WCC NEWS: WCC leaders visit UN Refugee Agency

Part of the leadership of the WCC central committee, Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee and Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley, vice moderator of the WCC central committee; visited the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), receiving an update from Safak Pavey, senior adviser; and Nicolas Brass, head of the Global Compact on Refugees Section on the current refugee situation.  From left: Ms Carla Khijoyan, WCC programme executive; Nicolas Brass, Head of Global Compact on Refugees (GCR); Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee;  Safak Pavey, UNHCR Senior Adviser; Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley, vice moderator of the WCC central committee; Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director. Photo: Marianne Ejdersten/WCC 09 June 2026 They also discussed the current context of UNHCR’s budget constraints and how collaboration is more necessary than ever. The WCC and UNHCR recently signed a historic memorandum of understanding that reaffirms their shared commitment to raising global, regional, and national awareness of forced displacement and statelessness. The memorandum outlines the joint commitment to supporting “interfaith and ecumenical dialogue initiatives that promote belonging, dignity, and peaceful coexistence,” as well as addressing the root causes of forced displacement. The agreement also strengthens advocacy for nationality rights, legal identity, inclusion, and protection of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, and mobilizes “faith-based resources and constituencies in support of protection, inclusion, and durable solutions to support access to services, social cohesion, and local integration.” Bedford-Strohm will serve as a member of the UNHCR Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, from 28 July to 2030. The Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, brought together by UNHCR and Religions for Peace, strengthens collective efforts across regions and faiths to address root causes by supporting global advocacy, conflict prevention, reconciliation, peacebuilding and social cohesion initiatives. The WCC leadership was accompanied by Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director, Carla Khijoyan, programme executive, and Marianne Ejdersten, WCC communication director.    Photo gallery   WCC, UN Refugee Agency sign historic memorandum of understanding that deepens collaboration (WCC news release, 1 June 2026)    WCC meets with UN Refugee Agency to discuss work related to statelessness (WCC news release, 13 November 2025)    WCC at Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025: “we reaffirm our shared commitment to be agents of hope” (WCC news release, 18 December 2025)   WCC congratulates newly elected United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (WCC news release, 23 December 2025)   I Belong: Biblical Reflections on Statelessness   I Belong Volume 2 Photo: Marianne Ejdersten/WCC 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