Churches, Denominations and Religions

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

WCC news: WCC general secretary to visit Nigeria to strengthen bonds

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay will visit Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria from 20-27 August, to strengthen the bonds of fellowship and cooperation among the WCC member churches in Nigeria, and to deepen the relationship between the WCC and the churches in the country.

On November 2023, the WCC executive committee went to worship and fellowship with The Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide in Abuja, Nigeria. Photo: Aregbe Segun Abraham/WCC

19 August 2026

Pillay and the church leaders will gather in a spirit of prayer, mutual respect, listening, openness, and ecumenical fellowship. The gathering will provide space for church leaders to share their experiences and concerns, while also exploring practical ways for churches and the WCC to continue to contribute together to peace, justice, reconciliation, human dignity, and the well-being of the people of Nigeria and Africa.

The gatherings will reach for shared discernment and renewed commitment to the unity and common witness of the church.

On 20-24 August, the WCC general secretary will participate with the Church of the Lord (Worldwide) in the celebration of its 90th historic Tabieorar Anniversary, under the theme "Faithful & Glorious God.”

On 25 August, the general secretary will visit the WCC Africa Regional Programme Office in Abuja, with coordinator of the office Rev. Dr Ibrahim Wushishi Yusuf. The visit will provide an opportunity to meet with colleagues and engage on the work and priorities of the office.

On 26 August, the general secretary will meet with the heads of WCC member churches in Nigeria and other invited church leaders in Abuja.

The programme, hosted by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Abuja, will comprise an ecumenical welcome and worship service; fellowship and prayer; and a consultative meeting with the heads of WCC member churches and participating church leaders.

The consultative meeting is intended to provide a fraternal and open space for the general secretary and the leadership of WCC member churches in Nigeria to reflect together on matters affecting the church, the WCC and the Nigerian context, as well as to consider areas of strengthened ecumenical cooperation and common witness.

A meeting with senior government leaders is also planned.

WCC member churches in Nigeria

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.

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RNS reporters Jack Jenkins and Ulaa Kuziez spoke with experts to bring you the analysis: Unlike past spikes, which tended to focus on tying Islam to violence, the version of anti-Muslim bigotry that has emerged this year also reflects xenophobic talking points from far-right factions in Europe that cast Islam as an existential threat to the Western world.

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From ‘terror threat’ to ‘civilizational threat,’ top Republicans escalate anti-Muslim rhetoric

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WCC NEWS: “Can Machines Love?” WCC central committee moderator addresses the question

n a two-part interview with Christian Peschken, Geneva correspondent for EWTN Germany, World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm reflects on the ethical, political, and spiritual challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

Photo: EWTN

18 August 2026

The interviews appeared on EWTN and CNA Deutsch. The first interview, entitled “Can Machines Love? Faith, AI, and the Future of Humanity,” leads to an even deeper discussion in the second installment, entitled “The Church's Answer to Artificial Intelligence.”

The conversations explore who should govern AI, why democratic oversight and ethical accountability are essential, whether AI can ever participate in spiritual life, and what message of hope Christianity offers in a rapidly changing technological world.

Bedford-Strohm also reflects on the shared commitment of the WCC and the Vatican to uphold human dignity as the guiding principle for the development and use of AI.

“Who controls the data and power of the digital world?” Peschken asks. “What responsibilities do governments, business, and religious communities bear?”

Bedford-Strohm reflects that these questions are at the center of our responsibility today in dealing with AI.

“AI can already generate prayers, sermons, and theological reflections,” says Bedford-Strohm. “While these outputs may appear meaningful, can a machine ever generally participate in spiritual life? Or does spirituality requires consciousness, freedom, and a relationship with God?”