World Council of Churches

Anton Goodman is director of Partnerships for Rabbis for Human Rights. He took time to reflect on how and why Rabbis for Human Rights values its partnership with the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel; the challenges ahead; and ultimately the vision for a just and peaceful future.

Moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm visited the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey and the Ecumenical Centre on 27-28 January, experiencing and seeing the gifts, talents, and activities that make Geneva a focal point for the ecumenical movement. 

Under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, chief advisor to His Majesty for Religious and Cultural Affairs and the Personal Envoy, the University of Dar Al-Kalima in Bethlehem, and the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman organized "The International Consultation on Understanding Christian Zionism and Its Effects on Christians in the Middle East." The conference was held at the Baptism Site from the 23-26 January. 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was observed across the world with services, prayers, and gatherings—all with a heart for bringing together people in profound ways. From 18–25 January, people were inspired by the 2025 theme, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26), as they united in prayer and reflection.

In an address before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 27 January, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke of how religion can provide a unique perspective in the objective to eradicate poverty and hunger, to address fundamentalism and racism, and to advance tolerance and dialogue. 

World Council of Churches (WCC) Communication, in collaboration with the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, invites media to cover the funeral service of Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios.

Gospel must not be instrumentalized by politics – and churches should never apologize for reading the Bible or for preaching the Gospel, said moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm during his reflection at a morning prayer on 27 January.

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended congratulations to H.E. Abune Basliyos upon enthronement as 6th Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. 

During a moving ceremony on 27 January, 28 students graduating from the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey reflected on the profound and unique experience that will unite them as they embark on their journeys back to different parts of the world.

Anastasios Yannoulatos, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, died in Athens, Greece, on 25 January 2025 at age 95.

Communication from the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2024, through storytelling via many channels, fostered unity in unprecedented ways across the world. From the largest global prayer gathering, to 2.3 million engagements on social media, to large numbers of young visitors both in-person and online, WCC communications connected with more people, in more ways than ever.

Students from the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey are visiting Rome for a week, where they are taking part in a rich programme featuring lectures, guided tours of the Vatican, and meaningful exchanges with leaders from the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

Amidst a surging conflict in the east, Christian denominations in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 15 January, launched a strategy to help churches confront prolonged violence and humanitarian crisis in the central African country.

The World Council of Churches extended condolences upon the passing of Rev. Dr William G. Rusch, an internationally recognized scholar and champion of ecumenism who taught at Yale Divinity School for many years. Rusch died on 16 January at the age of 87.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) joins the ecumenical movement, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Kirkpatrick family in celebrating the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr Clifton Kirkpatrick.

Members of various Geneva churches gathered this week for the celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at Saint Paul’s church in the Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambésy.

In 2025, one of the few years when Christians of all traditions will celebrate Easter on the same date – 20 April – a webinar being organized by the World Council of Churches on 13 February will explore how churches might renew the search for a common Easter date as a sign of their unity in faith.

Nawal Barakat lives in the village of An Nabi Samwil. It’s only eight kilometers northwest of Jerusalem—but it might as well be a world away. 

A World Council of Churches (WCC) staff visit took place from 12-21 January, aimed at empowering faith communities in Jamaica to take action on sexual and gender-based violence, racism, reparations, and climate justice.

Scholar Kristina Mantasasvili chose to focus her doctoral dissertation on work related to the World Council of Churches (WCC). She took time to reflect on what inspired her, the challenges she faced, and the hope she has for the growth of future visions.