 | 2008 |
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| 20.11.2008 |  | | Sri Lanka's "forgotten war": a call for global church advocacy
In Sri Lanka, the conflict between the army and Tamil rebels has caught the civilian population between a rock and a hard place. Although the world turns a blind eye, Christian global advocates say churches should insist that attention be paid to victims caught in the violence. Read more
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| 20.11.2008 |  | | International ecumenical delegation to visit Haiti
An international ecumenical delegation of church representatives will pay a solidarity visit to churches, ecumenical organizations and civil society movements in Haiti from 24 to 28 November. The team will visit the capital Port-au-Prince and areas affected by recent hurricanes. Read more
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| 20.11.2008 | | | Pakistan: Ecumenical delegation to support churches amidst conflict
Religious freedom and interreligious dialogue will be on the agenda of an international ecumenical delegation visiting Pakistan from 24 November to 1 December. The group will discuss how churches can help ease political and religions tensions with representatives from churches, the Muslim community and government officials. Read more
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| 18.11.2008 | | | Prayers for Bethlehem during Advent and Christmas
As many Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Advent and Christmas in the security of their homes and communities, they are invited to pray for justice, peace and security for Palestine and Israel - and to send a prayer or a peace message to Bethlehem. Read more
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| 14.11.2008 | | | Global ecumenical organizations plead for life, dignity and democracy in Zimbabwe
Five global ecumenical organizations have called for an effective protection of the right to life, dignity and democracy of the people of Zimbabwe and criticized the stance of the Southern African Development Community on the political deadlock in the country. Read more
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| 14.11.2008 | | | The "G20" is not enough, says WCC
As many of those "responsible for the current financial meltdown" meet "behind closed doors in Washington, D.C." to discuss the future of the global economy, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has challenged the legitimacy of the so-called "G20" group of nations and called for broader participation. The international financial architecture needs "a paradigm shift," says the WCC. Read more
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| 12.11.2008 | | | Wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia are over, peace-building is not
"Please remind the world that we are no longer at war," a high-ranking government official from Sierra Leone told an international ecumenical team visiting churches and ecumenical organizations in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 2 to 8 November.
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| 12.11.2008 | | | WCC prepares for UN Advocacy Week
"As Christians, we are called to stand with those who are victims of oppression, poverty or violence," Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, director of the World Council of Churches (WCC) programme on Public Witness said in advance of the WCC's United Nations Advocacy Week, 16 to 21 November in New York. Read more
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| 11.11.2008 | | | Securing water for all: a job for heroes with a licence to pray?
World cinema's most famous spy is back and this time he fights a villain trying to control strategic water resources in a developing country. Is the script of the latest James Bond movie too far fetched a fictional plot? Read more
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| 11.11.2008 | | |
People are tired of war, church leaders will tell presidents of D.R. Congo and Rwanda
A delegation of church leaders from Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has set out to meet the presidents of the latter two countries in order to convey them a strong message in favor of peace.
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| 10.11.2008 | | | Reconciliation means transforming society, says Kobia in Nicaragua
To achieve reconciliation takes nothing less than the transformation of society, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said in Managua, during a 2-5 November visit to Nicaragua. Read more
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| 05.11.2008 | | | People in northern Uganda are ready to forgive the LRA rebels
With its streets full of bicycle riders transporting luggage or passengers alongside mini buses, Gulu in northern Uganda looks as peaceful as any small African town. However, its inhabitants, who say now they want nothing but peace, have to come to terms with the terrible crimes that were committed here during 22 years of civil war. Read more
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| 31.10.2008 | | | Living Letters teams to witness reconciliation work of churches in Liberia, Sierra Leone and South Africa
In Liberia, Sierra Leone and South Africa, churches have played a major role in reconciliation between groups who had been in violent conflict with each other for decades. Two international ecumenical teams sent by the World Council of Churches (WCC) will visit the three countries during the next two weeks. Read more
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| 31.10.2008 | | | WCC general secretary to visit Nicaragua
An international ecumenical delegation led by the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, will visit Nicaragua from 2 to 5 November. Read more
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| 30.10.2008 | | | Ugandan churches concerned over final peace agreement, international team learns
Guns have fallen silent in northern Uganda since the signing of a permanent ceasefire. Yet, church leaders are worried about the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) delaying the signature of the final peace agreement, they told an international ecumenical delegation visiting the country.
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| 24.10.2008 | | | Sri Lanka's Buddhist leaders have mixed views on resolving ethnic conflict
Leaders of Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority expressed divergent views on resolving the ethnic conflict in their country, while speaking to a delegation led by Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches. Read more
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| 23.10.2008 |  | | Press briefing: Power-sharing and the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean human rights activist Rev. Dr Levee Kadenge will share his insights on the political impasse that has been paralyzing the country for weeks, while more and more people die from hunger. Read more
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| 23.10.2008 | | | International ecumenical delegation to visit Uganda
The plight of people displaced by war will be the main topic of a "Living Letters" visit to Uganda, 27 October to 2 November. An international ecumenical delegation sent by the World Council of Churches (WCC) will discuss with representatives of churches, state and civil society about the protection of refugees, with a specific focus on sexual violence and the vulnerability of children.
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| 22.10.2008 | | | Ecumenical consultation demarcates common ground for dialogue with Islam
Christian communities should improve their knowledge of Islam, be good neighbours to Muslims and bear witness to their faith in an appropriate manner, according to an international group of church leaders and experts on Christian-Muslim dialogue. Read more
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| 22.10.2008 | | | Sri Lankan churches face challenges amid raging war
Trauma and bitterness are among the challenges Sri Lankan churches must face in promoting peace and reconciliation as the island nation is in the middle of an intense war, a World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation has learnt during a 19-23 October visit to the country. Read more
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| 21.10.2008 | | | Anti-Christian violence in Orissa reverberates at CNI Synod
The Church of North India (CNI), which is currently going through the hardest times in its history, with many church members suffering persecution, has demonstrated its unity at its 17-21 October synod meeting in Pathankot, Punjab state. Read more
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| 20.10.2008 | | | Neoliberalism in retreat says ecumenical consultation
There is a "gradual retreat of neoliberalism" in the region, according to participants in a Latin America and Caribbean ecumenical consultation to examine the links between poverty, wealth and ecology. Read more
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| 20.10.2008 | | | Living in community: the goal of Christian-Muslim dialogue
"Living together in community must take the centre stage of Christian-Muslim dialogue," said Catholicos Aram I at the opening of an 18-20 October ecumenical consultation aimed at developing a common Christian theological understanding of dialogue with Islam. Read more
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| 20.10.2008 | | | "Christianity is part of our national heritage" Indian prime minister tells Kobia
Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh observed that "Christianity is part of our national heritage" when Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), called on him on 18 October at his residence in New Delhi. Read more
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| 16.10.2008 | | | Religious extremism "one of the greatest threats," says Kobia
The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia has said that "one of the greatest problems facing the world today is religious extremism." Read more
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| 16.10.2008 | | | Iraqi Christians need action, prayers and solidarity, WCC says
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has called on the UN and the Iraqi government "to quell the violence" targeted to Christians in Iraq and has urged its member churches and partners worldwide to "pray for peace and reconciliation" in the country. Read more
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| 16.10.2008 | | | Indigenous theologians to suggest visions for church and society
The Philippines - a country where approximately a tenth of the population is indigenous and lives in isolated areas where access to basic services and opportunities for economic growth is lacking even as natural resources abound - will be the meeting place for some 30 indigenous theologians from the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia. Read more
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