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On the 80th anniversary of the execution of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for his opposition to Hitler, the moderator of World Council of Churches has paid tribute to the deep faith of the German theologian, saying his life and witness continue to inspire the ecumenical movement.

[Melbourne Anglican] The Rev. Glenn Loughrey, an Aboriginal priest who for the past year has served as the Diocese of Melbourne’s archdeacon for reconciliation, First Nations recognition and treaty, has been appointed Aboriginal co-chair for Reconciliation Victoria, a body promoting reconciliation across the state of Victoria. Loughrey said he hopes his leadership role in the statewide body would help build stronger relationships and provide resources in regions and parishes toward treaty. Reconciliation Victoria board secretary Keith Gove said Loughrey brings strong alignment and lived experience with the organization’s values of bravery, deep listening and standing strongly against racism. “His work as the Anglican archdeacon for reconciliation, First Nations recognition and treaty, as well as artist, speaker and writer, provides an inspiring background to help RV lead reconciliation across Victoria,” Gove said. The key issues are church properties on unceded lands and how Aboriginal people have been treated, often sanctioned by the church. “They’re not things we’re going to resolve in a short period, and they’re not things to be fearful of,” Loughrey said. “Our scripture is full of evidence that there is enough for everyone and the grace of God is sufficient for everyone,” he said. “[We need to] talk to each other and listen to each other without fear.” With the Anglican provincial council and attorney Michael Shand, Loughrey has been building a formal structure to operate alongside the church as an Aboriginal ministry body, enabling self-funding and self-management. He has worked closely with bishops in the Melbourne diocese to develop good relationships with Wurundjeri people. This work included a pilot program to have a regular traditional owners and diocese consultative group. He said this group aimed to ensure the church was talking to elders and traditional owners and engaging at a level that supported what they needed to do. “It takes time to do that,” he said. “We’ve come a long way.” Loughrey said treaty negotiations between the First Peoples’ Assembly and the state government were underway. He said the negotiations would provide an overarching framework for local-level discussions with traditional owners. He said third-party organizations like the church would be invited into the treaty process at the local level to help resolve issues such as truth-telling and land rights. There will be treaty information sessions with the First Peoples’ Assembly for bishops, leaders, clergy and parishioners. “We’re working on ensuring they get to know how the process is working and where we might fit as a church in that process,” Loughrey said. Loughrey worked with the Rev. Shannon Smith on the Bendigo diocese’s Reconciliation Action Plan and the Rev. Kathy Dalton and Canon Phyllis Andy in Gippsland. He has raised support among parishes along the southern coast for Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett, who will walk from Warrnambool to Melbourne in May. The Walk for Truth from Portland to Parliament will begin where Victoria was first colonized 190 years ago and end at the steps of Parliament House. Loughrey said there will be theological seminars in May and August where anyone could come and learn about the intersectios between Aboriginal and traditional theology.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay will visit Bangladesh from 10-14 April for meetings with churches, interfaith leaders, and faith-based organisations. He will also have a dialogue with theological teachers and students. 

Mark Hopkins shares that across The Midlands people are looking to the church to answer some of life's big questions and how it is creating great opportunities for salvation

More than 100 people received health care, medicine, food and other supplies during a day of outreach in the Northern Nigeria Conference.

Archbishop and Acting Primate Anne Germond (Anglican Church of Canada) and National Bishop Susan Johnson (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) reflect on the new world order put in place by Christ's resurrection.

The post Joint Easter message from the Acting Primate and National Bishop appeared first on The Anglican Church of Canada.

On Sunday, July 13, the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson will take the stage at the 35th General Synod of the United Church of Christ in Kansas City, Missouri, not to address the state of the denomination in her role…

The post Thompson to bring a ‘prophetic and pastoral’ message to Synod: ‘We are not all the same, but still one body’ appeared first on United Church of Christ.

[Church in Wales] The Welsh government has responded formally to concerns that have been raised by the archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev. Andrew John, to highlight the issue of river quality in Wales. In November, the archbishop convened a national summit, Restoring Welsh Riverss, hosted by the Church in Wales to draw attention to the issue. It brought together more than 90 people from across the United Kingdom, including scientists, farmers, environmentalists and water industry representatives, to discuss the challenges facing watercourses in Wales and to look at ways of improving water quality. The first minister, Eluned Morgan, also attended and addressed the gathering, setting out some of the actions Welsh government is taking to tackle the issues. Now, Welsh government’s deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, has written to the archbishop explaining the measures that are being taken to tackle the problems. The measures include: Reducing intensive agriculture runoff. Strengthening enforcement of environmental regulations. Implementing nature-based solutions. Adopting a catchment management approach. Establishing a national environmental data-sharing platform. Read the full letter from Irranca-Davies here. The Church in Wales is grateful to receive such a helpful response to this pressing issue and looks forward to working with the Welsh government, with statutory agencies, charitable partners and other stakeholders in helping restore the rivers of Wales to full health.  

[Diocese of Kansas] The Rt. Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, has announced that she will step down on January 31, 2026, and has called for the election of her successor in the spring of 2026 with a consecration service in October 2026. She made the announcement in an email to the diocese on April 4. “I believe I am called to focus even more fully on creation care. Currently, the opportunity has surfaced to work in a consultant role with Presiding Bishop [Sean] Rowe, his staff, and bishops and green leaders across The Episcopal Church to build out Eco-Region Networks in the U.S. and Province IX,” she said in the announcement. The creation of these networks was authorized by General Convention in 2024. She also wants to continue work on the networks’ pilot project, Grassland Networks, that will have its initial gathering April 25-26 in Topeka, Kansas. Bascom, who is 63, said the timeline for the election and consecration of the 11th bishop of Kansas is still under discussion, with the initial dates proposed by the presiding bishop’s office. Bascom was elected in October 2018 and became the first woman to head the diocese, which includes the eastern portion of Kansas. It also was the first time that a bishop heading a diocese in The Episcopal Church was elected from a slate of candidates who all were women. She has been bishop since her consecration on March 2, 2019. The text of her announcement can be found here.