WCC News: Geneva Peace Forum panel explores what faith brings to peacebuilding

The World Council of Churches (WCC) hosted a panel at the annual Geneva Peace Forum on 15 October that explored the role of faith-based actors in peacebuilding. “What Faith Brings to the Dialogue Table” was co-organized with ACT Alliance, Arigatou International, and Caritas Internationalis. Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs moderates the panel discussion “What Faith Brings to the Dialogue Table” at the Geneva Peace Forum on 15 October 2026. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 16 October 2026 Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, who moderated the discussion, opened the session by remarking on how the credibility of religious leaders is drawn from their local presence.  “Faith-based actors—especially locally-rooted religious actors who are known and respected in their communities— are key contributors to peace processes in many parts of the world,” he said.  Mgr Héctor Fabio Henao Gaviria, delegate for Church-State Relations at the Colombian Episcopal Conference, stressed how the most effective peacebuilders do not speak on behalf of victims but clear the way for them to speak for themselves. “Trust is a form of capital,” he said. “No lasting peace can be built by force alone.” Jenny Neme Neiva, WCC special envoy for dialogue and political engagement in Colombia, spoke about the peace dialogue tables in Colombia.  “When there are so many messages about war worldwide, it is always important to defend spaces to talk about peace,” she said. “In our case, as ecclesial actors, our work developed very much from a pastoral perspective.” Neme also cited the importance of “improbable conversations” on the road to peace.      Wendyam Hervé Lankoandé, member of the International Geneva Peace Fellowship, serving at the WCC, highlighted how the Central African Republic is a country with decades of political instability. “The civil war that occurred back in 2013—I think this was a key moment because the civil war was painted as a religious war,” he said. “In fact it wasn’t. But violence entrepreneurs, they managed to frame the conflict as such.” Lankoandé called on faith-based actors to serve as reservoirs of expertise, knowledge, and wisdom. Rayane Baydoun, project officer in Emergency Response and Youth at the Adyan Foundation based in Lebanon, reflected on the foundation’s work to support inter-religious cooperation and harmony, and about the vital importance of building trust. “Faith actors should be partners in these ecosystems from the beginning,” she said. “They can also be a moral voice for human dignity.” Dr Rachel Tavernor, global advocacy and policy manager at ACT Alliance, gave closing remarks. “Perhaps what is most central—at least from my own faith tradition—is the understanding that peace and justice cannot be separated,” she said. “Faith rooted in local communities brings something distinctive to the dialogue table. This work requires patience, humility, and deep listening.” Reflecting on the event afterwards, Prove observed that “this panel session presented a range of relevant experiences of faith-based engagement in promoting peace, across the spectrum from Track 1 official dialogue processes to informal local-level community-based initiatives for peace and social cohesion. It made the case for the recognition and integration of religious leaders and faith-based initiatives in the wider ‘peace eco-system’ – which is very much needed in this time of proliferating conflicts and disengagement from dialogue in favour of armed violence. As one of the speakers said, our hashtag is #keeppeacealive.” Photo gallery of the panel discussion More on the Geneva Peace Forum 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

Truth and Action Roundup 10.17.26

View this email in your browser Welcome to the Truth and Action Roundup, your reliable weekly source for information, inspiration, and opportunities for action during the second Trump administration.  Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to continue receiving it. Election Section: As we prepare for the midterm elections, we want to share some of the work being done to protect fair and free elections. Start with this Sojourners story on how faith leaders are preparing for the midterms. There will also be a national No Kings call on the 29th people can sign up to attend here. This week, as early voting has begun in this year’s midterm election, we’ve seen the President’s administration escalate its assault on the constitutional order by having the Department of Justice target Representative Ilhan Omar for a politically motivated investigation. This latest act from Donald Trump’s executive branch comes after years of personal invective aimed at the House member from Minneapolis, attacking her, as well as a broad pattern of denigration aimed towards Somali people in general from the administration. Trump’s personal racism towards Somali people and the Islamophobia animating much of the administration’s policy are now being used directly in the service of undermining democracy as Americans go to the polls. As we witness an administration openly putting the full weight of the government behind prosecuting a woman out of ethnic and religious animus, Christians must commit to speaking out against this abuse of power being carried out against Congresswoman Omar. As we enter this critical flashpoint for our country, we must consider the full breadth of the meaning of democracy and our participation in it. As the country is once again asked to decide the character of our nation by voting for our own representatives, we must think about what it means if the administration can at the same time target a representative of the people, in an attempt to render her beyond the civic community, because she represents communities they hold in contempt. We must also understand that the same administration willing to aim the machinery of mass deportation toward a sitting U.S. Congressperson is also sweeping up thousands and thousands of people who are often never named. In considering our path forward, we must also speak out for the people in our communities who have been targeted with violence from the administration enabled by the same hate we see on display in this current moment. Christians across the country have often been on the front lines of resistance, and as we enter voting season, we must again answer the call our faith demands of us. –– Rev. Moya Harris and Chad Stanton, Sojourners P.S. We are continuing to build an intentional community of people looking to live out their faith in our Sojourners Faith and Practice Forum on Mighty Networks. Please consider joining us. In the News Here’s a look at what happened this week: Voting has already begun in this year’s midterm elections, and we’re seeing efforts to counter Trump’s attempts to intimidate voters. Elon Musk is the biggest donor of the 2026 election cycle, giving about $366 million to conservative candidates and right-wing causes according to a federal filing. His spending this cycle outpaces the $300 million he put into Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign. Georgia set a midterm record Tuesday on its first day of early voting, with more than 188,000 people casting their ballots. Black voters are driving the high turnout, making up more than 36% of the votes cast on Tuesday. Civil rights and pro-democracy groups have begun sending out trained volunteers to polling locations around the country to counter any possible deployment of armed federal agents. The volunteers, who will be unarmed and non-partisan, are there to explain voting rights, de-escalate confrontations, and document any voter intimidation or other misconduct. Trump continued to weaponize the federal government against both states and individuals. Minnesota’s top Medicaid official is worried the state could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for claims it has already paid out. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has frozen more than $550 million in Minnesota Medicaid funding since February. If CMS never pays Minnesota, the state may need to ask providers for the money back. On Monday, federal agents searched the home of U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D. – Minn.). The Justice Department historically has avoided public investigative actions involving a candidate within 60 days of an election, which has led top Democrats to seize on the timing of this search as an example of “continued corrupt weaponization” of the Justice Department against President Trump’s political adversaries. President Trump has formed a committee of his own political appointees to investigate unproven allegations against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who Trump has sought to oust. Many analysts believe the committee is meant to enable Trump to fire Cook by clearing procedural hurdles raised by the June Supreme Court ruling that blocked Cook’s firing. International news remained turbulent, especially as it relates to Ukraine, Iran, and Cuba. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he would not abide by the U.S. plea not to attack Russian refineries, and Russian President Vladimir Putin refused President Trump’s demand for a cease-fire, making an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine seem more distant than ever. Tensions between Zelensky and Trump were already high after the U.S. decided last week to lift sanctions on Russian diesel. The U.S. military has new strike plans that include possibly using the “mother of all bombs (MOAB)” on Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Trump gives the order to resume combat operations. There’s significant concern that the bomb could be used due to its surface level destructive power and psychological effects as an attempt to declare victory despite the fact that it lacks the penetrative power to destroy possible nuclear facilities located deep underground. The Cuban government is planning to transition the island to renewable energy amid the oil blockade imposed by the United States that is strangling the nation’s economy. Even before the blockade, Cuba had already been installing solar farms with China-supplied panels, shipments of which have increased since the blockade took effect in January. Take Action SojoAction is currently calling on Attorneys General to commit to protecting free and fair elections. The Worker’s Circle is also calling on Sheriffs to pledge to protect free and fair elections. What We’re Reading “Ms. Rachel Is Simply Prophetic” | “For two years, in the rectory where I live, my spouse and I hosted two parents seeking asylum along with their Canadian-born child.” (by Gerlyn Henry)” “This Is What An Antifascist Spirituality Looks Like” | “At the beginning of the second Trump administration, a homemade yard sign appeared in my neighborhood.” (by Adam Joyce) Deep Breaths This week, the SojoAction team gathered with the Kettering Foundation at Airlie for "Future Tense: Imagining What Comes Next." We came together as faith leaders, organizers, scholars, and others to ask what kind of future we're building and how we build it together. It felt fitting to ask those questions at Airlie, a place that hosted the NAACP’s first annual Civil Rights Conference, the only venue south of the Mason-Dixon line to host an integrated gathering at the time. Being at Airlie reminded me that the work we explored this week is part of a larger legacy, one carried forward by the leaders and movements that came before us.  In that space, we were challenged to move beyond practice into theory, to dream with a prophetic imagination, and to clarify what a shared goal looks like together. But one line from youth panelist Rev. T. Micah Washington has stayed with me: "Ready is a decision, not a feeling." This was a needed reminder for me, as someone deeply committed to justice, that it can often feel like taking one impactful step forward is not enough, but it is. As we near the final days before the election, I pray we decide to be ready. I pray we use our hands and feet to show our hearts. I pray we take time to lament with our neighbors who are hurting because of immigration policy, the economy, and the ongoing fight for racial justice. In a world that feels like it's drawing further away from care and compassion, I pray we remain curious, empathetic, and constantly in search of joy. I pray we pay attention to the things that feel challenging yet that pull our hearts. I pray our hearts remain tender, gentle, and firmly committed to a love embodied through action. I pray this election is one step toward concretely creating a world that seeks to freely give and embody agape love like God. I pray that we would not only be filled with the Spirit but also persistently negate selfish motives. I hope we dare ourselves to create worlds that center on giving up our privileges for the betterment of humanity. — Aleah LaForce, SojoAction Fellow The Truth and Action Roundup is compiled by Sojourners staff: President: Rev. Adam Russell Taylor Senior Research Associate: J.K. Granberg-Michaelson Digital Content and Community Specialist: Kassandra Tapia Chief Program and Impact Officer: Bryan Epps Political Director: Chad V. Stanton Senior Program Director: Rev. Moya Harris Education and Engagement Program Manager: Cortnie Brooks Mobilizing & Policy Fellows: Alyssa Parker & Aleah LaForce Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842

EarthBeat Weekly: In midterms, Catholic voters must keep national parks in mind

EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change October 16, 2026   In midterms, Catholic voters must keep national parks in mind by Stephanie J. Peddicord Attacks on the National Park Service are just tip of the iceberg of ecological sins, and a specifically Catholic issue. Read more here »     When it comes to creation, we need to be more pious by Daniel P. Horan St. Bonaventure's characterization of St. Francis' ecological piety highlights virtue of kinship. Read more here »   Sustainability award bearing Pope Leo's name spotlights his own environmental record by Brian Roewe The new Pope Leo Sustainability Medal, created by Villanova University, puts a spotlight not just on its inaugural recipient but on how Leo has situated environmental concern for the church during his papacy so far. Read more here »   President Trump is both attacking green energy and helping it by Thomas Reese, Religion News Service Before the war with Iran, the world was moving to green energy because it was cheaper. Now it is a stampede, impelled by both economics and national security. Read more here »   A spotted sandpiper dances as I birdwatch with Kierkegaard by Nikolas Dahmen The Danish Christian thinker Søren Kierkegaard envisioned birds as teachers worthy of our attention. What can birdwatching teach us about joy? Read more here »   Featured Advertisers Enhance your ministry and advance your degree. Explore flexible online certificate and degree programs at Saint Vincent Seminary. What should Catholics consider when voting in the 2026 midterm elections? Join NCR for a conversation with expert panelists on Oct. 19 at 2 PM ET / 1 PM CT.   Advertisement

Sojourners - Ms. Rachel among the prophets

View this email in your browser By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners Ms. Rachel’s song “Hop Little Bunny” has 143 million views on YouTube. About 75 of those were me.  I learned about Ms. Rachel the way most aunties do: from watching the prolific YouTuber mesmerize my two-year-old niece. The songs in Ms. Rachel’s channel land somewhere between “Baby Shark” and Taize chants for toddlers: simple, repetitive lyrics that worm their way into your soul. Add hand motions and affirming, age-appropriate wisdom (For example, on potty training: “This whole thing is new / But you are amazing / I believe in you!”), and kids are transfixed—at least, until the grown-ups in the room need a break from the sweet, sing-songy rhymes.  I was surprised, then, when Sojourners colleagues mentioned Ms. Rachel in a conversation about genocide in Gaza. Rachel Griffin Accurso is not just a genius creator of toddler content; she is also a Christian whose faith has inspired her to speak out against anti-Black racism and in support of Palestinian children. In one clip that especially provoked critics, Ms. Rachel plays with Rahaf, a little girl from Gaza who lost both her legs in an Israeli air strike.   For Rev. Gerlyn Henry, this sets Ms. Rachel among the biblical prophets: “She took a child who state violence had tried to make invisible and placed her center stage, forcing millions of people to look at the human cost of the genocide in Gaza.” But being prophetic was never just about public advocacy. Henry points out that there’s also something prophetic about tactics that “may seem basic,” but gently, firmly, and yes, repetitively, say otherwise.   Elsewhere this week: Saving the evangelicals? Bonnie Kristian’s new book argues that evangelicals have been unfairly critiqued. Sojourners’ Mitchell Atencio had some questions.   Aslan’s pronouns: Here’s everything we know about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia, including the director’s favorite C.S. Lewis book and Meryl Streep’s, uh, mane role.  A hunger for justice: We’re all too familiar with the kind of Christianity that quietly (or loudly) supports injustice. So…what’s the opposite?  Flamenco-inspired forgiveness: Laurel Mathewson sees a 34-year-old Spanish pop star through the approving eyes of a 16th-century Spanish mystic.   Awkward prayers: To the question “Have you prayed about it?” many faith and justice leaders would answer “yes.” Yet so would Pete Hegseth. Where do we go from here?  Destroying the Ring (camera): “When my wife and I moved into our new house, one of the first things we did was tear out the surveillance system,” writes Rose Marie Berger.  And one more thing: Last week, I described pumpkin spice hummus as “questionable,” but one reader wrote back and said: “You might be surprised.” While I suppose that’s true, I still can’t bring myself to “taste and see,” but I appreciate the reminder to leave room for new perspectives. Keep it coming!  Ms. Rachel Is Simply Prophetic How do we teach children to say basic but radical things so that we can change the future? Read the full article Advertisement Community Notes This email from Judith Mangubat in Washington, D.C. in response to the article “‘We’d Rather Be Prepared’: Faith Leaders Organize Ahead of Tense Midterms” has us thinking about ways to get involved in the upcoming midterm elections:   I became a pollworker more than 30 years ago and served in various roles; including ballot clerk, ADA voter assistance, IT technical advisor, precinct captain, and early voting site coordinator. De-escalation and conflict resolution skills are indispensable for each role; robust support and instant communication networks among precincts, election administrators, and public safety teams are extremely important.   We want to hear what you’re doing to help during this election season. Are you planning to vote? Give a ride to someone so they can vote, too? Proudly display your “I voted” sticker? Help work at a polling station? Hit reply to this email and let us know.  Our Latest Stories A Defender of Evangelicalism Answers Our Questions (by Mitchell Atencio) Bonnie Kristian’s new book argues critics are unfair to evangelicals, but are evangelicals unfair to their reformers? Read more Everything We Learned About Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Adaptation (by Tyler Huckabee) Narnia fans can rest easy. That was my thought upon leaving a sneak peek at Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia adaptation. Read more This Is What An Antifascist Spirituality Looks Like (by Adam Joyce) Resisting Christofascism means developing antifascist spiritual practices. Read more Attending a Rosalía Concert with Teresa of Avila (by Laurel Mathewson) Rosalía takes the stage as a global pop star. But she performs in the tradition of saints and mystics. Read more From the Magazine: When Oppressor and Oppressed Pray to the Same God (by Liz Cooledge Jenkins) Praying doesn’t mean God is on our side. Read more From the Archives: Why We Tore Out Our House’s Surveillance System (by Rose Marie Berger) Under whose watchful gaze do we choose to live? And what does real security look like? Read more Advertisements Catholic Charities: Neighbors Helping Neighbors When neighbors help neighbors, hope blossoms. For more than a century, 170 Catholic Charities agencies have served communities across the country and down the street, no matter beliefs or differences. Be the hope around the corner — in your neighborhood, nationwide. Learn more and volunteer at PeopleofHope.us. Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #342, Washington, DC 20003 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842