WCC NEWS: Christian leaders from Africa, Europe, and North America unify on climate change and hunger ahead of COP27

At convocations on climate and hunger, held 18-19 October and 21 October, Christian leaders from Africa, Europe, and North America came together in various locations and in diverse ways to pray and work for solutions to the global hunger crisis made worse by climate change. DanChurchAid, a member of the ACT Alliance, is helping families in Akobo with food and livelihood projects aimed at lowering vulnerability and increasing food security at a time when the arrival of many newly displaced families increased competition in the community over scarce food resources. Growing a wider variety of vegetables is an important part of the program, which it carries out in partnership with Nile Hope, a South Sudanese organization. Photo: Paul Jeffrey / Life on Earth Pictures 27 October 2022 The first convocation, held in Nairobi, addressed “Global Faith Voices in Kenya, Listen and Learn: Addressing Hunger Through Climate Smart Agriculture.”  The second convocation was a gathering centered on prayer, exploring solutions, and advocacy.  During an opening prayer, Fr Philemon Zulu said: “Together, we share a fierce resolve to stand and work together to end the hunger crisis made worse by climate instability, to renew your creation, and to bring our planet into balance, forming a beloved community in which all of creation can thrive. We center our gathering around climate Justice as our means for furthering this resolve.” The gathering released a statement, “A Faithful Voice on Hunger and Climate Justice,” in which they expressed a fierce resolve to stand and work together. "To address the hunger crisis made worse by climate change, we draw from the wellsprings of our Christian faith,” the statement reads. “We recognize Christ’s suffering presence in the communities hurt first and hardest by climate change: those without adequate means to flourish, the historically underserved, and those least likely to have a voice at the table where policy decisions are made – the very people who suffer disproportionately even as their contribution to global emissions is almost negligible.” The convocations were organized by Bread for the World in partnership with many faith-based partners and non-governmental organizations.  Find more information about the event 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 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