Agnes Abuom, global ecumenist, peacemaker and African church leader, dies at 73
Nairobi, Kenya RNS Agnes Abuom, a global ecumenical leader and peacemaker, died on Wednesday at the age of 73 while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Nairobi. Sources close to her said she had succumbed after a short illness. Church leaders, ecumenical groups and ordinary Christians in Kenya, Africa and the rest of the world, […]
Christian leaders call for prayer, support for Syria-Turkey quake victims
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis offered his prayers for the thousands of victims of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey on Wednesday and called on the international community to continue to support rescue and recovery efforts. Pope Francis holds the weekly general audience at the Vatican, on 8th February, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Remo Casilli “I am […]
World Council of Churches head meets with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill
United StatesRNS The acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches met this week with Patriarch Kirill, the Russian Orthodox Church head who has drawn global criticism for lending spiritual support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to a WCC readout of the meeting, acting General Secretary Fr Ioan Sauca, a Romanian Orthodox priest, met […]
At World Council of Churches gathering, Russian church keeps its membership
RNS After a sometimes tense week that included passionate exchanges, the 11th assembly of the World Council of Churches approved a statement on Thursday regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that denounces the war but does not single out the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, who has been widely criticised for supporting the […]
The Interview: Incoming World Council of Churches’ head Jerry Pillay
JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service, speaks with Rev Jerry Pillay who says that controversy after his election to lead the World Council of Churches was “expected”…
New World Council of Churches head draws criticism over Israel remarks
RNS Since being elected to lead the World Council of Churches earlier this month, Rev Jerry Pillay, former general secretary of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, has been rebuffing critics who accuse him of making anti-Semitic remarks by referring to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as tantamount to apartheid. Pillay, the dean of the […]
World Council of Churches condemns Nigerian kidnappings
The World Council of Churches has condemned the spate of kidnappings which have been taking place in Nigeria including, this week, the head of the country’s Methodist Church. Dr Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, was kidnapped on Sunday along with the Methodist Bishop Dennis Okechukwu Mark, and a chaplain to […]
The Interview: Will the World Council of Churches expel Kirill? We talk with Bishop Mary Ann Swenson
JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service, speaks with Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, a United Methodist in the US who serves on the WCC’s executive committee and works as a vice moderator for the group’s central committee…
World Council of Churches urges Patriarch Kirill to lobby for Easter ceasefire
RNS The head of the World Council of Churches is urging Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, to call for a ceasefire in Ukraine as Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter this weekend. “People lost their trust and hope in politicians and in a possible peaceful negotiation and a ceasefire,” Rev Ioan […]
World Council of Churches faces calls to expel Russian Orthodox Church; Vatican mulls meeting between Pope, Patriarch
RNS The World Council of Churches is under pressure to oust the Russian Orthodox Church from its ranks, with detractors arguing the church’s leader, Patriarch Kirill, invalidated its membership by backing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and involving the church in the global political machinations of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The debate garnered a response on […]