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It's been five years since the World Council of Churches launched its Decade to Overcome Violence. Participants at the 9th Assembly paused Saturday to mark that midpoint, reviewing what has occurred so far and looking to what can yet come.

If Mary and Joseph had to get to Bethlehem this year, they would find themselves confronted with a 9-metre high concrete wall and a sophisticated, high-tech checkpoint.

With two months remaining until the World Council of Churches' 9th Assembly in 2006, the organizers have launched an invitation to churches and Christians everywhere to accompany and support the event.

When we pray in the words of the theme of the forthcoming WCC Assembly, "God, in your grace, transform the world", we confess our readiness to proclaim the good news that the Triune God has acted to dignify humanity through God's incarnation in Jesus Christ and to begin the transformation of a world that knows little of grace and mercy.

:: World AIDS Day events in Geneva and Bern :: WCC to host Indigenous caucus to UN :: Latin America, small arms and violence :: Events around the WTO Conference in Hong Kong

By visiting www.wcc-assembly.info, you can be part of the 14-23 February 2006 World Council of Churches' (WCC) 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil - an event that will bring thousands of Christian women and men from around the world together for ecumenical encounter, prayer, celebration and deliberation.

"Violence does not recognize differences between Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox or Pentecostal. Violence is our common plague, and non-violent love, peace, justice and reconciliation are our common calling," Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia told participants in a 27-29 October international conference in Boston, USA.

> African church leaders visit Israel and Palestine > Ecumenical Water Network consultation > Interreligious event on "My neighbour's faith and mine" > Women-to-women solidarity visit to Pakistan > The Roman Catholic Church and the WCC: 40 years of cooperation > Consultation on terrorism, human rights and counter-terrorism > Kobia supports Bread for the World campaign > European youth, Asian, German, Baltic and...

The ecumenical movement is a reality for people and congregations around the world who live their faith on a daily basis. An integrated communication project, "Keeping the faith" shows this reality, and conveys the vitality of the ecumenical movement today.

The root causes and complex nature of violence, and aspects of Christian spiritual life that can contribute towards the building of a culture of peace in today’s world, will be the focus of an international conference taking place in Boston, USA from 27-29 October 2005.