WCC News: WCC moderator sends joyful greetings on 60th anniversary of All Africa Conference of Churches

World Council of Churches moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm shared joyful greetings to the All Africa Conference of Churches as it celebrated its 60th birthday and gathered for its assembly.  World Council of Churches moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm speaking at the preyer service in the Church of the Brethren in Abuja, Nigeria during the WCC executive committee meeting, 10 November 2023.   Photo: Aregbe Segun Abraham/WCC 20 November 2023 “Due to the meeting of our executive committee meeting here in Abuja, I have now had the privilege of enjoying African hospitality already for 10 days,” he said. “And I cannot express how moved and impressed I am with the generosity, the friendship, the cordiality and, above all, the great spiritual inspiration we have experienced from our host churches here in Nigeria.” Bedford-Strohm also reflected about learning what Nigerians have to struggle with, including poverty, corruption, and violence. “Where can be sources of hope in so much despair?!” he asked. “For me, ecumenical gatherings like our executive committee meeting last week and now the All Africa Conference of Churches are such sources of hope.” We trust that this suffering is not the last word, said Bedford-Strohm. “The last word is resurrection,” he said. “The last words are justice, reconciliation, and unity.” Ecumenical bodies have different opinions, struggles, and even divisions, he concluded. “But the love of Christ is stronger, so that we listen to each other, we bear with each other, we pray with each other and for each other, and we act with each other,” he said. “Let us always strive towards being what we are called to be: salt of the earth and light of the world.” Greetings from the WCC moderator to the All Africa Conference of Churches assembly and 60th anniversary All Africa Conference of Churches See more

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 352 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. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC news: All Africa Conference of Churches ready to convene Twelfth General Assembly

The All Africa Conference of Churches will convene its Twelfth General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, from 18-23 November under the theme “The Love of Christ Compels us…” Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 15 November 2023 The assembly will bring together African ecumenists to pray together, evaluate the life and work of the churches in Africa, celebrate key milestones reached, and set the agenda of Africa’s ecumenical movement during the period leading to the next assembly. Those gathered will also commemorate the 60th anniversary of the All Africa Conference of Churches. World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay sent a hearty congratulations to the All Africa Conference of Churches on its 60th anniversary. “You are the spearhead of ecumenical engagement on the continent and the focal point of ecumenical collaboration for Africa’s future,” said Pillay. “Through the years, you have also been harnessing the strength and determination of postcolonial Africa’s faith communities to ensure a more vibrant future for the continent.” Over 600 delegates from 43 African countries are expected to participate in this assembly. They will be joined by other ecumenical leaders from all over the world. “The Twelfth General Assembly is not only a celebration but also a testament to the growth and cohesion of the Christian community in Africa,” said the chairperson of local planning committee, H.E Rev, Dr Akanji Israel. The assembly will occur at a time that marks 10 years of implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063, and in the last decade of the implementation of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Pre-assemblies focusing on women and youth—with an important role for youth with disabilities—will be held in the days leading up to the gathering. See more

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 352 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. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC NEWS: Youth congress set to draw thousands with the theme “Africa: My Home. My Future”

A youth congress organized by the All Africa Conference of Churches on 31 October-5 November at the Pentecost Convention Center in Ghana will draw about 2,000 young people between the ages of 15-35. With the theme “Africa: My Home. My Future,” the congress will endeavor to increase awareness of the tremendous potentials of young people—and the opportunities that await. Below, Rev Dr. Lesmore Gibson Ezekiel, All Africa Conference of Churches director of programmes, reflects on the planning, vision, and prayers for the congress. 6 March 2018, Arusha, Tanzania: 31 young participants in the Stewards Programme of the Conference on World Mission and Evangelism visit YWCA in Arusha, Tanzania, for discussions on challenges faced by youth today, raising issues of facing unemployment, accessing education, and particilarly challenges in the context of prevention of HIV. Photo:Albin Hillert/WCC 30 September 2022 What are your hopes for discussion, interaction, and inspiration for the young people who will gather? Dr Lesmore: We have been listening to young people who want to address so many issues, among them irregular migration, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling. We are trying to emphasize that, if the opportunity comes for you to leave the continent, leave with dignity—you don’t have to go through the desert and the sea. With the slogan “Africa: My Home. My Future,” we are partnering with our member churches, councils, institutions, ecumenical bodies, partners, and development agencies to support some aspect of the site events that issues and themes relating to patriotism and active citizenship, human dignity, peace, security, gender justice, climate change, inequalities, injustices, health, and human rights. The journey to this congress has had a lot of challenges. We have many young people who are trying to be part of the event but are financially handicapped. What are some signs of hope you see among young people? Dr Lesmore: When I see young people who choose not to dare the Mediterranean Sea or the Sahara Desert in search of greener pastures, it gives us hope. It is common sense to say: If there is a greener pasture somewhere else, then where you are is pretty green as well—can you make it even greener? In many ways, the political systems in Africa seems not to work for young people, with nothing being offered to them by the systems and structures. But there are still signs of hope, for example, when they see some other young people who became more creative and innovative, and traveled to Europe, America, and island nations for their holidays with the proceeds of their creative efforts. We are saying, you can dig down and it is not an easy route, but you need to roll up your sleeve and get into the modern work. We will bring a narrative of hope that, in turn, sustains their hope. What can your ecumenical family pray for you as the Youth Congress approaches? Dr Lesmore: We pray for a successful congress: that these young people who will be traveling to Ghana are not going there for ecumenical tourism but are going in order to sharpen each other, to dream, to envision a new Africa where their potentials are realized. Please, pray for all of this! All Africa Conference of Churches See more

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 352 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 acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland