World Council of Churches

The World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomed Prof. Dr Karen Nazaryan, executive director of the Armenia Roundtable Foundation, to the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva for a series of strategic meetings aimed at strengthening cooperation in ecumenical diakonia and social development.

World Council of Churches central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm will kick off a ten-month series on “Hope for…” moderated by Anne Freudenberg-Klopp, Theology and Sustainability, Ecumenical Center of the North Church and Astrid Hake, coordinator of the Ecumenical Network for Climate Justice.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and King’s College London, with Our Children’s Trust and Generations Together, have released a new report, “Accelerating climate solutions through youth-focused litigation: Report and findings of roundtables held at King’s College London on 5 April 2024 and 6 December 2024.” 

Amidst interethnic conflicts, armed attacks, and increasing humanitarian emergencies, churches in South Sudan, on 27 January launched guidelines to help communities deal with the persistent violence and strengthen peace.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Gender Justice Reference Group engaged in a series of visits in Harare, Zimbabwe during its meeting in December. 

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has launched the “Turn Debt into Hope” campaign, a global call to address debt injustice and climate inequality, which prevent vulnerable nations from meeting fundamental human rights.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) received Finnish ambassador Jan Wahlberg to discuss peace-building, with a special focus on Colombia, the Middle East, and Africa. WCC staff and Wahlberg also reflected together on inter-religious dialogue, climate justice, and mental health. 

Moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, speaking at the funeral of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, reflected on how much the archbishop was loved in Albania and across the world.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva are inviting a special screening of the documentary: "Via Dolorosa: The Path of Sorrows", on 18 February at the United Nations in Geneva.

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.