WCC News: WCC launches new phase of “Advocacy for the Rights and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities” project

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network is launching a new phase of its “Advocacy for the Rights and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities” project that calls churches worldwide to be spaces of inclusion and justice.  19 August 2025, Stockholm, Sweden: Vespers (evening prayer) held at the Immanuel Church in Stockholm as one hundred years after the historical Stockholm conference of 1925, representatives of churches from around the globe gather again in Stockholm, hosted by the Christian Council of Sweden for a week of ecumenical anniversary celebrations on 18-24 August 2025. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC/CCS 05 November 2025 The initiative now spans six countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Partner organizations include the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Anglican Church of Kenya, Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, United Methodist Church in the Philippines, Indonesia Christian Church, Presbyterian Church in Colombia, and others.  The webinar, scheduled for 12 November, under the theme “Towards Inclusive and Decolonial Churches: Advancing Disability Rights and Justice,” is designed for those seeking inclusive ministry approaches.  The webinar offers a unique opportunity to explore how churches can advance de-colonial approaches to disability theology whilst fostering collaboration for justice and inclusion. Despite significant global progress in disability rights, persons with disabilities—especially women and girls—continue to experience systemic marginalization. The webinar will provide a platform for dialogue on the role of churches in advancing inclusive and de-colonial approaches to disability rights and theology. The webinar also aims to inspire collaboration among churches, organizations of persons with disabilities, theological institutions, and development partners. Anjeline Okola, programme coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, said: “Our churches are an asset towards the journey of full inclusion of persons with disabilities in their communities and one way of doing this, which is what this webinar is about, is creating spaces for them to interact with organisations of persons with disabilities for evidence-based advocacy.” Speakers: Conrad Harris, Jamaica Society for the Blind A Anggiasari Puji Ar, technical expert, disability inclusion, gender, and communication  Anjeline Okola, programme coordinator, Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network Rev. Mary Chipoka, Reformed Church in Zimbabwe Register for the webinar Webinar “Towards Inclusive and Decolonial Churches: Advancing Disability Rights and Justice” 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