WCC NEWS: WCC general secretary attends 29th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay is attending the 29th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India from 21-24 April at the Henry Martyn Institute, in Hyderabad, India. Photo: NCCI 24 April 2023 Pillay delivered the keynote address of the assembly on the 22 April in what marks his first visit to India as WCC general secretary.  The theme for the assembly is “The Hour has come; Let us get going...”  There are nine WCC member churches in India, all of which will be present at the assembly. Pillay will listen to the joys and struggles of Indian Churches and express solidarity with Christians in India amidst their challenges. WCC member churches in India include: Bengal-Orissa-Bihar Baptist Convention, Church of North India, Church of South India, Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, Methodist Church in India, Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches, and United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India. Pillay said that the National Council of Churches in India has been a beacon of hope to Christians. “Through the years, many who have been mentored through this fellowship have enriched the WCC and the global ecumenical movement,” said Pillay. “The ecumenism we seek and pray for is made real locally.” We live in a world in which the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, Pillay continued. “We live in a world where we continue to devalue human lives, treat people as objects, care less that millions are dying, show no respect for human rights and continue to thrive on self-gain,” he said. “Our world is in crisis!” Pillay addressed the climate emergency; economic justice; wars, conflicts, and violence; health and wellbeing; and religious intolerance. He also discussed the importance of Christian unity and witness, as well as transformative discipleship. “Christian unity can serve the world for good,” he said. “While we are concerned about the news of the minorities being attacked and harassed for their religion, ethnic background, race in many countries, including in India, we encourage the governments to reassure those affected and take action against those who perpetrate violence and hatred against the minorities.” Pillay will also participate in an interfaith evening of prayer. WCC staff are also coordinating programmes related to water justice and youth involvement. Pillay is being accompanied by Dinesh Suna, coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network, and Joy Eva Bohol, WCC programme executive for Youth Engagement in the Ecumenical Movement.  Read the full text of the WCC general secretary keynote address to the 29th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India More photos of the WCC general secretary's participation at the event National Council of Churches in India WCC member churches in India 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: WCC general secretary attends 29th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay is attending the 29th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India from 21-24 April at the Henry Martyn Institute, in Hyderabad, India. World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay at the 29th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India. Photo: NCCI 22 April 2023 Pillay delivered the keynote address of the assembly on the 22 April in what marks his first visit to India as WCC general secretary.  The theme for the assembly is “The Hour has come; Let us get going...”  There are nine WCC member churches in India, all of which will be present at the assembly. Pillay will listen to the joys and struggles of Indian Churches and express solidarity with Christians in India amidst their challenges. WCC member churches in India include: Bengal-Orissa-Bihar Baptist Convention, Church of North India, Church of South India, Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, Methodist Church in India, Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches, and United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India. Pillay said that the National Council of Churches in India has been a beacon of hope to Christians. “Through the years, many who have been mentored through this fellowship have enriched the WCC and the global ecumenical movement,” said Pillay. “The ecumenism we seek and pray for is made real locally.” We live in a world in which the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, Pillay continued. “We live in a world where we continue to devalue human lives, treat people as objects, care less that millions are dying, show no respect for human rights and continue to thrive on self-gain,” he said. “Our world is in crisis!” Pillay addressed the climate emergency; economic justice; wars, conflicts, and violence; health and wellbeing; and religious intolerance. He also discussed the importance of Christian unity and witness, as well as transformative discipleship. “Christian unity can serve the world for good,” he said. “While we are concerned about the news of the minorities being attacked and harassed for their religion, ethnic background, race in many countries, including in India, we encourage the governments to reassure those affected and take action against those who perpetrate violence and hatred against the minorities.” Pillay will also participate in an interfaith evening of prayer. WCC staff are also coordinating programmes related to water justice and youth involvement. Pillay is being accompanied by Dinesh Suna, coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network, and Joy Eva Bohol, WCC programme executive for Youth Engagement in the Ecumenical Movement.  Read the full text of the WCC general secretary keynote address to the 29th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India National Council of Churches in India WCC member churches in India 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: WCC offers insights at Youth Pre-assembly for National Council of Churches in India

The World Council of Churches (WCC) offered insights and participated in dialogue at the Youth Pre-assembly for National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), held 17-19 April in Hyderabad. Organized by the India Peace Centre, the Youth Pre-assembly was held under the theme “The Hour has Come: The hour of Youth Building a World of Peace and Sustainability.” Photo: India Peace Center 20 April 2023 The Youth Pre-assembly set the agenda for youth work in India for the next four years, with an intent to follow up together with WCC youth engagement. Intergenerational dialogue was key in the Youth Pre-assembly interaction during which youth affirmed their faith and convened spirited dialogue.  Dinesh Suna, coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network and a co-organiser of the event, said: “Participating in the NCCI Youth Pre-assembly was very special to me, as I was the NCCI programme executive for youth in the year 2000. I encouraged the people to promote Blue Communities in their churches and universities, by defending human right to water, by saying ‘no’ to bottled water and saying ‘no’ to privatisation of water."  He further assured the participants of all possible help with their advocacy with UN and governments through the WCC Ecumenical Water Network.  Photo: India Peace Center In a keynote address, Joy Eva Bohol, WCC programme executive for Youth Engagement in the Ecumenical Movement, reflected on the climate emergency.  “Our house is burning!” she said. “We are facing many sins of profound injustice, like the issues you mentioned in our short activity, such as casteism, racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, colonialism, economic exploitation, the unequal distribution of power and resources, and the corruption of our relationships with creation, alongside so many kinds of alienation.” These sins push people apart from one another, Bohol added. “Although young people under 35 make up more than half of the world’s population, the cultural and intergenerational differences discourage them from fully using their capabilities and building up their self-esteem,” she said. “Despite youth having a great potential to be positive agents within the churches and beyond them, a shift in narratives and perceptions have generated mistrust among generations.” Bohol also reflects on the theme of the pre-assembly. “The hour has come: the hour of building a world of sustainability and peace is now,” she said. “In these days at the pre-assembly, you will go deeper into the issues of the signs of the times—issues that impact us and the whole of creation.” Asher Noah, executive secretary of the Youth Commission of the National Council of Churches in India, was the organizer of the Pre-Youth Assembly.  Angelious Michael, Director of India Peace Centre, urged the youth to be informed and educated about issues around them and to work towards peace.   Learn more about the NCCI 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