WCC news: WCC General Secretary, leadership of South African Council of Churches meet with South African H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa

World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and the Presidium of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) met with H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Republic of South Africa on 30 July 2026.  H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Republic of South Africa, and World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. Photo: Office of the President of South Africa 30 July 2026 Pillay was accompanied by Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka, President of the South African Council of Churches; Ms Lulama Ntuta, First Vice President of the South African Council of Churches; and Rev. Dr Nioma Venter, Second Vice President of the South African Council of Churches. The delegation was very cordially and warmly received by the President and his team, which included, in addition to the President, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation for South Africa Ms Anna Thandi Moraka, and staff from the President’s Office.  The President expressed deep gratitude for the work of the WCC and the SACC, stating how proud they are to have a fellow South African serve as General Secretary of WCC, a very valued and trusted organisation worldwide and locally. The WCC General Secretary expressed gratitude to the President and government for their stand on the Palestine and Israel situation, adding that it was both “courageous and costly but an act of seeking justice and peace in that context.” The discussions then revolved around very pertinent, hard, and sensitive issues such as international peace initiatives amidst wars and conflicts, and the role of leaders in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in promoting peace and unity in the region. An in-depth discussion reflected on the recent xenophobic situation and returning foreigners to their respective countries. Discussions also included corruption with specific reference to the Phala Phala issue, the work of commissions, the upcoming elections, and the need for accountability and action to create a peaceful and safe society. Extensive discussions centered on the National Dialogue and its status in bringing social cohesion and unity in the country.  Photo: Office of the President of South Africa President Ramaphosa responded to all the issues put forth by Dr Pillay and the SACC leadership. Speaking to the Palestine situation, he recognised that their approach brought unexpected attacks on the South African government, but they chose to follow the legal and formal route of addressing the situation from a justice perspective. President Ramaphosa provided detailed information of how South Africa is making contributions to peacemaking initiatives across the globe and within the continent using their positions in the UN, SADC, BRICS, and other organs.  President Ramaphosa and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi presented detailed information on the migrant issue, stating clearly that the government is doing all it can to ensure the safe and dignified return of the migrants to their respective countries. They were clear that South Africa has always welcomed others to the country but the situation of people living within the country without the necessary documents is what is being addressed. On the issue of corruption, it was stated that the government is addressing this very seriously and the recommendations of previous and current commissions are being implemented, but much more must still be done. The Phala Phala matter is currently with the courts, and confidence was expressed in the work they do. The National Dialogue was constituted by President Ramaphosa at the request of many people and now it is expected to continue its work without government interference. Pillay said: “The meeting with the President of South Africa and his team was engaging, informative, instructive, and transparent. We heard the government and they heard us. We valued and appreciated the frank conversations and the responses we received to the issues we raised. We recognise that issues are complex and often have different understandings. We, thus, pray for wisdom and discernment for government, religious leaders, and the people of South Africa. The WCC will continue to work with the SACC and through them with the South African government and people as we continue the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity in this context and globally.”  Photo: Office of the President of South Africa Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka, President of SACC, said that the President acknowledged the important roles of both WCC and SACC in helping people navigate today’s challenges.  Archbishop Sipuka expressed appreciation for being able to discuss major issues with the President and his team, mentioning that discussions touched on the importance of legal migration while also taking care of people at the borders. Sipuka said, “The President made the point that no country can just be open to everybody and spoke about the responsibility countries must have to reduce people leaving their countries for another. In this regard the President urged leaders of African countries, while respecting the autonomy of each nation, to be mutually accountable to each other in the ways in which they run their countries.” “The meeting with the President and the ministers was insightful, especially with the recent issues with illegal Immigration in South Africa,” said Ms Lulama Ntuta, First Vice President of SACC. “It has been reiterated that we are not a xenophobic nation and have always been loving and welcoming to people from other countries and this message was very strongly emphasized today again by the President. She added. “The human dignity and human rights are evidently being upheld as processes are implemented to try stabilizing the country and bring meaningful solutions and confidence to the African continent. We continue to pray for the leadership of South Africa and its people.” 'It was an encouraging and constructive engagement,” said Rev. Dr Nioma Venter, Second Vice President of SACC. “We came away with the clear impression that both the World Council of Churches and the South African Council of Churches are regarded as valued partners in ongoing dialogue. We also appreciated President Ramaphosa's affirmation that the values enshrined in South Africa's Constitution continue to guide the government's response to the situation of migrants, as well as its engagement with other pressing challenges across the African continent and further. Such dialogue between church and state remains important in pursuing justice, human dignity, and the common good.” Photo gallery The skyline of Johannesburg. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 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 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. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC news: WCC central committee moderator reflects on importance of Multi-Religious Council of Leaders

The Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, brought together by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Religions for Peace, strengthens collective efforts across regions and faiths to address root causes by supporting global advocacy, conflict prevention, reconciliation, peacebuilding, and social cohesion initiatives. Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator, who recently attended his first meeting with the council, reflects on its important role and how churches can contribute. Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, WCC central committee moderator, and Barham Salih, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Photo: UNHCR/Antoine Tardy 29 July 2026 What did you take with you from your first meeting with the Multi-Religious Council of Leaders? Bishop Bedford-Strohm: I was touched by the atmosphere of friendship and cooperation between faith leaders with very different backgrounds. It showed to me that religious communities can join forces and, rooted everywhere on this globe in local communities,  can make a difference in the world. What is the most important role for religious leaders in the council? Bishop Bedford-Strohm: The first task is to jointly stand up for human dignity, mutual respect, and empathy in a world wounded by division, injustice, and hate. We can be witnesses for this new way of living together in how we deal with each other. The second task is to prophetically denounce every misuse of religion to legitimize political goals that pull the name of God into the dirt. Persecuting refugees, invading another country, or oppressing one’s own people in the name of God are expressions of such misuse, against which we must lift our voice. How can the WCC contribute?  Bishop Bedford-Strohm: The WCC can connect with our member churches all over the world and stand by them in their struggles for justice, reconciliation, and unity. We can build alliances of justice and solidarity for the most vulnerable and promote public advocacy for their support. Our memorandum of understanding with UNHCR is is a good example for that. What was the most impactful meeting or conversation during the day at the UNHCR?  Bishop Bedford-Strohm: Besides our very good internal talks, I was very much moved by the official celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Convention for Refugees that took place in the building in which it was then signed. The witnesses of people whose lives were saved and transformed into flourishment by the protection they experienced through the Geneva Convention and the UNHCR as its arm deeply impressed me. They showed how important the convention is now in a time in which solidarity with refugees is under pressure. I was strongly reassured that WCC’s place in strong support for UNHCR is exactly the right place.  The Promise For refugees, churches “need to exercise their prophetic voice” (WCC feature story, 29 July 2026) WCC to enter Dialogue on Displacement and Shared Sacred Flourishing (WCC news release, 27 July 2026) Multi-Religious Council of Leaders | UNHCR WCC, UN Refugee Agency sign historic memorandum of understanding that deepens collaboration (WCC news release, 1 June 2026) WCC leaders visit UN Refugee Agency (WCC news release, 9 June 2026) 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 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. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC interview: Rev. Canon Dr Carlton Turner reflects on what “decolonizing” really means

Rev. Canon Dr Carlton Turner of the Church in the Province of the West Indies serves with the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education Birmingham, UK, and is a member of the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission. He took time to reflect on an international colloquium, "Decolonizing Ecumenical Hermeneutics,” held in June. Photo; Albin Hillert/WCC 28 July 2026 The International colloquium was organized by the Wittenberg Center for Advanced Studies, World Council of Churches Commission on Faith and Order, Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, and Faculty of Theology at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. At the colloquium, Rev. Canon Dr Carlton Turner offered a keynote entitled “Decolonisation and the Inner Journey of the Church: A Caribbean Observation.”  What did you take away from the colloquium? Dr Turner: A robust conversation about what decolonization means has been going on, and what I really appreciate is that the work is continuing to be promoted. What do we need in order to have a true ecumenical dialogue about decolonization?  Dr Turner: I think in order to have a true ecumenical dialogue, we must first have enough denominational or faith-based groupings—our own internal conversations. Unless we are prepared to do that, then our ecumenical conversations won’t be deep enough. I think that’s exactly what we are doing—presenting these ideas, these challenges where, for example, Europe might get to know a context like the Caribbean, one that has a related but different history. Unless we know what’s exactly going on and what is challenging us, I don’t think we get as deeply as we can in really wrestling with the concepts and ideas. Do you have hope for change? Dr Turner: I think, because I am in these communities, I learn as much as I teach. Plus, I think I remember where I come from and the challenge we have. I’m rooted or try to be rooted in material reality or cultural context so working here in the UK, I am focusing on racial justice. I am always involved in things that need some thinking though. I just want people to continue this great work and move it around the globe so people are aware of the message, the discussions, the kinds of connections of Nicaea 2025, and how those discussions affect how we train clergy, how we do theology, and how we do theological research. That’s my hope and, with these encounters, I can support that. How does this help the next generation of theologians?  Dr Turner: We’re doing this to shape what’s to come. I’d like to make sure that we think long-term, and we think deep. We need to figure out all the ways in which our theologies are problematic, unhelpful, complex, and give our next generation tools to deal with all of our baggage. We are not innocent or neutral. I take an inward journey approach, as that’s the only way we can get disentangled from some of these things. The only way to face our problems is to turn inward and face ourselves. Young generations can have the tools, and one of the key tools is a de-colonial approach that is meant to question, challenge, and retrain basic assumptions.  International colloquium offers de-colonial lens on theology (WCC news release, 26 June 2026) 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 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. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC interview: Communicators in Ukraine are “bearing witness to truth, resilience, compassion”

Marianne Ejdersten, director of communication for the World Council of Churches (WCC), traveled with a WCC-led delegation to Ukraine for a solidarity visit on 14-17 July. She took time to reflect on the communications operation, on the prophetic voices that touched her heart, and what we can pray for the communicators that remain in Ukraine. From left: Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach, Conference of European Churches general secretary; and Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of communication; Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary; and Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee. Photo: Deacon Andrii Sydor/Orthodox Church of Ukraine 23 July 2026 As you headed up a communications operation from Ukraine, what were the biggest logistical challenges?  Ejdersten: Traveling in war zones is always a major challenge, depending on the location, language barriers, and culture. That’s my experience after more than 25 years of experience with field visits, this time an ecumenical solidarity visit to Ukraine with a delegation of five leaders. Attacks on Kyiv escalated just a week ahead of the visit, but we decided to go despite the increased number of missiles and drones. There were certainly practical challenges in Ukraine as well—moving the delegation safely, working around air raid alerts, adjusting travel plans at short notice, and finding reliable connectivity to monitor all four very much-needed apps for air raid alerts, local maps, shelters, and bomb maps—but what stayed with me most was the responsibility of telling people’s stories with care. Every meeting, every photograph, and every conversation carried a deep sense of responsibility. We wanted to communicate what was happening, but never at the expense of accuracy, dignity, or the safety of those who welcomed us into their lives. It was a constant balance between responding quickly and taking the time to truly listen. It's important to listen with a humble heart, as a guest staying for a short period of time in a violent environment. You realize this is the host's everyday life and reality. I joined the WCC delegation only 14 days in advance, replacing a colleague to coordinate the visit and be in charge of the planning, programme, protocol, security, and coordination with the local host. On top of that, I tried my very best to make the solidarity visit visible with support of colleagues in the WCC, with the Conference of European Churches, and locally in Kyiv. Due to the security with the delegation, we published all the material upon returning to Poland.  In the meantime, we coordinated the internal communication with WhatsApp and Signal. Which prophetic voices in Ukraine most deeply touched your heart? Ejdersten: At the core of the WCC communication is the prophetic voice, and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and sharing the stories of the "living fellowship" that would otherwise remain unheard. So many voices heard in Kyiv. They were church leaders, pastors, Bossey alumni, volunteers quietly serving others each day, and people who had endured tremendous loss but still spoke about hope, faith, and reconciliation. I was deeply moved by their courage and by their refusal to allow fear or hatred to define them. Their witness reminded me that prophecy is often something that is lived out before it is spoken. WCC communication will return and work on more local and spiritual feature material. From left: Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach, Conference of European Churches general secretary; and Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of communication; and Rev. Karin van den Broeke, WCC central and executive committee member. Photo: Metropolitan Gabriel. What has changed for you about the way you think about the churches and people in Ukraine? Ejdersten: I left Ukraine with heavy heart due to the war, but with a much deeper sense of admiration, respect, and connection. The churches are not standing on the sidelines—they are at the heart of their communities, offering shelter, comfort, practical support, and hope. I was also humbled by the resilience of the people we met. Even in the midst of uncertainty and loss, they welcomed us with generosity, honesty, and trust. They shared their stories with us, and that is something I will never take for granted. It reminded me that our role as communicators is not simply to report events, but to help people recognize one another’s humanity.  What can we pray for church communicators, journalists, and photographers in Ukraine and elsewhere covering war situations who are working every day to tell the truth in the face of great adversity? Ejdersten: Please pray first for their protection. Many of them work under enormous pressure and personal risk while carrying the emotional weight of the stories they tell. Pray that they will have strength for each day, wisdom to communicate with integrity, and moments of rest and renewal when they need them most. Media plays an very important role to serve as the foundational pillar of democracy by providing the public with factual information, serving as a watchdog over those in power, and acting as a public forum for diverse perspectives. And pray that they never lose sight of hope. Their work is about much more than documenting destruction. It is about bearing witness to truth, resilience, compassion, and the quiet acts of faith that continue every day. My prayer is that they will know they are not alone—that the fellowship  stands with them, listens to them, and continues to pray for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in the Middle East, in Sudan,  and elsewhere around the globe facing violence and wars. A WCC delegation made a solidarity visit to Ukraine on 14-17 July, walking in hope and praying with churches and communities for an end to the war.  The delegation included: Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary; Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee; Rev. Karin van den Broeke, WCC central and executive committee member; H.E. Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionias and Philadelphia, Church of Greece, WCC central committee member and WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs commissioner; Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach, Conference of European Churches general secretary; and Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of communication. Photo gallery WCC delegation makes solidarity visit to Ukraine (WCC news release, 17 July 2026) In Ukraine, churches “sustain hope when hope has been tested” (WCC news release, 17 July 2026) WCC delegation meets with Ukrainian government officials (WCC news release, 17 July 2026) H.E. Metropolitan Gabriel: Ukrainian people “a unique example of resilience and unity” (WCC interview, 17 July 2026) Rev. Karin van den Broeke: “The most important thing for now is getting and showing support for Ukraine” (WCC interview, 20 July 2026) Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach: In Ukraine, “their suffering is not forgotten” (WCC interview, 21 July 2026) 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 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. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland