News and stories

Five essays have been selected as the top entries in the Echos International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) essay contest.

The WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit met with Archbishop Chrysostomos II of the Church of Cyprus and the president of Cyprus, Dr Demetris Christofias, in separate meetings Thursday in Nicosia.

“Water and Just Peace” will be the theme of this year's Lenten reflections provided by the Ecumenical Water Network. Starting on Monday 7 March the weekly reflections will explore the connection between access to water, struggles over this precious resource and building just peace.

In a letter to the prime minister of Pakistan, the WCC general secretary expressed “great shock and dismay” at the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, the Pakistan government minister for Minority Affairs. Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit noted that reports indicate that Bhatti “was assassinated by religious extremists because he was critical of the controversial blasphemy law in Pakistan.”

Justice and peace provided a framework for planning and assessment of programmes as the WCC Central Committee met in Geneva from 16 to 22 February 2011.

A half century of civil conflict fuelled by drug money and corporate hegemony has left Colombia with tens of thousands dead and the second largest population of displaced people (approximately 4 million) in the world.

“God of life, lead us to justice and peace” will provide the theme for the 10th Assembly of the WCC. The Assembly is to be convened in October 2013 at Busan, South Korea.

On the final morning of its proceedings the WCC Central Committee adopted a resolution concerning the escalating violence in Libya condemning the use of force on all sides and calling for the respect for human rights of all people in Libya.

Jamaica – a proud and independent Caribbean nation struggling with a high level of violence and criminality – is the location of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) facilitated by the WCC from 17 to 25 May 2011.

African religious leaders praised ecumenical bodies last Friday – particularly the WCC – for helping create "the miracle" of southern Sudanese independence.