World Council of Churches

Prayers for Ukraine rang ’round the world on 24 August, from large ecumenical services to quiet reflections, all expressing solidarity and determination for justice and peace. The day also marked the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

Across Africa, churches are stepping up aid for children affected by civil wars and conflicts, as crises rise on the continent.

Kathy Kuczka, producer and director of the documentary “Taizé: A Pilgrimage of Trust,” reflects on what sparked her creative idea, and how the authenticity of nine young people gives the film a sense of hope. 

During a visit to Nigeria from 20-27 August, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay participated with the Church of the Lord (Worldwide) in celebrating its 90th historic Tabieorar Anniversary, under the theme "Faithful & Glorious God.”

In a special message marking the 78th anniversary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed gratitude for the historic journey that began in 1948 in Amsterdam.

In a message to the Mother's Union of the Church of the Lord (Aladura), Nigeria, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed gratitude for the women’s faithful witness, steadfast commitment to prayer, and tireless service to the church, their families, and their communities.

A discussion on “AI Utility, Ethics, and Governance” on 20 August hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) featured Ezekiel Takam, who recently completed his PhD on Theology and AI Ethics at the University of Geneva; and Michael Meier, who is International Affairs Attaché for the Canton of Geneva.

Michael Tettey went to Cotonou to talk about land. Victoria Ebunoluwa Olatunde went to talk about water. Souleymane Guindo travelled from Mali to argue that water is a common good rather than a commodity. All 25 of them, one of the largest missions brought to the World Social Forum by the World Council of Churches (WCC), set out knowing the government of Benin had told organizers it would not host it.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay will visit Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria from 20-27 August, to strengthen the bonds of fellowship and cooperation among the WCC member churches in Nigeria, and to deepen the relationship between the WCC and the churches in the country.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep sorrow at the passing of Rev. Neville George Callam, honouring his life and ministry as a pastor, church leader, ecumenist, and servant of the wider Christian community.

The film “Nun Dul Dega Eomne” (Nowhere to Lay My Eyes) earned the prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, held 5-15 August.

On 5 June, churches and faith-based organizations from Colombia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, together with investment and ecumenical partners, submitted a complaint under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. The complaint concerns HSBC Holdings plc and its financial relationship with Glencore, the company operating the Cerrejón coal mine in La Guajira, Colombia. This is the third in a feature story series that illustrates the impacts of the Cerrejón mining operation on the environment, water access, and pollution.

Rev. Dr Esther R. Suter, who currently lives in Basel, Switzerland, attended the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at Bossey for a term from 1978-79. 

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, in a letter to the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and WCC member churches in Zimbabwe, expressed heartfelt solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe, and especially to the families and communities affected by the tragic ferry disaster on Lake Kariba. 

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended prayers and assurance of solidarity with the people of Flores Island and East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, following a devastating earthquake that struck the region on 15 August. 

In a two-part interview with Christian Peschken, Geneva correspondent for EWTN Germany, World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm reflects on the ethical, political, and spiritual challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

In a recent interview with EWTN News, Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), discusses how the climate crisis is not just an environmental but a spiritual issue.

During the 26th International AIDS Conference, held 22-31 July, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the World Council of Churches (WCC) deepened its work by living into the conference theme of “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.”

Jenny Sprong is a South African Methodist minister and former social justice coordinator at Diakonia Council of Churches in Durban. She played a central role in keeping the Thursdays in Black campaign alive in South Africa during its “silent years.” In conversation with World Council of Churches (WCC) publications coordinator Lyn van Rooyen, Sprong reflects on a period when the Thursdays in Black campaign seemed to disappear—and why it is thriving in South Africa today. 

In a year marking the 80th anniversary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, alumni gathered in Ambon, Indonesia, on mid July, for some informal reminiscing about what they took home from the living laboratory of ecumenism.