WCC NEWS: WCC executive committee welcomes the establishment of UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent

The World Council of Churches executive committee, in a public statement, welcomed the establishment of the UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent. A group of women walk towards the Borgop refugee camp, Cameroon. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF, 2019 16 November 2021 “We lament the continuing and resurgent challenges of racism, xenophobia and related discrimination and intolerance, and re-affirm the commitment of the global ecumenical fellowship to the equal human dignity and rights of all people as children of God…” reads the statement. “We recognise the establishment of this Forum as a milestone in the fight against racial injustice.” The WCC executive committee communicated awareness that there are countries that have been hesitant or resistant to the furthering of proposals that might lead to a systematic engagement in addressing historic inequities and injustices. “Therefore as a fellowship of churches we invite these countries to come to this new table of further reflection and repair with a renewed openness to ways in which this conversation can be deepened in order to move towards justice and reconciliation,” reads the statement. The WCC executive committee is meeting—in-person for the first time in two years—from 12-17 November at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute. Read full statement: Statement - On the establishment of the UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent WCC executive committee member shares reflection on “how are we called to act in love and justice?” (WCC press release of 15 November 2021) WCC executive committee “reimagining the future” with a sense of hope (WCC press release of 12 November 2021) WCC executive committee to hold first in-person meeting in two years (WCC press release of 12 November 2021) 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 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland