News about the WCC US office

Poverty, violence and war are amongst the "enormous and formidable" challenges of the present time, representatives of member churches of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in the United States have pointed out to President Barack Obama on the occasion of his inauguration.

Rev. Dr Sharon Watkins, WCC Central Committee member and Disciples of Christ general minister and president has been invited to deliver the sermon at President-elect Barack Obama's national prayer service to be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., the day after Obama is inaugurated president of the United States.

Individuals, groups, churches and councils of churches from Kenya to Sweden to the United States to Australia are carrying out hundreds of advocacy actions involving Christians concerned about the Gaza crisis, especially the collective punishment of the people of Gaza, and the need for a just and lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

The the United States Conference for the World Council of Churches honored five individuals or groups who had rendered outstanding service in the cause of peace during its 2-4 December annual meeting.

Church leaders attending the annual meeting of the United States Conference for the World Council of Churches in Washington began drafting a message to President-elect Barack Obama that they plan to send to him prior to his inauguration on January 20.

The United States Conference for the World Council of Churches, meeting in Washington, D.C. in annual session under the theme of "Making peace: Claiming God's promise," is hearing from Christian activists who have dedicated their lives to making peace a reality.

A just peace around the world was on the hearts and minds of nearly 60 persons attending today's opening session of the Annual Meeting of the US Conference for the World Council of Churches in Washington, D.C.

Leaders and representatives of 24 US churches gathering in Washington, D.C. next week will deliver a message to President-elect Barack Obama, outlining hopes for the new administration in leading the nation forward and working for peace with justice.

Straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Australia and Hawaii, is the small island country of Kiribati. The vast majority of its 33 coral atolls never exceed three meters above sea level, making Kiribati's 94,000 inhabitants vulnerable to a rare danger: their country is sinking.

This message from WCC's Moderator, Dr. Walter Altmann, is addressed to all the "brothers and sisters" in the US member churches on this historic post-election day.