. She had been attending the February meeting of the Methodist Women’s Prayer and Service Union (Manyano), Connexional Extended Executive Meeting. My friend said that the general president, Gretta Makhwenkwe, had appointed us to the Wellness Committee.

30 March 2023

Dr Nomonde Mqhayi-Mbambo

South African Council of Churches shares video message of peace and reassurance

South African Council of Churches general secretary, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, released a video message of peace and reassurance as, he notes, more and more voices are reaching out for the word of God.

21 March 2023

Prof. Jace Pillay reflects on importance of churches in upholding children’s rights

Prof. Jace Pillay, South African research chair for Education and Care in Childhood at the University of Johannesburg, reflected on the importance of churches in ensuring the rights of children.

Twin brother of World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, Jace Pillay noted that South Africa has very good policies with regard to children’s rights —but in many areas those policies exist only on paper, as they are not implemented.

14 March 2023

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay in the chapel

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay upon his installation as WCC general secretary: “God has saved me for this moment”

As Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay was installed as the ninth general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), he reflected on how much the day means to him, and he sought prayers from the worldwide fellowship and from all people of good will as he continues his work.

17 February 2023

WCC shares message with 8th General Synod of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa

World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca recorded a greeting for the 8th General Synod of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa.

03 October 2022

Prof. Dr Sarojini Nadar: “I believe knowledge is power, and critical for justice work”

Prof. Dr Sarojini Nadar is director of the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, University of Western Cape, South Africa. Below, she reflects on outcomes from the inaugural “Ecumenical Women’s Initiative for Leadership and Learning” held in May.

28 July 2022

WCC general secretary-elect Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay: “If we learn to trust the work of the Holy Spirit, we can find each other even through difficulties”

The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee elected Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay as the ninth general secretary at its 17 June meeting. Below, Pillay reflects on his longstanding passion for ecumenism and his expectations for the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe.

23 June 2022

WCC general secretary-elect believes growing up in South Africa will help his approach to conflict and suffering

The general secretary-elect of the World Council of Churches (WCC) believes that growing up during a period of conflict and suffering in South Africa will stand him in good stead when he takes up his position as the head of the ecumenical body in January as a leader who believes in dialogue.

18 June 2022