Member Church News: Communion, Ecumenism, Creation

Serge Fornerod, director of external relations at the Protestant Church of Switzerland, reports on his trip with Tabea Stalder  to Lebanon, where they visited churches and their projects that suffered damage after the explosion in Beirut, but are still active work for all victims. The report is available in German and French (and contains videos in English).

The desire to gather around common prayers, shared music, and the communion table brought several Presbyterian Mission Agency ministries together to create a World Wide Worship Kit, launched in time for World Communion Sunday, October 4—while another Presbyterian group has shared a video with basic hip-hop moves.

This Sunday, 4 October, following this weekend’s Church of Scotland General Assembly proceedings, Christians across the country will join together in prayer once more in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, new ecumenical partnership created by a small group of clergy in north east Scotland hopes to reconnect with those who may not attend traditional church services.

On the occasion of the Day of Prayer for Latin American Women 2020, AIPRAL brought people together in a virtual meeting across Latin America and the Caribbean, with the collaboration and creativity of sisters in Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Latino sisters in the United States of America.

In a ceremony of thanks to the moderam of the Reformed Alliance, Achim Detmers said farewell as secretary general. On 30 September he will leave his position at the end of his 6-year term of office.

A new initiative from ECO, Communities of Global Engagement will serve as a space of collaborative mission between ECO church leaders and an identified global partner.

Representatives from Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Episcopal Church are continuing efforts to find ways to work together in shared mission. The Episcopal-Presbyterian Bilateral Dialogue met recently via Zoom to discuss ways to “deepen ties and work together.”

Celebrating the day of environmental awareness, the faith communities of the Evangelical Church of the Rio de la Plata and the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Vicarage of the Catholic Church of Posadas, who are united in joint health pastoral actions, met to plant trees and to reflect together on the care of the common home and the importance of gestures that make a difference.

The advocacy statement of ecumenical organizations responding to the new European Union Migrant Pact and the situation of migrants and refugees in Europe was received 25 September in the European Commission offices in Brussels.

The World Council of Churches COVID-19 support team continues to field questions related to COVID-19 from member churches. As the coronavirus pandemic wears on, the team strives to offer accurate information combined with a sense of spiritual care. The WCC also welcomes answers and ideas for best practices from member churches, as new voices of wisdom help us all.