WCC news: Patriarch Bartholomew calls for global ecological solidarity

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew marked the beginning of the ecclesiastical year and the Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Natural Environment on 1 September with a message describing the ecological crisis as "a crisis of human freedom, of our religion and philosophy, of our ethos and our culture." He called on humanity to build a shared "body of common fundamental values" rooted in solidarity. 21 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland: His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 01 September 2026 The Ecumenical Patriarchate established the observance in 1989. Each year, more churches across the Christian world have taken it up, and the patriarch called this growth "a symbol and practical promotion of the unity of Christians." "Humanity must at last cease acting as though it does not know and definitively cast aside the illusion that planet Earth can in perpetuity withstand the burdens and destruction caused by human activity, or that nature has the power to renew itself of its own accord," the patriarch said. He called for "ecological responsibility" to be treated as "a categorical imperative," from the personal level to the global. The dominant model of human behaviour, he warned, is exemplified by the Gospel’s "foolish rich man" (Luke 12:17–21): it drives what he termed "geocide," consumerism, and the exploitation of nature for economic and geopolitical gain. In its place, he called for a "Copernican Turn" in how humanity understands progress and its relationship with creation. For the World Council of Churches (WCC), 1 September opens this year’s Season of Creation, themed "Living Water" and drawn from the Book of Ezekiel (47:9, 12). Running through 4 October, the season is part of the WCC’s Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034), bringing together prayer and advocacy for water stewardship and climate justice worldwide. Read the message here Season of Creation 2026: Living Water WCC to join Season of Creation prayer amid climate extremes (News Release, 26 August) 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: Webinar will explore “Care of the Elderly: Challenges and Opportunities in an Ageing World”

A webinar on 16 September, “Care of the Elderly: Challenges and Opportunities in an Ageing World,” will be hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC), Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican) St James’ Settlement on Elderly Care, and St John's Medical College, Bengaluru. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 31 August 2026 The webinar will explore how churches can respond to the growing challenges and opportunities of ageing societies, at a time when the number of people aged 65 and over is rising in virtually every country. The webinar will bring together perspectives on human rights, mental health, palliative care, access to care, the future role of care workers, and the ethical use of AI, with practical examples. The discussion will equip church leaders and communities to support older persons with dignity, compassion, and justice, in line with the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and emerging international standards on the rights of older persons. Communities and societies are increasingly confronted with the realities of population ageing, as people aged 60 and older already represent a rapidly growing share of the world’s population and are expected to be one in six people globally by 2030. This demographic shift amplifies care needs related to chronic illness, disability, long‑term care, loneliness, end‑of‑life issues, mental health, and access to appropriate, affordable services, while care systems often lag in capacity and integration. Evidence shows that loneliness and social isolation are major public health and spiritual concerns in later life, associated with increased risks of depression, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality, and one in six older adults globally experiences abuse. At the same time, care work is often carried out by undervalued, underpaid, and predominantly female workers and family caregivers. They face workforce pressures, migration, financial strain, and complex ethical questions around the use of digital tools and AI in care. These concerns go beyond social and medical issues to include pastoral, ethical, intergenerational, and human rights questions that call for a coordinated response from faith communities and churches, which are uniquely placed to address spiritual suffering, build community, and advocate for justice.  Speakers Prof. Arvind Kasturi, professor of Community Health at St John’s Medical College, Bengaluru, and a leading expert in community medicine and geriatrics leads the St John’s Geriatric Centre. Rev. Dr Fr Stavros Kofinas, moderator of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople), and coordinator of the Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care. A priest, theologian, and a practicing psychotherapist. Josephine Lee, CEO, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican) St James’ Settlement on Elderly Care - a member agency of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Church), which has developed “Continuing Care” since 1967 to provide one‑stop, professional elderly care services and promote respect for older persons. Facilitators Dr Janice Wing‑Hang Tsang, member of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing and co‑convener of the Anglican Health and Community Network. Dr Gisela Schneider, member of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing and the cochair of the Working Group on Access and Health Systems. Rev. Dr Miriam J. Burnett, member of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing and cochair of the Working Group on Access and Health Systems. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Yaci5f0SQ6SvSUx6vn9KMg#/registration 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: Churches to tackle war economies at Panama consultation

Global military spending reached 2.887 trillion US dollars in 2025, the highest level ever recorded and the 11th consecutive year of growth, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. As militarized economies deepen conflict and ecological harm worldwide, faith leaders, theologians, and practitioners from Panama, Argentina, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, and beyond will gather in Panama City from 26–28 August for the NIFEA Consultation on Economy of Peace, part of the churches' campaign for a New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA), to ask how churches can help reshape economic systems toward justice and peace. Photo: Robyn Sekula/Presbyterian Foundation 27 August 2026 War economies are not inevitable – they are choices,” stated Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, World Council of Churches (WCC) programme director for Life, Justice, and Peace. “Scripture tells us that ‘the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness, and trust forever’ (Isaiah 32:17, NRSV). Churches are called to imagine, and to build, economies that serve life and peace rather than profit from conflict. This consultation is part of that work.” “The experience of these days confirmed how financial powers control our region with such an impact in daily life and deepening inequality,” said Rev. Dora Arce Valentín, who leads the Alianza de Iglesias Presbiterianas y Reformadas de América Latina. “Our hope [for the NIFEA Consultation on Economy of Peace] is to make a difference in the way churches engage themselves in connecting faith and economic/ecological transformation for the sake of justice and peace as a core value of Jesus’s followers.” The consultation is convened by the WCC together with five global church communions and mission agencies. Over three days, participants will examine how war economies and unjust financial systems fuel conflict, and explore an economy of peace grounded in the biblical vision of shalom – peace as right relationship, not merely the absence of conflict. The gathering also connects to the wider Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034). A theological communique and advocacy plan will follow to guide churches’ engagement in the months ahead. NIFEA Consultation on Economy of Peace 2026 (Event Page)  Sustainability and Economy of Life  NIFEA group calls for reimagined global financial alternatives  GEM School shows 21 leaders that another economy is possible (Feature Story, 27 August 2026) Global military spending rise continues as European and Asian expenditures surge  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: Webinar panel will discuss ecological cost of AI

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and Canadian Council of Churches will host a webinar panel discussion, entitled “Counting the Ecological Cost of AI - Data Centres, Water, Energy, and Critical Mineral Extraction,” on 17 September at 10 am (GMT-4:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada).  Photo: CCC and WCC 27 August 2026 Training AI models can use as much electricity as hundreds of households, and a single AI conversation can require half a litre of fresh water for cooling. Behind every chatbot query sits a data centre: consuming energy, water, and critical minerals, often imposed on rural and poor communities without their consent. Participants will discuss a potential "red line" to test and refine: Additional energy consumption required by AI must be carbon neutral and must not contribute further to the rate of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use. Those gathered will also explore focused church campaigning to support communities and advocate for regulations to halt unchecked data center construction. The webinar will bring together theologians, ethicists, and scientists to explore what climate justice demands of the AI age, and how churches can respond.  Moderator Peter Kuhnert, WCC Faith and Science Working Group co-chair  Panelists Rev. Glen Chebon Kernell, Seminole Nation, United Methodist Church in USA and member of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs  Rev. Dr Yoon-Jae Chang, Presbyterian Church in Korea and member of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development Wanjou Lin, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and University of Tubingen  Register 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 tells COP17 that land restoration needs faith partners

Mongolia is hosting the UN Convention to Combat Desertification for the first time, with nearly 77 percent of its land already degraded. Its theme is "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope." A World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation is in Ulaanbaatar for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17). Photo:  COP17 26 August 2026 "We have still too much land degradation all over the world, from Africa to, yes, North America, Turtle Island, even in the United States . . . We are finding new science, but also newer and deeper theological perspectives to help us move toward solving these challenges," said Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith, WCC president from North America, part of the delegation in Mongolia. On 22 August, the WCC joined an official COP17 side event, "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope: Faith Communities as Partners in Land Restoration," held with the G20 Global Land Initiative. Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food, argued that advocacy on land restoration has to rest on evidence. Governments have committed, through the G20 Global Land Initiative, to halving the world's degraded land, affecting 3.2 billion people, by 2040. WCC delegates at COP17. Among them (second from the right), Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith, WCC president from North America. Photo: Dinesh Suna/WCC Suna presented the Living Planet Monitor, the WCC publication that sets land, water, and food indicators by region and highlights what churches and communities are doing. Volume one appeared in November 2024. The second covers north, west, and central Africa. The third, launched in February 2026, turns to South Asia. That evening, about a hundred people gathered at the Khuree Maidar Temple for an interfaith Talanoa Dialogue, the Pacific practice of listening built on three questions. The WCC joined the Mongolian Buddhist community and the Brahma Kumaris. Groups worked through them: where we are now, where we want to go, and how we get there. The organizing team is compiling the outcomes. Dinesh Suna presenting the Living Planet monitor at COP17 side event. Photo: WCC WCC representatives remain in Ulaanbaatar until COP17 closes on 28 August. It is the first of three UN conventions meeting this year: biodiversity, also a COP17, in Yerevan, Armenia, in October, and climate COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, in November. All three fall within the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034) advocacy activities.  WCC at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP17 WCC advocates faith-based solutions for land restoration at the Desertification COP16 WCC launches Living Planet Monitor 3 on South Asia at ICARRD+20 Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action 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