WCC news: WCC expresses great concern over plans for another Israeli settlement in West Bank

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed grave concern at plans and initiatives for the development of yet another Israeli settlement in the West Bank, in the Ush Ghurab area, next to Beit Sahour.  Photo; Albion Hillert/WCC “This development would further isolate Beit Sahour, accelerate the confiscation of Palestinian land, and threaten the future presence of one of the oldest and largest remaining Christian communities in the Holy Land,” he said. “It is part of an all too familiar story, of illegal settlements subsequently being officially recognized by the Israeli authorities and expanded, dispossessing Palestinians of their lands and rights, deepening the illegal occupation and settler violence and harassment, and undermining the future of Palestinian communities – including Palestinian Christians – in areas controlled by Israel.” Pillay called for this settlement project to be halted immediately. “We appeal to the Israeli authorities, responsible governments, and international institutions to act in accordance with international law, and to prevent this looming threat to the Indigenous Christian presence in the land of Christ’s birth, ministry, death, and resurrection,” he said. Read the full statement add here See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC News: WCC expresses deep concern over EU restrictions on protections for migrants and refugees

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep concern and lament following a recent vote in the European Union that further restricts protections for migrants and refugees.  Refugee families from Ukraine walk through the Vyšné Nemecké border crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, hundreds of thousands of refugees have crossed the border to Slovakia in search of refuge and shelter from war and an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation. Photo: Albin Hillert/Life on Earth 22 June 2026   “The timing of this decision – which coincides with the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention – adds a painful layer of irony to what should have been a moment of renewed commitment to international solidarity and human dignity,” said Pillay. “The 1951 Refugee Convention was born out of the humanitarian and moral crisis of mass displacement following the Second World War.” It enshrined a simple but profound principle: that every human being, regardless of origin, deserves protection when fleeing persecution and danger.  “Any erosion of this commitment weakens not only legal frameworks but the moral architecture of our shared humanity,” said Pillay. “The biblical witness consistently links the treatment of the stranger, the widow, and the orphan with the integrity of a just society.” Pillay called upon the European Union and its member states to reaffirm their commitment to the protection of refugees and migrants, to uphold international legal standards, and to resist political narratives that trade in fear and division. “We further urge churches across Europe and beyond to remain steadfast voices of conscience, to accompany migrants and refugees in practical solidarity, and to advocate for policies rooted in human dignity rather than exclusion,” he said. “At this critical moment, the measure of integrity of our societies will not be found in how effectively we exclude the vulnerable, but in how faithfully we protect them.” World Council of Churches Statement on the recent European Union vote concerning migrants and refugees WCC joins faith-based statement for World Refugee Day, 75th anniversary of Refugee Convention (WCC news release, 22 June 2026) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC NEWS: Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe launches awareness Initiative on protection against sexualised violence

The Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe has announced a Europe-wide awareness-raising and prevention initiative within Protestant churches related to protection against sexual violence.  Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 19 June 2026 Representatives from 40 Protestant churches are gathering at a conference in Warsaw to work on protection strategies, promote dialogue within the Protestant community, and support churches that have had little experience with this issue. The Communion of Protestant Churches Council recently adopted a statement calling on all member churches to give high priority to protection against sexualised violence and expressing regret for past wrongs. It supports Resolution 2533 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which calls for the comprehensive recognition, investigation, and redress of all forms of abuse in state, private, and church institutions across Europe.  The conference is being organised in cooperation with the Swiss Guido Fluri Foundation, which launched the European “Justice Initiative” and successfully lobbied the Council of Europe for Resolution 2533 in 2024. The Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe comprises almost 100 member churches representing around 40 million Protestants in Europe. Speaking during a press conference on 19 June, Rev. Rita Famos, Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe president, and president of the Protestant Church in Switzerland, underscored that safeguarding the most vulnerable is everyone’s responsibility.  “Europe must live up to its values when it comes to dealing with vulnerable people,” she said. Guido Fluri, founder of the Guido Fluri Foundation, said: “The consequences of abuse are devastating and they last a lifetime.” Since 2010, Fluri has supported efforts towards the historical investigation of child abuse in Switzerland. “The church did not talk about it. The state did not talk about it. Society did not talk about it,” he said. Dorothee Wüst, president of the Evangelical Church in the Palatinate, said that safeguarding is just the beginning.  “But in my experience it does not end there and it should not end there,” she said. “We have to concentrate on the survivors.” It’s an attitude that is not focused on the scandals but focused on human beings, Wüst added. “Trust is destroyed and it will grow not very fast.” Famos noted that the credibility of the church is only given when we don’t protect the church but protect the survivors or the victims. “We gain back the credibility when we protect our members that suffered,” she said. “I think that’s important to learn, and sometimes we need pressure from outside.” See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

Help Protect the Sacred Freedom to Vote

View this email in your browser As a co-leader of Faiths United to Save Democracy, I invite you to join me and Sojourners in helping ensure every eligible voter can exercise their sacred freedom to vote in this year’s elections. Across the nation, we are witnessing growing threats to free and fair elections, from voter intimidation and disinformation to efforts that weaken protections for all of us. As people of faith, we have a responsibility to take action. That is why Sojourners is partnering with Faiths United to Save Democracy to train people of faith to be Poll Chaplains and Peacekeepers for the 2026 election season. Poll Chaplains and Peacekeepers serve as a calm, nonpartisan presence at vulnerable polling locations, helping de-escalate tension, support voters, and ensure people can case their ballots free from intimidation. I had the privilege of serving as a Poll Chaplain in Philadelphia during the 2024 election, and I know firsthand how meaningful this work can be. You don’t need to be clergy to participate in this vital work. We are looking for people of faith who understand the importance of being able to vote free from fear. Our next virtual training will be held on Monday, July 13 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. EST. When you sign up here, you will also learn about additional opportunities to protect and strengthen democracy. Become a Poll Chaplain and Peacekeeper Thank you! Together, we can ensure every voter is treated with dignity and every voice has the opportunity to vote. In faith, Adam Russell Taylor President, Sojourners Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #342, Washington, DC 20003 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842

WCC News: WCC webinar to explore nuclear disarmament amid growing militarization in Nordic countries

The World Council of Churches Commission of the Churches on International Affairs will host a webinar “Nuclear disarmament in times of increased militarization: the experience from Nordic countries” on 30 June from 14:30–16:00 CEST. It will be part of a series on regional trends with global impact, offering perspectives from the ecumenical movement. Gotland, Sweden. Photo: Albin Hillert/Life n Earth 18 June 2026 Organized by the commission’s Peace and Security Working Group, the webinar will examine how increasing militarization in Europe is reshaping longstanding Nordic approaches to nuclear disarmament and peacebuilding. The discussion will also reflect on the role of churches and the wider ecumenical movement in responding to current geopolitical challenges. The webinar is the first in a five-part series designed to explore regional developments with global implications, offering perspectives from the ecumenical movement and contributing to ongoing reflections on justice, peace, and international affairs. Speakers of the webinar will include: Peter Weiderud, special advisor for Religion in Conflict and Peacebuilding, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Dr Tytti Erästö, senior researcher, Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute; Dr Minna Hietamäki, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland; and Fredrika Gårdfeldt, Church of Sweden and member of Swedish Priests and Pastors Against Nuclear Weapons. Drawing on experiences from Sweden and Finland, the webinar will explore the challenges facing nuclear disarmament efforts in the current security environment and consider how churches can contribute to peace, dialogue, and advocacy for disarmament. Webinar “Nuclear disarmament in times of increased militarization: the experience from Nordic countries” Register and join the webinar See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland