Raytown Christian Church

The work of late Fr Prof. Ion Bria, who acquired worldwide renown as a theologian and ecumenist, is inspiring the works of a theological conference being held 14-16 May in Sibiu, Romania.

As the centennial of a landmark mission event approaches in 2010, a global study process is mobilizing churches, theological institutions and mission bodies around the world.

"Being indigenous peoples is not about wearing colourful garments but about being engaged in the political struggle towards an alternative to the current, crisis-laden model of civilization", says María Chávez, an indigenous person from Bolivia who is a consultant for indigenous issues at the World Council of Churches (WCC).

In spite of a global trend to better recognize the right to conscientious objection – which is marked with an International Day on 15 May – those who exercise that right are often discriminated against, persecuted, repeatedly punished or sent to prison in many countries, first results of a study being conducted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) show.

World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel, 4-10 June 2009 is intended to generate joint church action for a just peace. Churches in 20 countries have already sent news of their plans to the convenors, the World Council of Churches (WCC). A Palestinian community organization is offering a way for many more countries to join – by sending peace prayers to Bethlehem.

In 2008 the World Council of Churches celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity as well as its own 60th anniversary. This gave the WCC “pause to reflect on how far the ecumenical movement has come since the Council was born in 1948 and where the Holy Spirit is leading as we proceed into the uncharted territory of the 21st century”, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia says in the annual review.

Claims made by the Philippines government to a good human rights track record "are utterly false", Rev. Berlin Guerrero told the United Nations Committee against Torture this week. A victim of torture himself, Guerrero said the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is "remiss in its responsibility to prevent torture".

"A land is nothing without people, and people are nothing without a land." That's the maxim followed by Palestinian farmer Daoud Nassar. And when he speaks of the intimate connection between people and their land, he is talking from hard-won experience.

The challenge of displacement caused by climate change was the focus of the Oikoumene Pasifika 2009, which took place in Nadi, Fiji in April 2009. Oikoumene Pasifika bring church leaders from the Pacific Conference of Churches together to reflect on crucial topics affecting the region. WCC staff contributed to this meeting with presentations on ecumenism and climate change. Church leaders adopted the Moana declaration on "Our Oikos - a new consciousness on climate change and our call to action".