| | | | | | Photo 1: l-R – Dr. Jennifer Leath, Central Committee of the World Council of Churches; Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches; Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, President and General Secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; Pastor Peter Noteboom, General Secretary of The Canadian Council of Churches; Rev Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, President of the World Council of Churches from North America; and Rt. Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator of the United Church of Canada, at Trinity College Chapel in Toronto, December 2024. | The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) recently celebrated its 80th anniversary in Toronto and Winnipeg, Canada. Rev. Amanda Currie, President of CCC, and Pastor Peter Noteboom, General Secretary of CCC, welcomed Canadian and international visitors to five days of meetings and worship. There was fellowship with indigenous faith leaders and academic leaders at Knox College, Toronto School of Theology, and Trinity College.
The celebration included gatherings with communion leadership at various churches, including United Church of Canada, Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church, Broadway Disciples United Church, Grace Lutheran Church in Winnipeg, Holy Trinity Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, Epiphany Indigenous Anglican Church, and visits to the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, and the Manitoba Multifaith Council. Intergenerational conversations about ecumenism also took place during the multi-day visit.
Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, traveled from South Africa to participate in the many celebratory events from Toronto to Winnipeg, allowing him to experience diverse Canadian church cultures. Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, President of the WCC from North America, and Bishop Vashti McKenzie, President and General Secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, also participated in the 80th anniversary celebration.
“We wanted to support our Canadian siblings and reflect on the remarkable journey that has shaped not only the Council but also the spiritual landscape of Canada and beyond,” said Bishop McKenzie. “For eight decades, the CCC has worked together on critical issues as a visible sign of ecumenical cooperation, uniting diverse Christian traditions under a shared commitment to faith and social justice.”
NCC congratulates the Canadian Council of Churches, 26 churches strong, on this momentous occasion, celebrating their work in advocacy, educational initiatives, and community outreach to promote understanding and reconciliation among all people. Together we can forge a path toward a more hopeful and resilient future. | | Ecumenical leaders and attendees at the Canadian Council of Churches' 80th anniversary in Winnipeg, December 2024. | | CWS and Faith Communities Respond to Proposal to Eliminate Protection for Migrants in Churches, Schools, and Hospitals | For Immediate Release: December 11, 2024 Contact: media@cwsglobal.org
Washington, DC—Church World Service today expressed its concern over reports that President-elect Trump plans to scrap “sensitive locations” in upcoming months, granting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers more power to arrest undocumented people at churches, schools, hospitals, and other long-protected public spaces. CWS notes that rescinding such protections will prevent vulnerable neighbors from safely accessing aid from faith communities, healthcare providers, and other core social support systems.
“The right for all people to find safety, refuge, and rest in houses of worship is fundamental to our nation’s history of religious freedom and our longstanding values. No one should face fear of deportation when going to houses of worship, seeking medical care or social services, at public demonstrations, or taking their kids to school. Regardless of what police the Trump Administration rescinds or puts forth, faith communities will continue to look to our sacred texts and centuries of tradition to live out our faith by welcoming immigrants and protecting the most vulnerable among us. ” said Rev. Noel Andersen, National Field Director at Church World Service. “We must lead with compassion and love instead of cruelty or fear to keep families together and to ensure that all people are treated with their God-given dignity.”
| | | | | The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is watching with both hope and concern the rapidly changing developments in Syria.
The fall of the Assad regime brings to an end a complex chapter in Syria’s history. At the same time, as we have seen with other regime changes in the region, revolutionary movements also bring uncertainty at best, and further oppression at worst, in the immediate near-term. This is the basis of our concern. Conversely, our hope is rooted in the fact that the coalition of rebel groups in Syria has indicated they will honor the pluralism that is characteristic of Syrian society, including the many religious and ethnic communities that make up Syrian history and contemporary context.
Among these communities are the religious communities that call Syria their home. Noting both our concerns and our hopes, which mirror their concerns and hopes, we post here statements of local Christian church communities:
Statement Issued by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East Damascus, December 9, 2024
"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved." Syria has always been, and continues to be, a country honored by God as the cradle of His divine messages and the land that embraced the footsteps of His messengers and prophets, despite the many historical eras it has endured. Today, it stands at a new crossroads in its history, looking towards a bright future aspired by every Syrian—a future that reflects Syria's identity as a land of civilization and the cradle of history. This phase requires wisdom, solidarity, and concerted efforts. Above all, it demands trust in God and reliance on Him, seeking His mercy and the wisdom of His providence to remain steadfast in the love of the homeland and the preservation of its people's dignity. | | | Letter from the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
Dear Partners in Christ:
Advent greetings from “Syria in Transition.”
With minimal bloodshed and surprising discipline, a political era in the history of the Syrian people has come to an end. This era was one that profoundly divided Syrians. Some feared change, as it brings an uncertain future, while others regarded any change as a better tomorrow. Some saw the mere existence of a state—any state—as a guarantor of security for its citizens, while others viewed the current state as an instrument of injustice, a hindrance to the freedom they longed for. Only a small segment of Syrians had benefited from the state and manipulated it domestically and internationally for personal gain. This group is from the past, awaiting a new dawn with the emergence of a broader political system.
This morning, opposition armed factions completed their takeover of the capital, Damascus, and began peacefully and cooperatively assuming control of official institutions from the Prime Minister. Since they entered Aleppo, the armed factions have taken care to issue reassurances to citizens, including minorities and Christians, urging them not to fear and affirming that no harm will come to them, as the aim of the operations is solely to overthrow the regime. | | | Statement on the Failure of the National Assembly to Pass the Impeachment Motion | The illegal declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol has trampled upon the constitutional order founded on democracy. The failure of the National Assembly to pass the impeachment motion, the only path to restoring constitutional order, has left the people in despair and anger once again. The so-called “orderly resignation” being presented as a political solution is nothing more than rhetoric. Any political resolution that is not rooted in the Constitution is illegal and constitutes yet another abuse of state power. We firmly state that the only way to calm the people’s outrage is through the immediate impeachment of the president in accordance with constitutional procedures.
Continue The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) prays and will act for the National Assembly to promptly initiate impeachment proceedings to restore constitutional order.
Rev. Kim Jong-saeng General Secretary National Council of Churches in Korea | | Maine Council of Churches Annual Homeless Persons Memorial Vigil | | Friday, December 20, 4:30 p.m.
20 Portland St., Portland Maine 04101The Maine Council of Churches will hold a candlelight procession that will start at the MaineHealth-Preble Street Learning Collaborative at 20 Portland Street, at 4:30 p.m., and will proceed to Monument Square for a ceremony dedicated to those persons who have died in our community. | | New York State Council of Churches Continues Post-Election Immigration
Webinar Series | The New York Council of Churches invites you to join Amanda Craft, Manager of Immigration Advocacy for the Office of the General Assembly, for an online webinar addressing Post-Election Immigration Concerns and Sanctuary Congregations on January 7, 2025, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Attendees will have access to a safe space for sharing concerns and experiences. This webinar will discuss several key themes including: Identifying and addressing the unique needs of your community. Advocacy actions and organizing for care and support. Developing actionable rapid response and care plans. Exploring ways the General Assembly-level Office of Immigration Issues can assist.
For more information, please contact Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley via email: sandawna.ashley@synodne.org, or Rev. Nancy Talbot via email: nancy.talbot@synodne.org. | | | Global Mission Fellows Program Call for Applications | | | The Global Mission Fellows Applications are OPEN NOW!
Global Mission Fellows are young adults ages 20-30 from all over the world who spend two years living in a local community and working with residents on issues of social injustice. If you or a young person in your life are passionate about alleviating suffering in the world and looking for a way to put your faith into action, consider applying for the Global Mission Fellows program at umcmission.org/gmfapply. Applications for the 2025-2027 cohort close on January 15, 2025!
Have questions? Join us for an info session on Zoom! Registration is required.
December 19, 2024 @ 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time – Register Here
Participation in the Global Mission Fellows Program requires conversational-level English language skills. | | | | | | | |
|
|
