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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been plagued by recurrent conflicts for decades, fueled by complex geopolitical and economic interests. The current conflict traces its roots back to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which saw an influx of refugees and armed groups into eastern Congo. Since then, the region has been embroiled […]

The post Rev. Kalonji’s Reflections on the Church’s Mission for Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo appeared first on WCRC.

International Development Week (IDW) 2025 showcases impactful projects led by The United Church of Canada and partners, addressing poverty, climate change, and global justice through sustainable… continue reading

On Valentine’s Day—celebrated 14 February in many countries—the World Council of Churches Thursdays in Black campaign is celebrating love with a new set of ready-to-send social media cards.

Jewish tradition teaches of the Divine spark in every person. As Jewish groups that are committed to protecting and advancing the safety and security of our community, we know we have an invaluable tool to leverage: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

The 2025 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference takes place in Greensboro, N.C., on July 2-6. Annual Conference provides an opportunity for the body of Christ known as the Church of the Brethren to come together to hear the voice of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit within and among us.

In January, Children's Disaster Services (CDS) sent four volunteer teams to care for children in the Los Angeles area in response to the wildfires that engulfed the city and surrounding area.

The Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries is offering a special webpage for prayer requests to be shared from across the country and denomination. With the mission statement, “We are called to enrich and strengthen the Church of the Brethren by our unity as people across cultures, modeling for the larger church the blessings of being one as God’s people,” the opportunity to request prayer is offered in three languages: English, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.

[Episcopal News Service] Several resolutions passed in June 2024 by the 81st General Convention speak to current events in Gaza, where Israeli hostages are being freed as part of a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel and where Palestinians are returning to Gaza communities that were leveled by Israeli bombardment during the 15-month war. The Episcopal Church has long supported Middle East peace efforts and justice for Palestinians, and General Convention’s most recent actions also strongly urged the international community to take responsibility for rebuilding Gaza. Those policy actions, however, didn’t anticipate the proposal introduced this week by U.S. President Donald Trump. On Feb. 4, during a White House visit from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he favored relocating about 2 million Palestinians elsewhere rather than allowing them to return and remain in the densely populated Gaza Strip. The proposal of a sweeping displacement of Palestinians has drawn comparisons to Israel’s displacement of Palestinians from their homes starting in 1948 during the first Arab-Israeli war that followed the creation of Israel. The inability of many Palestinians to return to their ancestral homes in Israel has been a major roadblock in peace talks for decades. Trump expressed a willingness to aid in rebuilding Gaza but, in an unexpected twist, he suggested it should become a U.S. interventionist project – an idea that was quickly rejected by Palestinians and many of Israel’s Arab neighbors. “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too,” Trump said. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site. Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings. Level it out.” It remains to be seen exactly what such a plan would look like in execution, if it ever advances beyond the proposal stage. Critics have noted that such a displacement of Palestinians, if it were even possible logistically and diplomatically, would run counter to international laws and agreements. And even some of Trump’s supporters have questioned why a president who campaigned against dispatching troops and money in foreign interventions would now be willing to occupy a disputed territory far from home, potentially requiring a U.S. military presence. Episcopal Peace Fellowship released a statement condemning Trump’s proposal as “unlawful, immoral and completely irresponsible,” echoing similar comments from a United Nations official. “We call upon communities of faith, human rights advocates, and all citizens who cherish peace and justice to join us in condemning this proposal,” Episcopal Peace Fellowship said. “It is imperative that we hold our elected representatives accountable and demand that our governments work diligently to uphold international law, protect the rights of the Palestinian people, and pursue diplomatic solutions that honor the dignity of every person.” Churches for Middle East Peace, of which The Episcopal Church is a member, also issued a statement opposing any attempts to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza. “The Palestinian people have endured 76 years of occupation and dispossession,” Churches for Middle East Peace said. “For the past 15 months, they have faced relentless bombardment and mass killings, yet many have demonstrated the intention to remain in their homeland. … The implementation of such forced expulsion would not bring stability or peace to the region. Instead, such actions would further disenfranchise Palestinians, deepen their suffering, and strengthen ideologies that support armed resistance. The Episcopal Church’s official policies toward the Middle East outline the church’s continuing support for a durable peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Palestinian statehood The church has long supported a two-state solution to the conflict and opposed Israel’s continued control and occupation of Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank. The 81st General Convention passed Resolution D013 affirming this position while emphasizing “our hope for all the people of Israel and Palestine to enjoy freedom, peace, justice, and national self-determination.” Rebuilding Gaza Resolution D013 also addresses the future of Gaza. “Rebuilding Gaza, continuing to build up the economy of the West Bank, and promoting security for both Palestinians and Israelis are the responsibility of the United Nations, Israel, the U.S., Israel’s other allies, and Israel’s Arab neighbors, all of whom should be prepared to join in historic levels of aid and investment,” the resolution says. Another resolution, D009, focused more directly on the need to rebuild Gaza and the United States’ “moral obligation” to Gaza’s people. It calls on the U.S. government “to join with the United Nations, Israel, the European Union, Israel’s other allies, and Israel’s Arab neighbors, all of whom should be prepared to join in historic levels of aid and investment to fund the restoration and rebuilding of Gaza.” It also indicates the need for “the restoration and rebuilding of homes, hospitals, schools, universities, libraries, factories, and farms; basic infrastructure such as roads, seaports and airports, along with water, sewage, and electricity systems.” Sarah Lawton, the Diocese of California deputy who proposed D009, told Episcopal News Service she wrote the resolution in response to reports that the devastation in Gaza “was among the worst the world has witnessed in modern warfare.” She called Trump’s proposal for the territory’s future “twisted and malignant.” “The Episcopal Church’s position has been clear.” Lawton wrote in an email. “We pray for permanent ceasefire and the return of all hostages and unjustly held prisoners. We plead for a negotiated political solution to the conflict, in whatever form the parties can agree, but certainly based on self-determination for both Jewish Israelis and for Palestinians, with human and civil rights for every person, and a chance for the flourishing of all peoples in the land.” Ending Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories Israel first occupied the Palestinian territories as a result of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, also known as the Six-Day War, in which Israel defeated neighboring Arab nations and took control of Gaza, the Golan Heights and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza and implemented […]

The United Church of Canada expresses grief at the tragic events in Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation.

Taq, a resettlement caseworker in Ohio, has witnessed the devastating impact of recent Executive Orders that have halted refugee arrivals, leaving families like his own in limbo. With loved ones stranded in unsafe conditions and immigrant communities facing growing fear in the United States, Taq shares his hope for policies that honor America’s commitment to those who risked everything to ... Read More