WCC FEATURE: Webinar explores call to action for Christian anti-racism actors

A webinar entitled “Second International Decade for People of African Descent: A call to action for Christian anti-racism actors” explored how the church will respond in the face of enduring racial injustice. South Africa,members of Uthando Iwethu ('Our Love'), the IDOLO Performing Arts Group, take a photo with a member of the audience in a faith based conference, Photo: Albin Hillert/Life on Earth Pictures 8 September 2025 As the United Nations inaugurates the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025–2034), the World Council of Churches (WCC) is calling on all Christian anti-racism actors, racial justice advocates, and ecumenical partners to seize this critical moment in history. Dr Masiiwa Gunda, WCC programme executive for Racial Justice, Equity and Inclusion, opened the programme, noting that the United Nations recognizes the fact that there are many groups of people that suffer racial discrimination, including Asians, people of Asian descent, and Indigenous peoples. “However, the United Nations also recognizes that Africans, people of African descent, or Black people constitute a distinct group that has carried a disproportionate burden of racial discrimination for more than four centuries now,” he said. “The World Council of Churches shares in this understanding and seeks to use all the faith resources in combination with all other legal and policy frameworks to dismantle systems and structures that continue to perpetuate racism.” The webinar included a remembrance of the late Rev. Dr Peter Cruchley, who served as director of the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism. After watching a video featuring Cruchley, participants shared in a prayer.  “Having just watched this very short video of our dear colleague and friend and brother, before we enter more fully into our time of prayer, I invite us to join in a moment of silence as we remember Peter Cruchley—his life, his witness, and indeed his dedication to the work of justice,” said Rev. Dr Mikie Roberts, WCC programme executive for Spiritual Life. Adele Halliday, Anti-Racism and Equity lead at The United Church of Canada, who moderated the webinar, noted that the event was not only a time to listen but also a time to talk together, to engage, and to consider concrete actions. “This webinar has also been described this way: The event is not just a discussion,” she said. “It is the first step in building a global Christian response to racialized injustice against people of African descent in the frame of the second international decade.” She added: “Our hope is that you will leave this webinar feeling empowered, inspired, and ready to take concrete anti-racist actions in your own church context.” Dr Ashwini KP, UN special rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, said that the significance of the First International Decade for People of African Descent has rested on its historical context. “People of African descent represent approximately 200 million individuals in the Americas alone, and many, many millions across continents be it Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific,” she said. “The people of African descent are heirs to both rich heritage and history of enslavement, colonialism, segregation, and systemic racism.” Dr Michael McEachrane, member, UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, spoke about the work ahead.  “Some countries marked the First International Decade for People of African Descent but they were very few, and the few countries that did mark the First International Decade for People of African Descent mostly did so in a symbolic manner, without a lot of policy and law-making,” he said. “There is much work to be done, and the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, which began this year, is meant to continue the work of recognizing and addressing the human rights situations of people of African descent across the world.” Dr Barbara G. Reynolds, member, UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, spoke about “Moving Forward from the Successes and Failures of the 1st Decade.” “Recognition is about voice,” she said. “It's about visibility. It’s about views and vote.” She called for broad-based alliances across sectors and geographical locations. All three UN Mandate holders acknowledged the potential that lies in faith institutions, including the capacity to bring people together, to advocate for legal and policy reforms, to undertake service in communities, while continuing with investments in meaningful education. Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Life, Justice, and Peace, spoke about the ecumenical commitment to racial equity. “We also need to strengthen how our own constituencies participate in this dialogue,” he said. “I think what I got from the presentations today, which I think resonates with some of our concerns, is that the link between African churches and Africans in the diaspora—this relationship has not reached the level of strength that we need and I think we need to make a deliberate effort to link up with the councils of churches in Africa.” Watch the webinar "Shared anti-racist vision emerges from Berlin Conference", (WCC feature story, 2 June 2025) Read the "Communique" of the Berlin conference  Watch the full WCC interview of Rev. Dr Peter Cruchley Learn more about the WCC work on overcoming Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia WCC offers new anti-racist and anti-bias material for churches and communities 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