WCC NEWS: Press conference focuses on key role of youth in addressing the world’s injustices

Unless the efforts of youth are mobilized for institutional change, their efforts to live sustainably, ethically, and mindful of consumption will not have an impact, warned Ruth Mathen, delegate of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, during a WCC assembly press conference on 5 September. 5 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: press conference was given by Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, general secretary of ACT Alliance and a member the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil and Ruth Mathen, Programme Consultant at Christian Conference of Asia at the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September, under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Sean Hawkey/WCC 05 September 2022 Her comments came following a thematic plenary on “Affirming the wholeness of life,” about challenging indifference and systemic injustices so that we can more deeply interconnect the world in which we live. “Bodies like this,” she said referring to the WCC assembly, “churches as a whole, Christians as a faith community, can make a statement and make an impact.” “It’s a big ask of young people,” said Mathen when asked how youth can be responsible for holding corporations accountable for climate justice. “That is not the task of just young people. It is the task of every citizen of this planet.” During the press conference, Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, general secretary of the ACT Alliance, spoke about how the work of the ACT Alliance goes beyond that of just a humanitarian organization but also includes sustainable development and advocacy. While the organization is currently responding to emergencies all around the world—both large-scale crises such as the war in Ukraine, as well as “forgotten” emergencies in Afghanistan, Yemen and South Sudan—it is also engaged in programs which address climate justice, gender justice, peace and human security, migration and displacement, and disaster risk reduction. “Our work is interconnected,” he said. “We do not believe that humanitarian development and advocacy work should be separated in silos.” Building a sustaining future means working together for justice, human rights and promoting democracy, said Beuno de Faria. “We need to work together.” Asked about whether youth were adequately represented within the WCC, Mathen praised the WCC and assembly for allowing youth to be present. “The WCC is the primary or first space where I’m able to share a table with someone as senior as the general secretary of the ACT Alliance. I’m able to sit in the same row as the primate or the head of a particular church. That kind of space I would not find anywhere else as a young person.” While noting her gratitude for the structure of the WCC in allowing young people to be present, she also noted “there is definitely scope for greater involvement in the decision-making body.” #WCC assembly - Press conference 05.09.2022 Livestream of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany Photos of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany 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 352 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 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