WCC News: WCC calls for the cessation of all violence in the West Bank

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay called for an end to the Israeli military’s assault in Jenin.  The WCC condemns the assault and calls for the cessation of all violence in the West Bank including that from Israeli settlers. 23 November 2022, Bethlehem, Palestine: A man walks across the street that marks the edge of the Aida camp, established in 1950 by UNRWA and located between the municipalities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Jerusalem. The camp is partly surrounded by the separation wall raised by Israeli authorities to block off the West Bank. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 05 July 2023 “The assault by Israel’s military on Jenin Refugee Camp has left 12 people killed, 120 injured including 20 in critical condition, while thousands fled their homes,” he said. “Also, the Latin Patriarchate announced that their church in Jenin was damaged due to the attack.” Pillay noted that the Orthodox and Latin churches in Jenin opened their doors to some refugees out of the 3000 who fled the camp, but the WCC is worried because the humanitarian needs of the entire camp’s population of 18,000 people have to be taken care of urgently.  After numerous futile attacks in the past, the military assault serves only to exacerbate the humanitarian situation.  “The WCC is worried because the longer the assault continues, the further the humanitarian situation will deteriorate,” said Pillay. “The military assault is yet another futile effort, after numerous attacks, that served only to exacerbate the conflict.” The Jerusalem Patriarchate issued a statement asking that the military attack stop. “A similar statement by the Latin Patriarchate condemned the violence and demanded a ceasefire,” noted Pillay.  Pillay concluded: “The WCC also calls upon the international humanitarian organizations to help rebuild people’s lives with peace and dignity in Jenin Refugee Camp.” World Council of Churches calls for end to Israel’s military assault Jerusalem Patriarchate calls for an end to the attack on Jenin and calls for a safe and dignified life 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 352 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 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC News: Resources newly available for World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel

Resources—including reflections, prayers, and more—are now available to help churches and all people of good will to observe the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel from 16-23 September 2023. 22 November 2022, Jerusalem, Palestine: Sunset over the Jerusalem old city and east Jerusalem. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 05 July 2023 During this week, which includes the International Day of Prayer for Peace on 21 September, church organizations, congregations, and people of faith are encouraged to bear a common witness by participating in worship services, educational events, and acts of support in favor of peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis.  While commemorating 75 years of Nakba (catastrophe) of the Palestinian people since 1948, the preparatory committee for this year’s materials questioned the injustice in all this for the family and chose the Bible verse Matthew 8:20 to lay down the issue as presented by Jesus Christ: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” From this verse comes the theme of the 2023 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, “No place to lay my head,” reflecting the challenge for Palestinian families as well as other people facing difficulties to a uniting home. World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay reiterated that the WCC stands with Palestinian and Israeli people as they seek peace, justice, and reconciliation.  “We must work together to build a better, more humane, and more secure future for all,” said Pillay. “Children and families should not have to exist in a state of uncertainty and division—particularly not for decade after decade. It is time to seek just peace in the context of Palestine and Israel so that families can lay down their heads in peace, love, unity and joy.”  Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC program director for Public Witness and Diakonia, urged people all over the world to pray for the Holy Land, in September and all year round. “Let us pray together that the situation—one in which so many women, children, and families have no place to lay their head—will be transformed,” he said. “As churches, let us strive to prepare a world for all people to not only lay their heads but space for them to share peace.” World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel 2023 Materials for World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel - 16-23 September 2023 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 352 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 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC News: WCC reaffirms importance of diaconal service and mission

Witness, Share and Evangelize: WCC News: WCC reaffirms importance of diaconal ser...: Rev. Matthew Ross, who served as WCC programme executive for Diakonia and Capacity Building from 2018-2023, reflects on how the document “Ca...

Change.org Petition: They want to evict a Korean war veteran from his home - Halt the Eviction of Salvatore del Deo

Halt the Eviction of Salvatore del Deo 13,582 have signed Michela Murphy’s petition. Let’s get to 15,000!

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THERE ARE NO DUNES WITHOUT THE DEL DEOS. I am writing this petition on behalf of concerned citizens and supporters of the arts, culture, and the preservation of historical significance. We are deeply troubled by the recent decision of the National Park Service (NPS) to evict Salvatore Del Deo, a celebrated artist and resident of the historic dune shack known as "Frenchie’s." We urgently request that the National Seashore, the NPS and the Secretary of the Interior intervene and halt the eviction of Mr. Del Deo. Furthermore, we implore you to offer him a lifetime lease for his cherished dune shack, recognizing his lifelong contributions to the artistic community and the preservation of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Salvatore Del Deo, now 94 years old, has been an integral part of the cultural landscape of Cape Cod for decades. He has spent his summers in the dune shack since 1946, long before the establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore. In 1953, he and his late wife, Josephine Del Deo, spent their first nights together in the shack, which was a gift from their dear friend, Jeanne "Frenchie" Chanel. Josephine Del Deo played a pivotal role in the creation of the National Seashore, persuading Provincetown to entrust the Province Lands to this cherished conservation effort. Remarkably, Sal has spent 77 summers at the dune shacks, his only absence being during his service in the Korean War. This long standing connection and his unwavering commitment to the dune shack community exemplify his deep-rooted relationship with this unique and cherished environment. It is disheartening to learn that Sal Del Deo received a notice to quit, demanding the removal of his personal items and surrendering the keys to his beloved shack. This eviction notice is not only a betrayal of Sal and his late wife’s dedication to the National Seashore but also a disregard for the historical significance of the shack itself. Sal’s artistic contributions, combined with Josephine’s tireless efforts to protect the dune shacks, should be recognized and honored by granting him a lifetime lease for "Frenchie’s" dune shack. The existing shack was built by Salvatore himself, in 1975, on top of Frenchie’s previous shack when the structure could no longer stand against the sand. We acknowledge that there may be legal complexities surrounding the quit notice received by Sal Del Deo, as the lease was originally granted to Frenchie Chanel and her daughter, Shatzi. However, we firmly believe that the NPS has the authority and responsibility to ensure the preservation of cultural diversity as well as natural diversity within the Cape Cod National Seashore. By offering a lifetime lease to Sal Del Deo, the NPS can demonstrate its commitment to upholding the historical integrity of the dune dwellers and their invaluable contributions to the local community. We understand that the National Seashore intends to initiate a competitive leasing process for the dune shack in question, and has denied requests from both the Provincetown and Truro select boards to halt any evictions of dune dwellers. However, we urge you to reconsider this decision and instead provide Sal Del Deo with a lifetime lease, which would be a fair and just resolution to this matter. Sal’s lifelong connection to the dune shack, his artistic achievements, and his unwavering commitment to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of Cape Cod make him the ideal candidate for this gesture of goodwill. We, the undersigned, hereby petition the National Seashore, National Park Service and the Secretary of the Interior to: 1. Halt the eviction of Salvatore Del Deo from “Frenchie’s” Dune Shack. 2. Offer Salvatore del Deo a lifetime lease for for his dune shack in recognition of his artistic contributions and his dedication to the Cape Cod National Seashore.

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WCC News: WCC will cohost seminar on eco-theology

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Society Francophone on the Theology of Ecology will cohost a seminar from 5-7 July at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 29 June 2023 The main goal of this joint conference is to deepen theological dialogue, exchange, and ecumenical reflection in the field of ecological theology and eco-justice. The seminar will also include the launch of the new book “Penser les relations écologiques en théologie à l’ère de l’anthropocène,” which has been compiled from previous online meetings in 2021 and includes contributions from WCC staff.  The seminar will focus on reviewing together the whole corpus of previous findings and reflections since 2016, focused on exploring the question: what is the place of anthropology in our way of doing ecological theology?  It is hoped that the seminar will prepare a substantial research project on the theme of theological anthropology in dialogue with ecology. 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 352 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 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC News: Impact of climate change: women and children bearing the brunt

From 2020 to 2021, more than 50 million people were displaced due to weather events and faced risks of trafficking and even death as well as discrimination based on race and gender. This finding emerged from the report of Ian Fry, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, to the 53rd session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva from 19 June-14 July. Rev. James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches speaking at a side event convened by faith groups on the human rights implications of climate-induced displacement and the urgent need for responses. Photo: Thomas Kleinveld / Franciscans International. 03 July 2023 Speaking at a side event convened by faith groups on the human rights implications of climate-induced displacement and the urgent need for responses, Fry said that climate change events “may deprive people of their right to food, water, sanitation, housing, health, education, and, for some, the right to life.”  More than 50,000 people lost their lives while migrating between 2014 and 2022. Fry called for “an optional protocol under the Convention on the Status of Refugees to address displacement and legal protection for people all over the world affected by the climate crisis.” The side event lifted up the voices of affected communities, in particular those who come from the small island states, Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth. Fr Rene Arturo Flores Medina from La Red Franciscana para Migrantes (Franciscans Network for Migrants) shared that in Central America, the combined and intersecting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and socio-economic inequality have forced thousands of people from this region to resort to migration.   Medina said that the two main manifestations of climate change in the region are so-called “dry corridors and hurricanes” and both adversely affect food sovereignty. When hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Panama in 2021, “the response to the displaced was to place them in provisional shelters such as schools and churches…All this in the context of the public health crisis,” Medina added. Two years after the climate disaster, only five out of the planned 116 houses have been built for climate-displaced families.    Iemaima Vaai, representing the Methodist Church in Samoa and youth advisor to the World Council of Churches, concurred with the report of the special rapporteur and underlined that women and children bear the brunt of the human rights impacts of climate-induced displacement. Vaai shared that in the Pacific, displacement due to extreme weather events and rising sea levels entails “loss of Indigenous knowledge” as well as affects livelihoods, particularly fishing which women traditionally do. Displacement also causes deep emotional and mental pain especially for women, mothers, and grandmothers, who traditionally bury the umbilical cords of their children in the land, Vaai said. Nonetheless, Pacific women and communities derive resilience and healing from cultural and spiritual beliefs and practices that emphasise sacred relationships and the interconnectedness of people, land, and sea, Vaai added. Rev. James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, affirmed that mitigating the trauma of forced relocation and ensuring dignity in the process of migration are key issues for the region. “The impact of climate change is being experienced now…driving many Pacific islanders to circular migration to Australia and New Zealand and the US for work…It is important that the legal processes also protect and support pastoral care and cultural protocols of leaving, arriving, and receiving. These protocols are important for the dignity of migrants,” Bhagwan said. Held on 28 June, the side event was organised by the Geneva Interfaith Forum on Climate Change, Environment, and Human Rights composed of ACT Alliance, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, Dominicans for Justice and Peace, Franciscans International, Lutheran World Federation, and the World Council of Churches. In a statement to the 53rd  session of the Human Rights Council, the Geneva Interfaith Forum called for “meaningful and effective participation of affected communities” as well as people-centred, human rights-based, gender-responsive, and holistic approaches to policies around human mobility in the context of the accelerating climate emergency. 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 352 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 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland