Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Taking a ‘how’ mindset toward disability inclusion

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WCC News: WCC condemns escalating violence in the Middle East

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay condemned the escalating violence in the Middle East, including Israel's recent airstrikes on Iran and its ongoing military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. 
23 November 2022, Bethlehem, Palestine: A man walks across the street that marks the edge of the Aida camp, established in 1950 by UNRWA and located between the municipalities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Jerusalem. The camp is partly surrounded by the separation wall raised by Israeli authorities to block off the West Bank. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
29 October 2024

“These actions not only endanger countless civilian lives but also constitute grave violations of international law, pushing the region closer to a wider and devastating conflict,” he said. "We urgently call on all parties to exercise immediate restraint.”

Pillay noted that an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon is essential to prevent further loss of life and suffering. “Only through halting these hostilities can we pave the way for meaningful dialogue, which remains the only viable path to a sustainable and just peace,” he said.

A recent vote by the Knesset to ban the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)’s operation in Israel could lead to the closure of its headquarters in East Jerusalem.

“We strongly condemn this unprecedented legislation, which effectively targets a UN humanitarian agency, poses a severe threat to the crucial work of UNRWA—a body that has, for over 70 years, provided indispensable aid and relief to Palestinian refugees,” said Pillay. “In solidarity with those affected in Gaza, Lebanon, and throughout the Middle East, we appeal to the international community and faith communities around the world to join us in advocating for an end to this destructive cycle of violence.”

Pillay concluded: “We call for a renewed commitment to international law, diplomacy, and respect for human dignity and sovereignty, which are essential for building a lasting and peaceful future for all people and nations in the region.”

Read the WCC Statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East

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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 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

WCC News: Armenian churches urge the world to pray for hostages, and pursue truth and justice

H.H. Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, asked for people to join the prayer for Armenian hostages on 10 November.
Photo: Gloria Koymans/WCC
29 October 2024

“We are convinced that such a global prayer held by the World Council of Churches will encourage the participation of Christian communities, diplomatic missions, media representatives, and all relevant international organizations,” said H.H. Catholicos Karekin II. “It is our sincere hope that this spiritual effort will raise global awareness of this ongoing humanitarian crisis and will promote a peace-bearing solution, based on truth and justice.”

Answering this call, the World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting all people of good will to join a prayer day for Armenia—for peace, for support for refugees, and the release of war hostages—on 10 November, the day before the opening of the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan. 

The military aggression against the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh in September-October 2020, followed by the ten-month-long total blockade of the Lachin corridor and the forced displacement of around 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral lands in September 2023, remains a critical concern.

COP29 presents a unique opportunity to advocate for the unconditional release of the 23 Armenian hostages, as well as the Azeri political prisoners and journalists detained in Azeri jails.

WCC moderator Bishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm reflected that Armenia needs our prayers. “Christian faith has accompanied the Armenian people since the beginnings of the Armenian Apostolic Church in 301 AD,” he said. “The future is unclear.”

Bedford-Strohm reflected that God will accompany the people of Armenia, and we can join God in accompanying them through our prayers. “Our prayers will reach their hearts and souls and strengthen them,” he said.

WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay invited all churches to join the call to prayer, and also urged continued support from the international community. 

“We remain in prayerful solidarity with the Armenian Apostolic Church and ecumenical partners in Armenia,” he said. “We reiterate our call for a just and sustainable peace in full compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law."

The WCC will organize a local prayer service in St Pierre Cathedral on 10 November at 5pm CET Geneva in collaboration with the Armenian community. 

 

Gracious God,
We bring before you today the people of Armenia.

We praise you for all the gifts with whom you have blessed them: the strength of their faith, the beauty of their churches, the inspiration of their liturgies, the extraordinary talents expressed in their arts and culture, the resilience with which they have overcome the challenges in their history.

We bring before you what darkens their lives in these days: the tears of those who have lost their loved ones as victims of military aggression. The uncertainty of those who had to flee from their homes and are now fearing about their future. The destruction of precious holy churches in the war.

You are the light of the world. Send your light into the hearts of all those inflicted and inspire them again and again with your spirit of faith, love and hope.

 

Prayer service for peace in Armenia, St Pierre Cathedral

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The World Council of Churches' website
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 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

WCC News: WCC’s peace-building work in Africa deepens in partnership with member churches

Rev. Dr Ibrahim Wushishi Yusuf, World Council of Churches programme executive for Peacebuilding in Africa and coordinator of the WCC Africa Regional Programme Office in Abuja, Nigeria, took time to reflect on the focus for peace-building work in Africa in 2025, and why inter-religious dialogue is so important. 
Rev. Dr Ibrahim Wushishi Yusuf, World Council of Churches programme executive for Peacebuilding in Africa. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC
29 October 2024

Would you please describe your current work in Abuja?

Rev. Dr Yusuf: To strengthen its peacebuilding work in Africa, WCC leadership decided to relocate the regional programme office from Geneva, Switzerland to Abuja, Nigeria. The relocation of the office took place in the first quarter of the year 2024. Since then, the WCC Regional Office in Abuja has been committed to providing the necessary mobilization and creating awareness on recent development among the member churches; it provides ecumenical accompaniment and support to member churches advocating for a nonviolent approach, promotion of social justice, and the transformation of structures that generate violent conflicts in the region. 

The Africa regional programme office in Abuja, among other things, coordinates WCC peace-building in Africa with the goal of supporting and accompanying member churches and church-related institutions. The office also strengthens ecumenical collaboration with regional and sub-regional ecumenical organizations, ecumenical partners, specialised ministries, and other relevant stakeholders in the promotion of justice, reconciliation, peace and Unity in Africa. The Abuja programme office has been supporting and strengthening the capacity of member churches to be voices for peace and stability in the region and to provide supports to other WCC programmes within the region. 

As the program executive for peacebuilding and the coordinator for the African office, I have visited some member churches in Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Ghana. I have also visited subregional ecumenical organizations and national councils in the region advocating for collaboration and solidarity with communities that have been suffering violent conflict in the continent. I am happy to inform you that the reception has been so amazing and well appreciated by the member churches and other stakeholders in the region. 

What are your priorities and what is your focus as we approach 2025?

Rev. Dr Yusuf: As we approach 2025, the WCC Africa Regional programme Office is prioritising deepening engagement in peace-building work across Africa, focusing on supporting member churches in addressing the root causes of conflict and fostering justice, reconciliation, and unity through ecumenical collaboration and inter-religious dialogue. 

The office will work closely with the member churches, national councils, and subregional and regional ecumenical bodies to promote justice, peace, and human dignity, especially in areas affected by protracted violent conflict such as South Sudan, Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Also, the office will serve as a convener and facilitating intra-faith and interfaith dialogue among religious leaders to mediate conflicts and promote healing in divided communities and to support grassroots peace initiatives, advocating for the inclusion of women and youth in peace-building processes, recognizing their critical role in sustaining long-term peace. 

Additionally, the office will deepen its advocacy for justice and human rights, expanding the role of women and youth in peace processes, and investing in capacity-building and leadership development programs and climate-related conflict. 

What are the highlights so far in the peace-building work in the Africa region?

Rev. Dr Yusuf: The World Council of Churches has continued to be actively involved in peace-building efforts across Africa, addressing the root causes of conflicts and fostering reconciliation through its extensive network of member churches with a focus on the conflict-affected nations of South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Cameroon. 

In South Sudan, the WCC as a member of the Ecumenical Network for South Sudan has continued accompany the South Sudan Council of Churches and churches in their work for justice, reconciliation, and unity in the context of communal and ethnic conflict. Their work also involves engaging women and youth in supporting peace and reconciliation processes. Through the South Sudan Council of Churches, an ecumenical platform, the WCC is supporting the implementation of the Action Plan for Peace, which includes psycho-social support (trauma healing sessions) with violent conflict survivors, advocacy for justice, and the pursuit of peace at both national and grassroots levels. 

In September 2024, the WCC, together with the Ecumenical Network on South Sudan Africa Hub, embarked on an ecumenical solidarity visit to Juba in the face of political transitional uncertainty and to support the South Sudan Council of Churches and churches in the ongoing ecumenical transition in the council. The visit reinforced the commitment of WCC to support and accompany the South Sudan Council of Churches and the churches in the current challenges and provide pastoral accompaniment

In Sudan, the WCC’s peace-building efforts have focused on supporting the churches’ engagement in the country’s political transitions. Since 2023, the WCC has collaborated with the regional and subregional ecumenical organizations and Sudanese churches to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and other regions of the country. The WCC’s work in Sudan also involves strengthening interfaith relations and supporting human rights advocacy, particularly through the Sudan Ecumenical Forum, a WCC-led initiative aimed at fostering peace and promoting justice through church cooperation. 

In April 2024, the WCC organized an ecumenical solidarity visit to Port Sudan led by WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay to provide pastoral support and accompaniment, to enhance ecumenical solidarity, and pray for the churches and people of Sudan who are devastated by the ongoing war. The visit had in participation the regional and subregional ecumenical organizations, ACT Alliance, General Board of Global Ministries, and other ecumenical partners and specialised ministries. 

In Ethiopia, the WCC has been involved in addressing the tensions that have risen from the conflict in the Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and other regions of the country. The WCC African region has continued to facilitate and support the joint initiatives of the three main churches—the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Lutheran Church, and Ethiopian Catholic Church on their joint initiatives including the proposed Ethiopian Christian Council formation. The WCC seeks to encourage dialogue, reconciliation, and humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.

In Nigeria and Cameroon, the WCC’s focus has been on mitigating the impact of insurgencies, kidnapping, and ethnic conflicts, particularly in areas affected by Boko Haram and other extremist groups and the environmental pollution in the Ogoni region. The WCC works closely with the churches in these regions to advocate for peace, protect human rights, and provide support to displaced populations. In Nigeria, through the regional office in Abuja, we are strengthening support to the WCC-supported interfaith centre in Kaduna with strong collaboration with other interfaith initiatives in Nigeria to promote interfaith relations for peace, bringing together Christian and Muslim leaders to foster cooperation and address the root causes of religious and ethnic tensions. 

Similarly, in Cameroon, the WCC has backed peace initiatives in the Anglophone regions, encouraging dialogue between separatists and the government while emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid and reconciliation efforts. Through these diverse efforts, the WCC contributes to sustainable peace and justice in some of Africa’s most conflict-prone regions.

What is the role of inter-religious dialogue in achieving mutual understanding and peace in the conflict areas in Africa? 

Rev. Dr Yusuf: Inter-religious dialogue plays a vital role in fostering mutual understanding and peace in conflict affected areas across Africa where religious differences often intersect with political, ethnic, and social tensions. By bringing together leaders and communities from diverse religious backgrounds. Inter-religious dialogue creates a platform for shared values such as peace, justice, and human dignity to emerge as common goals. In regions where religion has been manipulated to fuel conflict, dialogue between faith groups helps to break down misconceptions and stereotypes, encouraging respect for diversity. This approach has proven vital in countries like Nigeria and the Central African Republic, where religious and ethnic divides have often driven violence. Through dialogue, faith communities can become partners in peace-building rather than adversaries.

In conflict areas, inter-religious dialogue also facilitates trust-building and reconciliation, which are essential for long-term peace. Religious leaders often hold significant influence over their communities, and their involvement in peace processes can lead to more sustainable outcomes. By engaging in honest conversations about grievances and aspirations, religious leaders from different traditions help mediate conflicts and foster forgiveness. This was evident in South Sudan, where Christian and Muslim leaders, through ecumenical and interfaith platforms, played a vital role in advocating for peace and reconciliation among warring parties. 

Moreover, inter-religious dialogue strengthens community resilience by encouraging collaboration on social issues that transcend religious divisions, such as poverty, education, and healthcare. When religious groups work together to address these common concerns, they create a foundation for peace that is rooted in mutual benefit and collective progress. In conflict areas such as Nigeria, interfaith cooperation has led to joint peace initiatives as seen in the case of the WCC supported interfaith centre in Kaduna, humanitarian efforts, and advocacy for justice, given the fact that dialogue not only reduces tensions but also contributes to rebuilding fractured societies. Thus, inter-religious dialogue is a powerful tool in transforming conflict into an opportunity for collaboration, understanding, and enduring peace.

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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 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

WCC interview: Colombian peace and biodiversity: how are they related?

At the UN biodiversity COP16 in Cali, Colombia, Dr Humberto Shikiya, World Council of Churches (WCC) special envoy to the peace process in Colombia, and Rev. Milton Mejia, coordinator of DiPaz, the main ecumenical peace-building platform in Colombia, took time to explain the relationship between the peace process in Colombia and the biodiversity conference agenda, as well as why ecumenical commitment makes a difference. 

Dr Humberto Shikiya and Rev. Milton Mejia Photos: Marcelo Schneider/WCC

30 October 2024

What is the relationship between the peace process in Colombia and the UN biodiversity conference agenda?

Dr Shikiya: The peace-with-nature approach reaffirms what has been agreed upon in various peace dialogue processes between the government and guerrilla groups since the beginning of the negotiation cycles—namely, achieving peace with social and environmental justice.

This approach underscores the significance of holding COP16 in Colombia, the fourth most biodiverse country in the world. The challenge of COP16 is to link biodiversity loss with climate change, promoting sustainable and fair peace.

In fact, the minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Dr Susana Muhamad, the current president of COP16, has been present at the inauguration of the Peace Dialogue Table between the government and the general staff of the FARC-EP. This Peace Dialogue Table is permanently accompanied by the World Council of Churches, the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church of Colombia, the United Nations, and the Organization of American States.

Rev. Mejia: COP16 was an opportunity to organize a joint agenda of events and collaborations between DiPaz and the WCC, two organizations working together on peace-building in Colombia, alongside other church, ecumenical, and social organizations (both national and international). This facilitated stronger cooperation around the concept of peace with nature, contributing to a new understanding and approach to peace and reconciliation in Colombia's conflict context.

How do you view the ecumenical commitment in this event on a local and global scale?

Dr Shikiya: The ecumenical coordination to participate in the various COP16 spaces has been largely led by DiPaz and the WCC, in collaboration with different organizations such as ACT Alliance, IRI Colombia, Laudato Sí Movement, Qonakuy, Climate Justice and Faith, and Tearfund.

This coordination was organized before COP16 began. It reflects the ecumenical commitment of these entities to participate in common events at both institutional and civil society levels. The WCC's official delegation has been involved in these three spaces, actively connecting them as delegates participated in all these spaces.

This type of ecumenical and interfaith coordination has been positively received.

Rev. Mejia: An agenda for reflection and dialogue on topics of peace with nature, biodiversity, territories, and spirituality was organized over five days with various religious and social sectors, as well as communities. This process provided input for a document outlining our perspective on peace-building.

We also shared and highlighted the situation of communities affected by the conflict, providing messages and insights for peace-building efforts from a territorial perspective.

Throughout the program, contributions and participation from church members and organizations took place in Cali, with female leaders, young people, theology students, and an average of 100 daily participants, while the Cultural Center had approximately 250 attendees.

The program also featured representatives from conflict-affected communities in Cauca, who shared their realities and dialogued with government representatives involved in peace talks. These representatives called for an end to armed confrontation, as it primarily affects communities, and urged the resumption of dialogues to seek a solution to the armed conflict.

What are the key issues to consider in your peace work following COP16 discussions in Colombia?

Dr Shikiya: Based on the outcomes of the activities conducted and any potential agreements from COP16 in Colombia, peace efforts will focus on:

  • Supporting local churches, ethnic communities, community organizations, and groups of young people and women in social dialogues related to territorial transformations based on social and environmental justice.
  • Influencing environmental agreements in the Peace Dialogue Table, particularly to halt deforestation, clean rivers, protect aquifers, and restore national parks in regions like Catatumbo and the Amazon.
  • Systematizing lessons that define a new narrative where environmental peace tied to territorial issues addresses the root causes of inequalities and injustices so that violence-affected populations can overcome these sustainably and lastingly.

Rev. Mejia: Our presence facilitated the establishment and strengthening of joint relationships and challenges with various organizations, creating a working agenda for the protection of biodiversity and the building of peace as a result of justice among humans and with nature.

WCC advocates for creation care and justice at start of triple COP journey - WCC news release, 24 October 2024

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The World Council of Churches' website
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 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

SojoMail - Preparing for the coming king (no, I don’t mean Trump)

View this email in your browser This week: Preparing for the heavenly king, resisting conspiracy theories, and learning to love, even when i...