WCC News: Global faith voices unite for debt justice during World Economic Forum

Faith leaders and activists from across the globe united on 21 January 2026 to demand systemic change, as crushing debts and climate crisis trap 3.4 billion people in countries that spend more on debt repayments than on climate response and essential public services. The interfaith liturgy on global inequality, held in-person in Nairobi and online as the World Economic Forum opened, brought together voices from Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nepal, and other countries calling for debt cancellation and climate justice. Nigerian group gathered for the online prayer during the World Economic Forum Photo: World Council of Churches 22 January 2026 The liturgy happened during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the season commemorating Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. Speaking from Atlanta, Georgia, World Council of Churches (WCC) president from North America-Turtle Island Rev. Dr Angelique Walker-Smith delivered the reflection. She proclaimed Jubilee for people and planet, linking debt relief directly to climate action and food security. "The climate emergency, together with widening inequalities, demands such a reset. The socio-economic and ecological costs of the global debt crisis can no longer be ignored," Walker-Smith said. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development figures show 3.4 billion people live in countries spending more on debt repayments than on the climate emergency and essential public services. Those crushing obligations prevent governments from investing in healthcare, education, food security, or climate adaptation, Walker-Smith noted. Frequent climate disasters now drive up loss and damage, she warned, forcing climate-vulnerable countries to borrow even more for recovery and reconstruction. "This creates a vicious cycle of debt and dependency that undermines climate resilience and sustainable development." Online participants of the interfaith liturgy on global inequality Drawing on Leviticus 25:10, Walker-Smith called for "a structural reboot—a periodic overcoming of systemic injustice and poverty, and the restoration of right relationships." She invoked Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1967 speech at Riverside Church: "When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered." The liturgy featured testimonies from communities experiencing debt and climate impacts. Participants shared how debt burdens block access to healthcare, education, clean water, and food. The WCC organised the liturgy with All Africa Conference of Churches, Caritas Internationalis, Christian Aid, Fight Inequality Alliance, Jubilee USA, and partners in the ecumenical New International Financial and Economic Architecture initiative as well as We the 99 movement. It concluded with demands for transformation: tax the wealthy, cancel illegitimate debts, enforce corporate accountability, and invest in climate justice. Learn more about the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action ZacTax Campaign Turn Debt into Hope Campaign New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) 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 marks 5th anniversary of entry into force of Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

The World Council of Churches, on 22 January, marked the 5th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. 10 December 2017, Oslo, Norway: In the evening of 10 December some 4,000 people from around the world gathered in central Oslo for a torch light march for peace. The event took place after the Nobel Peace Prize award 2017, awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), for "its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons". Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 22 January 2026 Since nuclear weapons were first used over Hiroshima and Nagasaki over 80 years ago, the WCC has always stood in categorical opposition to nuclear weapons. Those who convened at the founding assembly of the WCC in 1948, declared that war with nuclear weapons is a “sin against God and a degradation of man,” and in the following years began to place particular attention on the situation of peoples suffering from the toxic legacy of nuclear testing programmes in the Pacific and elsewhere – and to the racism and colonialism inherent in nuclear weapon states’ choices of locations for their tests. The WCC continues to advocate with churches at the national and international levels to prohibit the development, testing and use of nuclear weapons, and works with churches to impress upon their government the immorality of nuclear weapons and need for their total elimination.  “As we enter 2026, both the threats to use nuclear weapons, as well as the threats to increase the number of such weapons by a very small handful of countries, have the potential to result in catastrophic harm to the entire planet,” said Jennifer Philpot-Nissen, WCC programme executive for Human Rights and Disarmament. “It is estimated that today's nuclear arsenals globally – even after the reductions achieved through all the arms control treaties to date – exceed the combined explosive force of both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs together with all the weapons used during World War II by almost 400 times.” She noted that there would be no winners or losers following a detonation of any nuclear weapon.  “A large proportion of the world’s population would starve in a famine caused by a nuclear winter, which would show no respect to national boundaries,” she said, adding that the existence of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has helped to expose how fundamentally flawed the doctrine of nuclear deterrence really is.   “The doctrine is based on a presumption that the population of a nuclear weapon state, or a ‘nuclear umbrella’ state would actually contemplate nuclear weapons being used on their behalf to annihilate entire cities, entire populations, and entire ecosystems, under any circumstances,” she said. “From both a general ethical point of view as well as a  Christian moral perspective – this warrants close interrogation.” At this frightening time, Philpot-Nissen concluded, the WCC choses to focus on hope. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has now been ratified by 74 states, and signed – ahead of expected ratification – by a further 21, indicating that a majority of the world’s countries are taking steps to actively pursue the complete abolition of nuclear weapons.  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: What's behind Greenland's global attraction? Climate change

What's behind Greenland's global attraction? Climate change   EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change January 23, 2026   A file photo shows a large crevasse forms near the calving front of the Helheim glacier near Tasiilaq, Greenland. (CNS photo/Lucas Jackson, Reuters) News cycles in the United States and around the world this week revolved around Greenland.  President Donald Trump has begun the second year of his second term with a renewed and aggressive fervor to acquire the semi-autonomous state that is part of Denmark. Leaders in Greenland, Denmark and many of their European allies have swiftly pushed back on Trump's imperialist pursuit, as they made clear in the days leading up to and through Davos, the annual economic forum in Switzerland. Trump has said that owning Greenland is a matter of national security for the United States, expressing fears that China or Russia could take the territory instead. One driving factor in the increased geopolitical attention on Greenland is tied directly to climate change. Greenland, the world's largest island largely covered in ice and snow, is melting rapidly as global temperatures continue to rise, primarily from greenhouse gas emissions released from burning fossil fuels. Studies have found the Arctic is heating four times faster than any other place on the planet.  [You may recall that Pope Leo XIV blessed a glacier chunk from Greenland in October during the Raising Hope for Climate Justice conference marking the 10-year anniversary of Laudato Si'.] As its ice sheets melt, Greenland's vast stores of minerals become more accessible, as do potential shipping passages in the icy waters surrounding it. Kate Yoder and Matt Simon explain the situation well in an article this week at Grist:  "Already, Russian and Chinese ice breakers have begun traversing what's called the Northern Sea Route along Russia's coastline. It connects ports in Asia to those in Europe, and is much shorter than sailing through the Suez Canal. This polar route could cut shipping times by nearly 40 percent and costs by more than 20 percent. In October, Russia and China signed an agreement to develop the route, sometimes referred to as the "Polar Silk Road." If fossil fuel emissions continue as expected, most of the Arctic Ocean could be free of summer sea ice by 2050, reshaping global trade." "Geological surveys suggest that the island is loaded with a slew of rare earth elements like the praseodymium used in batteries, the terbium that goes into screens, and even the neodymium that makes your phone vibrate. Perhaps most importantly for the Trump administration, these minerals are essential for defense purposes, including weapons and navigation systems. … But Greenland hasn't been mined extensively for good reason: It's difficult — and expensive — to work there." Read the full article over at Grist. Tensions around Greenland have left its small Catholic community feeling a mix of concern, discomfort and fear, as Camillo Barone reported this week at NCR.  "When Greenland suddenly appears again in global headlines, people feel exposed," said Franciscan Conventual Fr. Tomaž Majcen, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Nuuk and the only Catholic priest responsible for pastoral care in Greenland.  "It is strange to see your home discussed far away, often by people who have never been here," he told Barone.  For migrant Catholics in Nuuk — many from the Philippines, Poland and other parts of Europe and Latin America — Greenland represents stability, including strong social protections and predictable, though demanding work. The idea that global power struggles could disrupt that balance creates a quiet anxiety, said Maria Jacobsen, a 68-year-old Catholic woman from the Philippines who has lived in Greenland since 1996 and works as a sales assistant in a large retail company. "I felt sad and insecure," she said. "We pray that [Trump] cannot buy Greenland, because, you know, the social help in Greenland is very good." "We're all worried and afraid." Read more: Greenland's small Catholic community weighs uncertainty as global tensions rise What else is new on EarthBeat:   Taking over Greenland 'a bridge way too far,' says Notre Dame security expert by Catherine M. Odell, OSV News As Trump boosts his rhetoric on the U.S. acquiring Greenland, whether by sale or force, Catholic social teaching has something to say to the situation, said a political scientist at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Read more here »   Presentation Sisters in Zambia enhance public health with clean water by Derrick Silimina The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary's efforts in sinking wells and installing water pumps have been instrumental in improving access to clean water and raising living standards in Mongu district. Read more here » What's happening in other climate news: Trump rollbacks put children's health at risk as pollution increases —Adam Mahoney for Capital B Energy Dept. says it is canceling $30 billion in clean energy loans —Brad Plumer for The New York Times How permanent is Trump's assault on climate action? —Zoya Teirstein for Grist Half of fossil fuel carbon emissions in 2024 came from 32 companies —Dana Drugmand for Inside Climate News Looming water supply 'bankruptcy' puts billions at risk, UN report warns —David Stanway for Reuters Park Service erases climate facts at Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began —Maxine Joselow for The New York Times Interpol-backed police make nearly 200 arrests in Amazon region gold mining sweep —Steven Grattan for the Associated Press Final Beat: On Thursday, NCR and the rest of the Catholic media world received sad news that John L. Allen Jr. had died after a long battle with cancer. Allen spent 17 years with NCR, mostly as its Vatican correspondent, developing a reputation during the papacies of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI as one of the leading U.S. insiders on Vatican affairs. Christopher White, another former NCR Vatican correspondent who worked with Allen at Crux (the Catholic news site Allen founded), wrote a touching tribute to John. You can read it here.  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

Truth and Action Roundup 1.23.2026

View this email in your browser Welcome to the Truth and Action Roundup, your reliable weekly source for information, inspiration, and opportunities for action during the second Trump administration.  Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to continue receiving it. After one year of Trump’s return to office, we have seen an escalation of threats and violence both here and abroad. The continued use of the Department of Justice as a tool of retribution and political means, the deployment of federal agents and the National Guard in cities like Minneapolis, New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angeles, and many others, as well as the use of the military to launch illegal strikes and threaten allies across the world. In the face of this rising threat, we have not seen the regular people in communities throughout the United States resign themselves to these attacks on their neighbors and their conscience. Along every step, we have seen people come together to prevent as much harm as possible while demanding accountability and fidelity to the values we claim to hold. Christian leaders have been at the forefront of this response through not only spiritual and moral leadership but also by putting their faith into action by leading vigils, boycotts, protests, and mutual aid efforts. It is incumbent upon us, as influential leaders, to also use our power to demand that civic institutions charged with defending our neighbors mount a vigorous defense. As we continue to face an administration that has asserted unlimited power to exercise its will, we must remain committed to dedicating our voices and our actions to creating another path that honors the divine in everyone. Rev. Moya Harris and Chad Stanton, Sojourners In the News Here’s a look at what happened this week: 1. The Trump administration continued its cruel deportation agenda amid rising pushback to its actions: Labor unions, community leaders, and faith groups have come together to call for an economic blackout in Minnesota today to protest ICE’s presence and mourn Renee Nicole Good. This act of mass resistance would be the first general strike in the state in nearly 100 years. A federal judge ruled last Friday that ICE officers have engaged in a pattern of misconduct against protestors in Minneapolis-St. Paul and has ordered them to stop using excessive force. Multiple legal experts have made comparisons between the Minnesota resistance and police attacks on civil rights protestors in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and prominent local activist who led an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church whose pastor also works for ICE, has been arrested, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi. Camp East Montana, an immigration detention camp inside El Paso, Texas’ Fort Bliss, has seen three deaths of migrant people in custody there in just 44 days. The most recent victim, 36-year-old Víctor Manuel Díaz, had been detained in Minneapolis as part of ICE’s operation there and then flown to Texas for detention. The Justice Department is reportedly investigating Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, focusing on whether their public statements have impeded federal immigration enforcement. In response, Walz and Frey have made statements in which they denounced the administration’s “attempt to intimidate [them]” and its use of an “authoritarian tactic.” 2. There was a flurry of developments in international news: President Trump gave a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland filled with his customary falsehoods on the economy and his own record. He also used the time in Davos to launch the Board of Peace, which appears to be set up as an alternative body to the United Nations and of which Trump is apparently entitled to serve as chair for life. Trump’s Davos speech was also significant in that he appeared to back off his tariff threats related to his desire to take over Greenland. He ruled out using military force to take over the island and announced that the U.S. and NATO had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland.” According to the Iranian government, it has successfully suppressed antigovernment protests, after a crackdown that killed thousands. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister has warned the United States that it will be “firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack.” The House of Representatives took up another war powers resolution on Thursday, aiming to block further military action in Venezuela after this month’s attack. 3. Negotiations and hearings continued throughout the government in Washington, D.C.: The House of Representatives planned to vote this week on the remaining appropriations bills to fund the government as the deadline to avoid another government shutdown nears. House Democrats signaled their intent to oppose a Department of Homeland Security funding bill due to its lack of substantive reforms to ICE. All but a handful of House Democrats are expected to vote against the bill. In a hearing on Trump’s attempt to fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board, the high court seemed inclined to reject Trump’s effort to remove her. The court will issue its decision before its current term ends in June. Take Action This week we’re asking people to call and write their members of Congress to demand ICE out of Minneapolis. African Communities Together and the UndocuBlack Network are holding a Know Your Rights workshop concerning the new travel ban on January 29th What We’re Reading “Minneapolis Faith Leaders Amplify Demands For Ice To Repent” | “For the last five weeks, organizers and activists, including faith leaders, have been working diligently to respond to the influx of ICE agents targeting Somali immigrants in the twin cities.” (by Mitchell Atencio) “’Abolish ICE’ is the Cry of the Prophets” | “But the last year has made something devastatingly clear: Those who called for ICE’s abolition were not dewy-eyed idealists or paranoid conspiracists. They were absolutely right.” (by Tyler Huckabee) Deep Breaths Reflections of How Life Used To Be Beloved, we have been through a lot, and more may still lie ahead. Many of us are tired. The weight of these days is real. Even so, there is still work to do. We are called to the steady rhythm of resistance and rest as we labor toward the world God intends. I want to ask you a few questions. Do you find yourself longing for the way life used to be? When the days feel heavy, it is natural to wonder if returning to what once was might bring relief or safety. Here is another question to hold gently. What if the way things used to be was not a life of thriving for everyone? What if the systems of this country never truly protected those on the margins, and going back is not enough? If the past offered comfort to some while costing others their dignity and safety, would that truly be the peace we are seeking? In moments like these, it is tempting to want what we once had. But we are invited to stay present and attentive to what could be. Perhaps this moment, as exhausting as it feels, is an opening to become a country that is more honest and more whole. What if this is the time to dig deep and dream carefully, to loosen the grip of systems that were never meant for the flourishing of Black and Brown people? This present evil works hard to drain hope, especially from those who love widely and refuse to narrow their circle of care. If you are feeling worn down, you are not alone. Still, we must remain focused on our assignment. What we are facing is bigger than headlines or the churn of images designed to keep us anxious. Our work calls for steadiness, intention, and love. Love is what will sustain us when fear threatens to take over. Nothing lasting is built outside of God’s love. So I ask you this. Are you holding onto reflections of how life used to be, or are you, even in your weariness, allowing yourself to imagine a world shaped by God’s love in all its hues? The Truth and Action Roundup is compiled by Sojourners staff: President: Rev. Adam Russell Taylor Senior Research Associate: J.K. Granberg-Michaelson Digital Content and Community Specialist: Kassandra Tapia Chief Program and Impact Officer: Bryan Epps Political Director: Chad V. Stanton Senior Program Director: Rev. Moya Harris Digital Education and Outreach Specialist: Cortnie Brooks Policy and Action Assistant: Trinity Williams Senior Director of Marketing: Sandra Sims Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2025 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842