WCC NEWS: WCC extends prayers, solidarity in wake of Mount Semeru eruption in Indonesia

As rescue efforts continue in Indonesia following the eruption of Mount Semeru, World Council of Churches (WCC0 acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca extended prayers and solidarity on behalf of the global WCC fellowship. WCC Pilgrim teams visited Java and West Papua in Indonesia on February, 2019. Photo: Marion Unger/WCC 07 December 2021 At least 15 people are dead following the eruption, and hundreds of residents have been displaced. Mount Semeru is the tallest volcano on the Indonesian island of Java. Search and recovery efforts continue after the volcano spewed hot ash and mud into nearby villages, damaging nearly 3,000 houses and 38 schools. “Amid the chaos and the loss, we pray for you, we stand in solidarity with you, and we want to share our condolences with the families and loved ones of the victims,” said Sauca. “We pray for God’s mercy on those who are injured. We pray that God might guide the churches and the rescue workers responding to the needs of the people. “We want to assure you that our solidarity and prayers will be ongoing as you continue to cope with the devastation of this disaster,” said Sauca. People living up to six miles away from the volcano have been urged to evacuate. Mount Semeru last erupted in January and is considered one of Indonesia's most active volcanos. WCC member churches in Indonesia 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