World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay met with His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade. The meeting marked a significant moment in strengthening the ties between the WCC and the Serbian Orthodox Church, focusing on the challenges facing the global Christian community and exploring ways to enhance inter-church cooperation.
The Center for Peace Theology at University of Hamburg, Germany, together with the Mennonite Congregation in Hamburg-Altona, gave the international Menno Simons Preaching Award to Riki Neufeld, pastor at the Evangelical Mennonite Congregation Schänzli in Muttenz (Switzerland).
The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Serbian Orthodox Church opened an exhibition titled, “World Council of Churches and the Serbian Orthodox Church (1948-1991): Exhibition of Archival Materials,” at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Zemun, Serbia, on 3 September.
In the opening event for the global Season of Creation, faith leaders from diverse Christian traditions gathered to reflect on the 2024 theme, “To Hope and Act with Creation,” focusing on humanity's relationship with nature and the urgent need for environmental justice.
In a 26 August statement, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem observe that the twelfth month of the devastating war is rapidly approaching, express their grave concerns, and urge an immediate ceasefire.
El moderador del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), el obispo Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, reflexionó sobre el 76º aniversario del CMI y ofreció una Oración por la Paz en la que compartió un mensaje de esperanza y confianza al poner el futuro del mundo en manos de Dios.
L'évêque Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, président du Conseil œcuménique des Eglises (COE), a évoqué le 76e anniversaire du COE et a prononcé une prière pour la paix qui a transmis un message d'espoir et de confiance en remettant l'avenir du monde entre les mains de Dieu.
Der Vorsitzende des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen (ÖRK), Landesbischof Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, blickte auf das 76-jährige Bestehen des ÖRK zurück und sprach ein Friedensgebet, das eine Botschaft der Hoffnung und des Vertrauens vermittelte, dass die Zukunft der Welt in Gottes Hand liegt.
World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm reflected on the WCC’s 76th anniversary, and offered a Prayer for Peace that shared a message of hope and trust in laying the future of the world in God’s hands.
A delegation from the World Council of Churches (WCC) attended the first United Nations Preparatory Committee (Prep Com) session for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) held in Addis Ababa 22-26 July. The delegation included Rev. Suzanne Matale and Brian Muyunga, who played key roles in advocating for fair financial systems and youth involvement.
Faith groups in Ethiopia are mobilizing humanitarian support, following a devastating landslide in Gofa Zone in Southern State that left at least 257 people dead, many injured and over 15,000 needing evacuation.
A team from the World Council of Churches (WCC) visited Egypt at the invitation of the Coptic Orthodox Church to plan for the 2025 World Conference on Faith and Order to take place at the Logos Papal Center at Wadi El Natrun, near Alexandria.
H.E. Metropolitan Dr George Coorilos, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, is a commissioner with the World Council of Churches Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation. The commission met at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, in June.
The latest issue of The Ecumenical Review – the quarterly journal of the World Council of Churches (WCC) – highlights the work of participants at the Global Ecumenical theological Institute (GETI) held in conjunction with the WCC 11th Assembly held in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2022.
The French Joint Committee for Catholic-Orthodox Theological Dialogue marked the 750th anniversary of the “Union” Council of Lyons II with a statement on 25 June. The message describes the decision-making process at the council that resulted in a rift between churches, and urges drawing lessons from this history.
