World Council of Churches call for people to share COVID-19 prayers ahead of week of prayer
The World Council of Churches has invited people to share prayers, tweets and photos on social media ahead of a special week of prayer to mark the a year of the coronavirus pandemic next week. One of the illustrations for sharing on social media as part of the week of prayer. The week of prayer will […]
Anglican bishops call for end to exploratory drilling in Namibia’s Kavango Basin
Thirty-four Anglican bishops and three archbishops from across the world have signed a petition calling for an immediate halt to exploratory drilling in the Kavango Basin, Namibia. The move comes after Canadian company ReconAfrica bought the rights to drill for oil in more than 35,000 square kilometres of the Kavango Basin, a World Heritage-listed and Ramsar Wetland […]
Religious leaders can play a key role during coronavirus vaccine roll-out, says WCC head
Religious leaders can play a critical role in sustaining public trust in the coronavirus vaccine roll-out, the acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches said this week. Rev Prof Dr Ioan Sauca, who himself has already received a COVID-19 vaccine in Switzerland, said in a statement that “[r]eligious leaders of all faiths play […]
World Council of Churches urges protection of historic churches in Nagorno-Karabakh
The World Council of Churches has called on UNESCO to ensure religious and cultural monuments – including historic churches – are protected in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. In a letter dated 23rd November and addressed to the HE Audrey Azoulay, the director-general of UNESCO, Rev Prof Dr Ioan Sauca, interim general secretary of the WCC, referenced a […]
Church leaders condemn weekend attack on school on Cameroon
The World Council of Churches has condemned an attack on a school in Cameroon late last week in which at least seven children were killed and a dozen more injured. Gunmen on motorbikes attacked the Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba in the country’s troubled Anglophone South West Region on Saturday. Rev Prof Dr Ioan […]
World Council of Churches welcomes news of nuclear treaty ratification
The World Council of Churches has welcomed news that a UN treaty banning nuclear weapons will come into force on 22nd January. The move comes after Honduras became the 50th state to ratify the treaty – which would establish a comprehensive ban on the development, testing, production, stockpiling, stationing, transfer, use and threat of use of […]
World Council of Churches expresses “grave concern” over conflict in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
The World Council of Churches has expressed “grave concern” over renewed fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region involving Armenia and Azerbaijan. Scores of people – including some civilians – have reportedly died and many more been injured in fighting since Sunday which the WCC says risks provoking a wider armed conflict in the region. Both sides […]
Global church bodies call for “more compassionate” approach to migrants in Europe
Global Christian organisations have joined in calling for a more compassionate approach to the treatment of migrants and refugees in Europe, saying that a recent fire at the Moria migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos – which housed more than 12,500 people – had highlighted “longstanding shortcomings of EU migration and asylum policy”. […]
World Council of Churches to livestream prayer service for World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
The World Council of Churches is holding a special online prayer service as the annual World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel kicks off. The week, which started Sunday and runs until 21st September – the International Day of Prayer for Peace, is being run this year under the theme of ‘Creative Solidarity in Common […]
World Council of Churches urges protection for Nobel laureate Dr Denis Mukwege following death threats
The World Council of Churches has urged UN officials to call upon the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege following news of death threats against him. In an unusual step, Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, has sent a letter to three […]