World Council of Churches holds service marking 70 years since its founding
Hundreds of people gathered at Amsterdam’s Nieue Kerk this week to mark the 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches in the place where it was founded. Coming from across the globe, they attended a service held under the banner of “Walking, Praying and Working Together” during which Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of […]
Churches call for an end to violence in Nicaragua
The World Council of Churches has joined in calls for an end to violence in Nicaragua, with the general secretary, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, describing the level of state repression as “unacceptable”. In a statement issued late last week, Tveit said the number of civilian casualties – estimated at more than 300 killed and […]
World Council of Churches head welcomes official end to war between Eritrea and Ethiopia
The head of the World Council of Churches has welcomed a joint declaration issued by the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea on Monday in which they declared an official end to the war between the two nations. Leaders of the two nations made the announcement following a two day summit between Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister […]
Pope Francis makes historic visit to World Council of Churches headquarters in Geneva
Pope Francis has made an historic visit to the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, this week, as part of events marking the organisation’s 70th anniversary. The Pope joined Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, at a meeting of the global church body’s Central Committe on Thursday as well as […]
Christians called to pray as Trump meets Kim in Singapore
Christians around the world have been called to pray as a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un takes place in Singapore. In a statement released on Sunday, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, said the WCC were praying that something new will […]
Church bodies welcomes historic Korean declaration
The National Council of Churches in Korea has expressed its “strong support” for the declaration signed by the leaders of North and South Korea at last Friday’s historic summit in which they agreed to work for complete denuclearisation of the peninsula and for “permanent” peace. In a statement issued late last week, the NCCK said […]
Pope Francis to visit World Council of Churches in June
Pope Francis will visit the World Council of Churches headquarter in Geneva in June – only the third time a Pope has done so. Roman Catholic Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches – which is this […]
World Council of Churches urges members to join in day of prayer and fasting for African nations
The World Council of Churches has thrown its support behind a day of prayer and fasting for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo which was announced by Pope Francis earlier this month. To be held on 23rd February, Christians are being asked to pray for the two African nations where millions have been […]
Global churches body head tells World Economic Forum it’s time to say ‘no’ to nuclear weapons
The head of the World Council of Churches has called upon the World Economic Forum to say “no” to nuclear weapons and put pressure on nations to disarm as the annual gathering kicks off in Davos, Switzerland. In a statement issued on Monday, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, said there […]
World Council of Churches welcomes opening of treaty banning nuclear weapons to signatures
The World Council of Churches has welcomed the formal opening of a treaty to ban nuclear weapons for countries to sign and expressed thanksgiving for the 50 states which have already done so. The historic Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was formally opened for signatures on 20th September. Among the 50 countries which […]