Former WCC head installed as presiding bishop of the Church of Norway
Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, former general secretary of the World Council of Churches, was installed as the presiding bishop of the Church of Norway’s bishops’ conference on Sunday. The service, held at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, was conducted in accordance with social distancing restrictions and live-streamed internationally. Tveit, who was also consecrated as Bishop […]
World Council of Churches joins in Pope’s call for Wednesday prayer over coronavirus outbreak
The World Council of Churches has called for Christians across the world to join in praying the Lord’s Prayer at noon, Rome time, on Wednesday, 25th March, as the world continues to grapple with the expanding coronavirus pandemic. The call for prayer was first issued by Pope Francis who extended an invitation to all Christians […]
New acting general secretary named for World Council of Churches
Fr Prof Ioan Sauca has been appointed acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches from 1st April. Sauca, who currently serves as deputy general secretary for the WCC program on ecumenical formation and the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, will temporarily replace Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit who leaves the WCC on 31st March to take […]
World Council of Churches critical of Trump’s plan for peace in the Middle East
The World Council of Churches has criticised US President Donald Trump’s proposal for dividing Israel and Palestine as “an ultimatum, not a path to peace”. The US President, joined at the White House by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced his plan on Tuesday. It creates a Palestinian state with a capital including areas of […]
Burkina Faso attacks a reminder that conflict and violence a “daily reality” for many, says WCC head
Simultaneous attacks on a military base and town in Burkina Faso in which at least 35 civilians died along with seven soldiers are a reminder that “conflict and violence remain the daily reality for many communities”, according to Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches. Almost all of the civilians killed […]
World Council of Churches denounces use of “excessive violence” against Iraq protestors
The World Council of Churches has denounced the use of “excessive violence” by security forces in Iraq against anti-government protestors following the deaths of hundreds over the past month. Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, addressed the escalating violence in the nation in comments published this week. “The World Council of […]
Two candidates announced for next general secretary of the World Council of Churches
The dean of theology and religion at South Africa’s University of Pretoria and a director of an English ecumenical organisation have been named as the two candidates to replace Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit as the next general secretary of the World Council of Churches. Dr Elizabeth Joy and Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay. PICTURE: WCC Tveit’s […]
Churches call for an end to violence in Chile and root causes to be addressed
The head of the World Council of Churches has called for an end to the violence in Chile as widespread protests have led to clashes with police in the South American nation. Student protests which started in Santiago earlier this month over a rise in public transport fares quickly widened to include other groups including […]
World Council of Churches head nominated as presiding bishop of Church of Norway
Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, has been nominated as the next presiding bishop of the Church of Norway. Tveit, who has served as general secretary of the WCC for the past 10 years, is the only nomination for the position in accordance with church regulations. An ordained pastor […]
Churches body calls for an end to violence in Syria as Turkish operation gains pace
The World Council of Churches has condemned the violence in Syria after the Turkish military launched an operation in the country’s north-east this week. Tens of thousands of people have reportedly fled their homes amid fears of a humanitarian disaster and renewed attacks by terror group, the so-called Islamic State, in the area of conflict. […]