World Council of Churches

Panel discussions combined with a dialogue of gratitude framed a celebration of 80 years of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. Faculty, current students, alumni, friends, and World Council of Churches (WCC) leaders gathered to appreciate the current milestone, reminisce about the past, and reflect on how Bossey can potentially approach its future.

Francis Fourie is a library assistant at the New York University Abu Dhabi. She shares what Thursdays in Black means to her, particularly after the passing of her sister, Rev. Prof. Dr Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel. 

During an address commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay reflected on “From Vision to Viability: Restating Bossey’s Mission for a Changing World.”

Global religious leaders shared greetings during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey on 7 October. 

The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey will celebrate its 80th anniversary on 7 October, bringing together students, alumni, faculty, staff and partners from across the global ecumenical movement. The full-day programme will also be available to watch online via Zoom, allowing the wider Bossey community to join the celebration from around the world.

During the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, presidential envoy for nuclear justice and human rights Senator David Anitok met with World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay.

As the official 80th anniversary celebration for the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey began on 7 October with an opening prayer, Rev. Prof. Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus, former deputy general secretary of WCC, offered a sermon from the perspective of one who served Bossey for 16 years, particularly in the chair of ecumenical theology.

A multi-stakeholder dialogue, “Faith Forward: Reclaiming HIV in the Health Agenda” was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in partnership with the Network of Positive Advocates of the Philippines.

A commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) was held 4 October in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

A gathering of World Council of Churches (WCC) commissions and reference groups on Life, Justice and Peace opened in Chiang Mai, where ecumenical leaders will explore what “Being Church in the World Today” means. 

World Council of Churches (WCC) Programme Director for Unity, Mission and Ecumenical Formation Rev. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba shared an update to the WCC Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation (EEF) meeting at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey 4–9 October. Nalwamba emphasized that formation should be understood not simply as a collection of educational activities, but as a fundamental “ethos” of the WCC.

Rev. Prof. Dr Meehyun Chung, moderator of the WCC Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation, shared a report on 5 October that offered an overview of the commission’s most recent work as well as a glimpse of future plans. 

As the Season of Creation officially closed on 4 October, people gathered online from across the world for a prayer service that not only recapped many green initiatives but also encouraged ongoing action to care for creation. 

World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator of the central committee Rev. Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm and Rev. Prof. Dr Meehyun Chung, moderator of the WCC Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation, met with the speaker of National Assembly of South Korea Cho Jeong-sik. 

An International Ecumenical Peace Convocation held, 9-13 September in South Korea, has released an “Affirmation of Just Peace.”

In a special message entitled “The Spirit of Ecumenical Learning,” World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay shared appreciation for the work of the WCC Ecumenical Education and Formation Commission as they start their biannual meeting at the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. 

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay received H.E. Ambassador Amira Hanania, a Palestinian diplomat and media veteran who serves as the representative of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Europe. 

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay received H.E. Muneera Naoufal Aldosari, executive director of the King Hamad Global Center for Coexistence and Tolerance, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, on 1 October. Aldosari was accompanied by Ebrahim Anwar Albalooshi, international cooperation specialist.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Geneva Assembly of Churches organised an evening of testimonies in Geneva on 1 October. The special event provide a direct platform for those on the ground who are holding fast to hope and building peace in their daily lives.

The 2026 Right Livelihood Award is honoring women and women-led organisations confronting the world’s most entrenched power structures: authoritarian rule, patriarchal violence, and unchecked AI development.