WCC news: WCC general secretary extends greetings to Multistakeholder Interfaith Dialogue on Forced Displacement

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended greetings to the Multistakeholder Interfaith Dialogue on Forced Displacement and Shared Sacred Flourishing, which will take place at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees headquarters on 28 July. Kutupalong Refugee Camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 27 July 2026 “As we mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, we honour a landmark commitment to protect people forced to flee persecution and conflict,” said Pillay. “Yet this anniversary must also be a moment of honest reflection and renewed resolve.” He noted that, across the world, millions of people continue to be displaced by war, occupation, persecution, human rights violations, economic deprivation, and the growing consequences of climate change. “Many face prolonged uncertainty, exclusion and insecurity, while the international protection system itself is coming under increasing pressure,” he said. “Forced displacement is not only a humanitarian or legal challenge.” Pillay added that forced displacement is a profound human experience of loss: the loss of home, community, belonging, livelihood and, too often, hope. “Responses must therefore go beyond meeting immediate material needs,” he writes. “The concept of Shared Sacred Flourishing offers an important contribution to this endeavour.” Our well-being is bound to that of others and to the health of the communities and environments we share, reflected Pillay. “Faith communities are often present before humanitarian agencies arrive and remain after international attention has moved elsewhere,” he writes. “They provide shelter, food, education, health care, psychosocial and spiritual support, and help sustain community life.” Faith actors also have a responsibility to address the deeper causes of displacement, Pillay continued. “Humanitarian assistance alone cannot substitute for political action,” he writes. “As preparations advance towards the Global Refugee Forum 2027 and the future Agenda for Protection and Solutions, I offer three considerations.” First, Pillay urged that displaced and stateless people must participate meaningfully in shaping the policies and decisions that affect their lives. “Nothing about them should be decided without them,” he writes. “Second, partnerships with faith actors should be strengthened at both strategic and local levels, while supporting their capacity to uphold protection standards and respond inclusively to people of all faiths and none.” Third, our shared efforts must connect protection and humanitarian response with peacebuilding, social cohesion, and action addressing the root causes of displacement, Pillay urged. “The World Council of Churches remains committed to working with UNHCR, Religions for Peace, faith communities, governments, civil society and, most importantly, displacement-affected communities themselves,” the message concludes. “Together, we must seek a world in which every person can live in dignity and safety, participate fully in community life, and flourish in relationship with others.” Read the full message WCC, UN Refugee Agency sign historic memorandum of understanding that deepens collaboration (WCC news release, 1 June 2026) WCC leaders visit UN Refugee Agency (WCC news release, 9 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: WCC to enter Dialogue on Displacement and Shared Sacred Flourishing

Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee, will participate in a Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on Displacement and Shared Sacred Flourishing on 28 July, organized by Religions for Peace and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).  Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm during a recent WCC solidarity visit to Ukraine. Photo: Deacon Andrii Sydor/Orthodox Church of Ukraine 27 July 2026 Also attending will be H. E. Metropolitan Emmanuel, Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon, member of the WCC executive committee and chair of the Advisory Board of the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities, Bishop Mark Edington, bishop in Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, and other religious leaders. In addition to the dialogue, the day will include a commemorative event marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The dialogue will bring together partners with the Members of the Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, Religions for Peace, and UNHCR leadership, to explore how values-based approaches can strengthen protection, dignity, social cohesion, and solutions for displaced populations, and will provide a space for open exchange between humanitarian actors and faith leaders in a spirit of collaboration. It will also be an opportunity to hear more about the “Shared Sacred Flourishing” framework and its relevance to displacement contexts. The programme will include a closed-door dialogue between Multi-Religious Council of Leaders members and UNHCR; a broader multi-stakeholder dialogue with representatives from the United Nations system, faith-based organizations, refugee communities, and humanitarian and development partners on forced displacement and “Shared Sacred Flourishing;” and a reception for the 75th Anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. “How we deal with the weakest members of our global community is a test for our humanity,” said Bedford-Strohm. “Nowhere does this become more visible than in our treatment of refugees.” Bedford-Strohm reflected that many refugees have experienced terrible things in their home countries. “In their quest for a safe haven they experience danger, insecurity, and unfortunately often also xenophobia,” he said. “UNHCR is a beacon of light in their care for refugees.” Refugees deserve every possible support, Bedford-Strohm added. “This is why I am happy and proud to now serve on UNHCR’s Multi-religious Council of Leaders,” he said. “Caring for the strangers is not only a political obligation. It is a religious duty!” Multi-Religious Council of Leaders | UNHCR WCC, UN Refugee Agency sign historic memorandum of understanding that deepens collaboration (WCC news release, 1 June 2026) WCC leaders visit UN Refugee Agency (WCC news release, 9 June 2026) WCC delegation makes solidarity visit to Ukraine (WCC news release, 17 July 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: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land calls for release of Natalie Abudayyeh

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, with other churches and individuals across the world, are calling for the release of Natalie Abudayyeh, a 21-year-old university student who has now been held in Israeli prison for nearly two months.  Photo: ELCJHL 24 July 2026 “Though we thank each of you who have advocated for Natalie over the last several weeks, we are both devastated and outraged to share that our voices, and the voices of all others who have called for her release, have not been heard,” reads a statement by Bishop Dr Imad Haddad, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. “Today Natalie had an appearance in Israeli military court,” he explained. During this hearing, the judge ordered that she remain in prison until 23 September, when she will make another court appearance.  “Israeli authorities have denied all the family's requests to have Natalie released on bail for the duration of the proceedings and have refused to allow them to visit or contact Natalie in any way,” said Haddad. “They are exhausted, troubled, and losing hope that the church, local or global, will be able to help bring Natalie home.” For Natalie to spend another two months minimum in Israeli prison is incomprehensible, he added. “She is still being held at Damon Prison, where prisoners have reported terrible conditions and repeated human rights violations,” Haddad said. “We are incredibly grieved by this news and deeply worried about her safety.” Within this grief, he added, we hold fear and uncertainty for the future of all youth.  “I ask you to consider how it would feel to be Natalie's parent, sibling, pastor, or friend,” he said. “Our community is angry and hurting.” At the minimum, Haddad called for her family and a church representative to be able to visit her. “We ask that the family's request for Natalie to be released temporarily on bail be reconsidered,” he said. “We continue to pray without ceasing, and we ask you to continue to pray and advocate as well, both for Natalie and for all our youth” 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 delegation meets with President of Zimbabwe

An ecumenical delegation led by World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay met with the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as officials from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  23 July 2026 In addition to Pillay, those meeting with Mnangagwa included general secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches Rev. Wilfred Dimingu; president of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches Bishop Dr Ignatius Makumbe; Rev. Dr Suzanne Matale from Zambia, representing the All Africa Conference of Churches general secretary; Rev. Dr Hanns Lessing, executive secretary for Theology and Ecumenism at the World Communion of Reformed Churches; Rev. Mzwandile Molo, South African Council of Churches general secretary and current chair of the Fellowship of Church Councils in Southern Africa; and Dr Masiiwa Gunda, WCC programme executive and Ecumenical Institute at Bossey adjunct professor.  President Mnangagwa opened the meeting by welcoming the delegation, then acknowledged the work of the churches in the areas of climate resilience, peace building, and national healing. He spoke of his government’s commitment to peace, justice, and fighting of corruption.  In responding to the President’s remarks, Pillay began by acknowledging the historic warm relations between the WCC and Zimbabwe from the days of the liberation war to the historic WCC 8th Assembly held in Harare 1998, during which both the then-President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe and then-President of South Africa Nelson Mandela offered remarks.  Pillay congratulated President Mnangagwa on the election of Zimbabwe as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council and urged that this opportunity be used wisely to work for peace and security in the world.  Pillay recognized that Zimbabwe is generally a peaceful country when compared to many other countries. However, like every other country, there are always issues that bring division and dissatisfaction among people. He then shared some issues that concern the churches and people in Zimbabwe, which included, the amendment to the constitution to extend the term of the president, unemployment of youth and the social problems linked to this, the unfair and inequitable distribution of wealth, climate change and gender-based violence,   Pillay referred to the historical trauma and wounds of the people that continue to strengthen the need for reconciliation and healing in the country. Representing the request of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Pillay reiterated their call for an all-inclusive National Dialogue in the country that is led by the churches with the participation of government. He urged the government to support and participate in this process.  The WCC general secretary also reflected on the xenophobic experiences of Zimbabweans and other foreigners in South Africa. He underscored the need for a sustainable reintegration strategy for returnees to Zimbabwe and affirmed the willing spirit and desire of the ZCC to collaborate with government to develop and implement a reintegration plan.   Other members of the ecumenical delegation shared further thoughts and concerns, and the President responded to the matters raised.   The meeting concluded with Pillay expressing his profound joy and gratitude to the ZCC for their willing and positive spirit to collaborate with government to help make Zimbabwe a better country for all people and all creation and acknowledged the government`s desire for the same with appreciation and thanks for the meeting. A prayer was offered for the President, the government and Zimbabwe.   In Zimbabwe, “the church cannot retreat into private spirituality” (WCC news release, 22 July 2026) WCC to lead solidarity delegation to Zimbabwe (WCC news release, 14 July 2026) Photo gallery of the visit to Zimbabwe 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

EarthBeat Weekly: A Franciscan sister's Arctic expedition leads to calls for preservation

A Franciscan sister's Arctic expedition leads to calls to conserve, not drill   EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change July 24, 2026   The 19-million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Northeastern Alaska is seen from the air in June 2026. (Andrew Black) In late June, a time when sunshine radiates at all hours of the day in parts of Alaska, Franciscan Sr. Joan Brown joined a small crew of faith leaders on a journey into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Their aim was not leisure but learning and listening — from both the land and the Indigenous people who have called this remote part of the world home for centuries.  "I had no goals in going there, other than just to listen and be present," Brown told me just hours after returning back home to Albuquerque, where for two decades she served as executive director of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light, a faith-based environmental group. As a follower of St. Francis of Assisi, listening to the land comes natural for Brown. What she heard from Sister Mother Earth was the Arctic was a sacred place teeming with an abundance of life. It was a message standing counter to political narratives and portrayals that often frame the refuge — a 19-million acre federally protected reserve the size of South Carolina — as a barren, frozen tundra where oil drilling offers major economic windfalls while posing little threat to the ecosystem. "[It is] one of the keystone places for life on the planet," she said, "and we just don't have a sense of that and that sacredness and the balance and our need for that place." The faith expedition came just two weeks after the first of four drilling lease auctions along the refuge's Coastal Plain mandated by Congress as part of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates 4.25 billion to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil lie beneath the Coastal Plain. While the lease sales so far have drawn few bidders, they are part of an aggressive push by the Trump administration to open more public lands and waters in Alaska and across the country to extraction and development. Combined with the impacts of climate change, with the Arctic warming two to four times faster than the rest of the planet, Alaska's vast wildlife refuge is facing significant threats on multiple fronts.  Calling attention to those threats drove the faith expedition that Brown joined to this remote yet ecologically critical corner of the country, not just for Alaska but for biodiversity across America. "Why the Arctic is really critical for people of faith is that it's one of the few places left on Earth that is truly untouched since God created it," the Rev. Andrew Black, a Presbyterian minister and EarthKeepers 360 founder who organized the expedition, told me.  "This trip is fundamentally about reawakening the soul of America to how important the Arctic is from a biodiversity, climate and spiritual perspective." Read more: A Franciscan sister journeyed to the Arctic. She found a land teeming with life. What else is new on EarthBeat:   How a Benedictine monk built Rhode Island's first utility-scale wind turbine by Camillo Barone The project was a test of whether Portsmouth Abbey and its school were willing to act on environmental values. "This is kind of a put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is kind of deal," says Br. Joseph Byron. Read more here »   Villanova unveils Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal ahead of Rome conference by Brian Roewe A new award created by Villanova University, named after its most famous — and only papal — alumnus, will recognize extraordinary efforts in caring for the Earth and the common good. Read more here »   Peru: Historic churches severely damaged following earthquakes by Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News After a pair of earthquakes struck the mountainous region of Junín in Peru, the Catholic Church in the country expressed solidarity with victims' families and is coordinating humanitarian aid to help victims, as well as efforts to preserve damaged historic churches. Read more here »   CRS receives State Department funds to 'significantly expand' humanitarian aid to Cuba by Gina Christian, OSV News Catholic Relief Services is welcoming federal support that will help "significantly expand" humanitarian aid to Cuba, as the Caribbean nation battles multiple crises. Read more here »   What data center protests, Andy Burnham reveal about rebuilding a populism of the left by Michael Sean Winters On both sides of the Atlantic, people are fighting back to stop huge, powerful corporations from having their way with the things we should all share, writes Michael Sean Winters. Read more here » What's happening in other climate news: Majority of US voters link extreme weather to climate crisis, study finds —Dharna Noor for the Guardian France recorded 5,700 more deaths than usual during its historic June heat wave —John Leicester for the Associated Press US cancels automatic protections for imperiled animals as critics warn of extinctions —Matthew Brown for the Associated Press Zeldin vows to fulfill coal industry's 'wish list' —Hannah Northey for E&E News Why did energy-saving tips disappear from the Energy Department website? —Kate Yoder for Grist EPA violated key soot standard in Clean Air Act, court rules —Avril Silva for Inside Climate News Judge hits the brakes on land sale near polluted Anaconda site —Jeniffer Solis for Nevada Current 'A better way to be relevant': Greens embrace data center fight —Zack Colman for E&E News From rivers to mangroves, microplastics are contaminating the Amazon —Tiago da Mota e Silva for Mongabay Final Beat: As it often goes in reporting, not every details or anecdote makes it into every article.  That was certainly true with my story on the faith expedition to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), but I'll share one omitted story here. The trip was organized in partnership with the American Lands Project (ALP), a conservation organization that connects policymakers and other groups with public lands and waters. This was the first time ALP brought faith leaders to ANWR. But it wasn't its first faith connection, as a church-facilitated encounter with nature inspired one of its funders to a lifetime of conservation work.  Tom Campion was a 14-year-old eighth grader when in August 1962 he took part on a 10-day backpacking trip in Olympic National Park in Washington with his local Catholic Youth Organization chapter.  "And I just fell in love with the mountains," he told me.  It's a love that has continued throughout his life. He joined more CYO hiking trips, and eventually the burgeoning environmental movement of the 1970s. One of the first forays into activism was securing protections for the Spotted Owl.  The founder of Zumiez, an action sports retailer with more than 700 locations, Campion and his wife Sonya later established the Campion Advocacy Fund to further efforts to address homelessness and conservation. Their work has garnered praise from environmental groups, as well as former President Barack Obama.  Through ALP trips into ANWR and other public lands, the goal is those immersions will lead to greater protections for the lands that captured Campion's own heart seven decades ago. What led to the faith leaders expedition, he told me, was recognition of the importance of faith for so many people in America.  "It's almost like biblical, you know, care for God's creation." As always, thanks for reading EarthBeat.   Brian Roewe Environment Correspondent National Catholic Reporter broewe@ncronline.org     Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? 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