WCC NEWS: Dialogue on coexistence explores turning hope into shared public good

During the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025, the World Council of Churches (WCC) joined nearly two dozen other faith-based and community organizations, academics, and refugee-led organizations in a dialogue held on 16 December. The discussion foregrounded refugee and stateless persons’ leadership as well as practical, multi-stakeholder approaches that bridge humanitarian, development, and peace agendas. Photo: UCLG 19 December 2025 Participants underscored that durable peace is most likely when refugees, returnees, and stateless persons are meaningfully engaged—not only as consultees. Liliana Jubilut, co-chair of the Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network, emphasized that participation must be substantive and transformative. “Meaningful participation is not just consultation—it requires dismantling structural barriers such as economic competition, gender norms, and trauma so that effective dialogue can take place. Refugee-led initiatives and local ownership are key to sustainability and to turning principles into practice.” The dialogue highlighted community initiatives led by forcibly displaced persons that cultivate trust, address local tensions before they escalate, and create safe spaces for dialogue across religious, ethnic, and social lines. These initiatives are locally rooted, responsive to context, and designed with a strong emphasis on dignity, agency, and accountability. And what happens locally is key, said Peter Mozolevskyi, refugee parliament representative from Switzerland. ‘’Local knowledge, local engagement, and local leadership —these are not just words,” he said. “They are the foundation of real, sustainable change.” “Local solutions for peace are most sustainable when they actively cultivate peaceful coexistence,” said Carla Khijoyan, WCC programme executive for Peacebuilding in the Middle East, who offered an intervention on behalf of the WCC. “Interfaith and ecumenical actors play a unique role in this effort because they are trusted, locally rooted, and present over generations—often before conflict, throughout crisis, and long after international attention fades,” she said. Khijoyan added that faith leaders advance coexistence by countering divisive and dehumanizing narratives, addressing tensions before they escalate, and creating safe spaces for dialogue across religious, ethnic, and social divides. “Interfaith cooperation transforms religious diversity from a perceived risk into a practical asset for peace,” she said. “The WCC complements the work of UN agencies and states by bridging global frameworks and local realities.”  Faith-based organizations also carry a responsibility to shape narratives of hope, Khijoyan concluded. “Drawing on shared ethical values and lived experience, the WCC and its partners amplify stories of solidarity, resilience, and cooperation across difference—turning hope into a shared public good that sustains coexistence and peace over time.” Rev. Jack Amick, representing the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), part of the United Methodist Church General Board of Global Ministries, described how UMCOR is responding.   “We’ve done that in a number of ways,” he said. “What we did is offer ‘mustard seed’ grants to local churches that wanted to do something.” The main idea was to get communities going and get them engaged with migrants and refugees, Amick explained. “Yes, it helps migrants and refugees—but mostly it changes hearts,” he said. “We have to change hearts first.”  Jin Dawood, founder of Peace Therapist, reminded the group that healing minds is as critical as changing hearts. “If we want peace in Syria, we must rebuild both the infrastructure of cities and the infrastructure of minds. We must treat healing as part of reconstruction. Because peace is not built only in treaties or parliaments. It is built in therapy rooms, in schools, in families, and in the hearts of people who learn to trust again.”  Adding a municipal perspective, Jamal Haddad, councilor of Ramallah, and refugee reminded participants of the critical role cities play in responding to displacement: “I speak on behalf of the local and regional governments where most refugees live—the places that carry both the weight of global crises and the hope for solutions. Today, one in every 70 people is forcibly displaced, and nearly 80% turn to cities for safety and dignity. And still, cities continue to deliver.” Faith actors, municipalities, academics, and refugee-led organizations together hold the power to turn hope into a shared public good—a resource that sustains coexistence long after crises fade from headlines. This requires more than words: it calls for investment in refugee leadership, and mental health as a cornerstone of reconstruction. As implementing the Global Compact on Refugees becomes more imperative, the challenge is clear: translate dialogue into commitments, and commitments into action that rebuilds not only cities, but hearts and minds. Peace begins where trust is restored—and that work starts now. WCC at Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025: “we reaffirm our shared commitment to be agents of hope” | World Council of Churches Photo: UCLG 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 356 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 urges US, EU Commission to engage in safeguarding Palestinians

In letters to US vice president J.D. Vance and to Ursula Von Der Leyen, president of the European Commission, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep concern regarding recent developments in the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour, a predominantly Christian community located near Bethlehem and known worldwide as the biblical Shepherds’ Field.  17 April 2019, Tulkarem, West Bank, Occupied Palestinian Territories: A female shepherd tends to her flock in the valley of Yanoun. The village of Yanoun sits on a hillside in the Nablus Governorate of the West Bank. There is only one road into the village, which is otherwise surrounded on all sides by Israeli settlements. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 19 December 2025 “According to information shared with us and corroborated by independent human rights monitors, Israeli authorities and settlers have moved to establish an outpost on the area of Osh Ghurab, a public recreational space long used by Beit Sahour’s 15,000 residents,” wrote Pillay. “This area—falling under Area C and overlooked by an Israeli military post—serves as the principal public space for children, families, and community life.” Pillay notes in the letters that the construction of a settlement at this site amounts to an act of dispossession and would effectively sever Beit Sahour from its eastern boundary.  “Beyond the immediate geographical impact, this development raises serious protection concerns,” reads the text. “The West Bank has experienced a documented escalation in settler violence, including assaults, intimidation, and the destruction of property.” The planned settlement also contradicts the longstanding international consensus regarding the status of occupied territory and undermines prospects for a just peace, Pillay wrote. “As one of the world’s largest ecumenical bodies, representing churches in over 120 countries, the WCC is deeply troubled that this development threatens the presence and continuity of a historic Christian community and creates new obstacles to peace, justice, and stability in the Holy Land,” reads the text.  Pillay urges Vance and Von Der Leyen to intervene to ensure the immediate halt of the construction of the new settlement in Osh Ghurab; uphold international law and existing commitments related to settlements and the protection of civilians in occupied territory; and support efforts that safeguard the living conditions, dignity, and future of Christian and Muslim Palestinians in Beit Sahour and the wider Bethlehem area. “The WCC remains committed to working with all global partners—political, diplomatic, and faith-based—to secure a future in which the communities of the Holy Land may live in peace, dignity, and equal rights,” concludes the text. “We ask for your immediate attention to this urgent matter and your active engagement to prevent further deterioration on the ground.” WCC General Secretary letter to Ursula Von Der Leyen President of the European Commission WCC General Secretary letter to Vice president of the United States James David Vance 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 356 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: Yvan Maillard Ardenti, HEKS/EPER: Churches have a role to play for climate justice

Yvan Maillard Ardenti, Climate Justice Policy Advisor at Swiss Church Aid HEKS/EPER, explains how churches can play a role for climate justice and shares the experience of HEKS/EPER in an awareness campaign for a climate lawsuit. Yvan Maillard Ardenti, Climate Justice Policy Advisor at Swiss Church Aid HEKS/EPER during the opening event of the WCC resource "Hope for Children Through Climate Justice: Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable” at the Ecumenical centre in Geneva. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 18 December 2025 Would you please describe the role of HEKS/EPER and its relation to the Swiss Protestant Church? Maillard: HEKS/EPER was founded by the Swiss Protestant Church more than 75 years ago. We have the mandate to work on development cooperation, on humanitarian aid, and also here in Switzerland on the support and the aid of migrants and asylum seekers. It is also our mandate to work on climate justice and to influence the public and political debate on climate justice and the right to food.  HEKS-EPER has supported the legal case against Holcim, one of the largest CO2 emitters globally. What are the steps you took and your experience so far in this case? Maillard: Yes, the first step we took was to learn about the case, to meet with the plaintiffs, and then we set up a communication campaign, including an awareness campaign called “Call for Climate Justice,” to support the lawsuit and to make people aware of this lawsuit and the demands of the plaintiffs against Holcim. Can you explain your work to hold the companies accountable for harming the climate? Maillard: Well, my organization, HEKS-EPER, is working on a political level—working to influence laws and to influence public opinion. And also, it is important to allow people from the Global South to have access to justice and to make their demands before the Swiss court. This is why we decided to support this lawsuit with an awareness campaign. So, not only political, public work, but also legal work is needed to solve the climate crisis. From your perspective, why is it relevant for churches today to consider using legal tools for climate justice? Maillard: It is important for churches to be part of the public debate, of the political debate in the society. And they also can be part of this legal discussion and legal work against big polluters. Churches also can file lawsuits, file complaints or launch campaigns against these big polluters, because churches are part of society and they have a role to play. Churches should engage also for the care of creation. And also this implies work in the political debate, in the public debate, and also in the legal work. Are these legal tools available for individuals, including young people? Maillard: Yes - also a group of young people, a group of citizens, can use legal instruments to hold large corporations and large CO2 emitters accountable.  How does it make you feel working for a cause of climate justice? Maillard: I’m very happy to be able to contribute to this debate and to help these plaintiffs to get their voices heard in Indonesia, in Switzerland, and internationally. Watch the video interview HEKS-EPER Swiss Church Aid Campaign “Call for Climate Justice” WCC resource "Hope for Children Through Climate Justice: Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable" 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 356 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

EarthBeat Weekly: A Catholic tree-planting milestone in the nation's capital

A Catholic tree-planting milestone in the nation's capital   EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change December 19, 2025   A group of 70 volunteers planted 58 trees along Georgia Avenue outside Gate of Heaven Cemetery, in Silver Spring, Maryland, as part of a tree planting event Nov. 22 organized by the lay Catholic initiative Laudato Trees. (Courtesy of Casey Trees) A week before many U.S. families headed out to cut down pines and spruces to place in their homes for Christmas, a group of Catholics in the Washington D.C. area did the opposite and organized a day of tree planting. The crew of 70 volunteers planted 10 different tree species on Nov. 22, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Red cedars, magnolias and willows, evergreen hollies, loblolly pines, and fittingly near the nation's capital, nine cherry trees. They also placed in the ground a single Eastern Redbud sapling, which received special designation as the 1,000th tree planted in the Washington Archdiocese by the lay Catholic initiative known as Laudato Trees. "Took a while, but we got there," Philip Downey, one of the founders of Laudato Trees, told me for a story this week at EarthBeat on the group's milestone. Since beginning in 2021 with a group of five Catholics inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home," Laudato Trees has seen symbiotic potential, both practically and symbolically, between the numerous environmental and health benefits trees bring and the archdiocese's massive geographic footprint and inventory of 139 parishes, 90 schools and dozens more ministries, religious congregations and other church organizations. Trees are central players in limiting climate change as they absorb and store carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping emissions released that are driving global warming, primarily from burning coal, oil and gas. Beyond that, trees provide habitats for animals, mitigate flooding, beautify and cool neighborhoods and offer health benefits like reduced stress, stronger immune systems, improved mental health and even crime reduction. "It takes a lot of plantings to get to 1,000," Downey said. Click the link below to learn how they got there.  Read more: Laudato Trees program in DC Archdiocese plants its 1,000th tree   What else is new on EarthBeat:   Parishes clean up damage, help those displaced by floods in Western Washington state by Andrew Foster, OSV News Several parishes and schools across Western Washington have shut down operations due to historic flooding in the state. Read more here »   Pope Leo cracks Vogue's 2025 best dressed list by Justin McLellan Vogue included Pope Leo XIV in its list of the 55 Best Dressed People of 2025, an unranked roundup of what the fashion outlet called "extremely fashionable characters." Read more here »   What's happening in other climate news: Trump administration plans to break up premier weather and climate research center —Lisa Friedman, Brad Plumer and Jack Healy for The New York Times 'A shift no country can ignore': where global emissions stand, 10 years after the Paris climate agreement —Fiona Harvey for the Guardian Gaza faces another catastrophic winter as environmental and humanitarian devastation mount —Keerti Gopal for Inside Climate News U.S. is seeking exemption from a European climate law, officials say —Lisa Friedman for The New York Times EU scraps 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars to boost auto industry —FRANCE24 and Agence France Presse New Hampshire clean energy program goes national with federal funds —Sarah Shemkus for Canary Media A new report describes deep environmental cuts, state by state —Lisa Sorg for Inside Climate News As wildfires mount, so do efforts to use less plastic —Carey L. Biron for the Thomson Reuters Foundation Newsroom Trump administration delays decision on federal protections for monarch butterflies —Todd Richmond for the Associated Press Big Oil's climate ads have propped up fake promises and false solutions for past 25 years, report finds —Dana Drugmand for Inside Climate News Final Beat: Here in Kansas City, early forecasts aren't exactly projecting a white, or even wintry, Christmas Day next week. Rather, the sun is set to shine bright and temperatures are expected to top 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Warmer starts to winter have become a norm lately in Missouri, as the past eight Decembers have all seen above-average temperatures, according to a January report by the state climatologist at the Missouri Climate Center.  Only two years in the past decade in the Show-Me State have recorded average December temperatures at or below the historical average of 33 F. And each of the past 10 years overall in the state have been above average, a period coinciding with the 10 hottest years globally on record. If forecasts hold, it looks like any sleds and ice skates waiting under the tree will necessitate a pause before any play. Likewise, EarthBeat Weekly next week will take a pause, too. We'll see you in the new year. To all our readers, subscribers and supporters, an early Merry Christmas and happy holidays. As always, thanks for reading EarthBeat.   Brian Roewe Environment Correspondent National Catholic Reporter broewe@ncronline.org     Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? Place an Ad in NCR's Online Classified Section for Only $75 per Month!   Advertisement