World Council of Churches

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep alarm and grief over the deadly attack on Gaza carried out by Israeli forces on 17-18 March, killing more than 400 people.

As climate change continues to devastate vulnerable communities worldwide, the World Council of Churches (WCC) called on the UN Human Rights Council to address the "climate-debt-tax-human rights nexus as a moral imperative." The statement, delivered by Rev. Peter Adenekan during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, highlighted how debt obligations are preventing governments in developing countries from meeting basic human rights and responding effectively to the climate emergency.

Rev. Nicole Ashwood, World Council of Churches (WCC) programme executive for Just Community of Women and Men, is part of a delegation attending the United Nations 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). She took time to reflect on the delegation’s goals, why church involvement is so critical, and what it will take for transformation to happen. 

Sylvia Raulo, who has been seconded by the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission to work with the World Council of Churches, was honored with the Cross of St Henry by Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Awarded once annually to one person, the Cross of St Henry is the highest ecclesiastical decoration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Raulo took time to reflect on the award and her inspiration for her work in pursuit of Christian unity and a just world. 

Faith leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean will gather in Brasília, Brazil, 18-20 March, to reflect on the current reality of the climate crisis and to plan for an effective engagement in the run up to COP30, the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), in collaboration with UN agencies and interfaith partners, invites global faith-based actors, civil society leaders, policymakers, and international affairs experts to register for the 11th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs, to be held on hybrid mode in New York City on 3 April.

As economic inequality reaches alarming levels, faith leaders, economists, and justice advocates will gather for the 6th Meeting of the Ecumenical Panel on a New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) from 25-27 March in Geneva. Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in collaboration with the World Communion of Reformed Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, and Council for World Mission, the meeting will focus on urgent economic reforms for a more just and sustainable future.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is mourning the death of Mary Ann Lundy, a Presbyterian Church (USA) lay leader known for her leadership in the sanctuary movement. 

The Indian Orthodox Diocese of Ahmedabad has dedicated 2025 as the “Year of Family Prayer,” aiming to strengthen homes with the love and peace of Christ. 

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Reference Group for the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity is convening for the first time in person in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 13-18 March.

Preparations for the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) 2025 are advancing, with various working groups actively shaping the program. 

Prof. Susan Lea Smith, from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon (US), is a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. She reflected on how churches can—and should—become involved in climate-related litigation in pursuit of climate justice.

A delegation led by the World Council of Churches (WCC) is participating in the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, being held from 10–21 March at the United Nations in New York City. 

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep sorrow and grave concern over the recent tragic developments in Syria, where, according to some sources, more than 1,000 civilians, primarily from the Alawite community, have been massacred.

The first of a series of webinars on Christian unity, “The Bishop of Rome and Christian Unity,” will be offered on 18 March 2025 

Media accreditation is now open for the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee, which will convene in Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 – 24 June. Media accreditation is mandatory for access to open sessions, press conferences, briefings, and seminars – onsite, as well as online.

The World Council of Churches central committee will convene in Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 – 24 June 2025. Media accreditation is mandatory for access to open sessions, press conferences, briefings, and seminars – onsite, as well as online.

The South Sudan Council of Churches, in a statement on 6 March, addressed the escalating insecurity, political tensions, and violence that threaten the peace many have worked so hard to build in the nation. 

As Rev. Tut Kony Nyang Kon sits at the helm of the South Sudan Council of Churches as the general secretary, he hopes to transform the organization into one that inspires Christian Communities to work more for peace, justice, and reconciliation.

The World Council of Churches Gender Justice Reference Group, in a statement for International Women’s Day on 8 March, expressed solidarity with women and girls across the world.