WCC news: WCC reiterates vital importance of multilateral cooperation

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee, in a statement, expressed its fundamental commitment, shared with the United Nations, to cooperation across boundaries and lines of division, as well as shared purposes for peace, human rights, justice, protection of the environment, and sustainable development. The United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, housed at the historic Palais des Nations. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 25 November 2024 At a time in history when the world faces a convergence of unprecedented crises, and when multilateral cooperation has never been more urgently needed to address these threats, the nations of the world seem locked in conflict and division,” reads the statement. “There is a deep deficit of trust in international institutions and among members of the international community, reflected in the proliferation of division, confrontation and conflict, and undermining humanity’s collective capacity to respond to current and future global challenges.” The statement affirms the intent of the UN Summit of the Future to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow. “Inevitably, that ambition is imperfectly realized in the resulting Pact for the Future adopted at the summit in September, which reads in large part as a catalogue of all the previous commitments solemnly made but substantially unfulfilled,” the statement reads. “Nevertheless, the executive committee affirms the main directions of the Pact for the Future, and issues an urgent appeal for all States to recommit to multilateral cooperation in order to address the pressing global challenges that threaten all our communities, and our common home.” The statement urges all nations to recall the horrors against the repetition of which international humanitarian and human rights law were developed to guard. “We welcome the more concrete commitments to reform of the UN Security Council, as an important means of making the UN more fit for today’s purposes, and for restoring the UN’s credibility,” the statement reads. “We welcome also the increased recognition of and focus on the role of young people and the international community’s responsibility to future generations, and to the protection of human beings in the context of new technologies such as artificial intelligence.” The WCC executive committee is convening in Paralimni, Cyprus, from 21-26 November to focus on planning for 2025, including the budget and implementation of WCC strategies. The thematic focus of the gathering is on peace-building in the context of occupation, war, and conflicts. Read the full statement WCC urges peaceful end to division of Cyprus (WCC news release, 25 November 2024) WCC: “We yearn for peace in Ukraine, in Russia and throughout the region” (WCC news release, 25 November 2024) WCC moderator: “What do we mean when we talk about speaking truth to power?” (WCC news release, 21 November 2024) WCC general secretary highlights how WCC proclaims God’s justice in the world (WCC news release, 21 November 2024) WCC executive committee convenes in Cyprus with focus on peace-building (18 November 2024) Photo gallery of the WCC executive committee meeting in Cyprus 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 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