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WCC joins online event to share initiatives protecting children from the climate crisis

“In 2015, we started working in partnership with UNICEF to support churches’ efforts for children and young people. It was the children themselves who urged us in 2016 to include climate justice as one of the three pillars of the Churches’ Commitments to Children, a programme launched as a result of consultations with 245 experts from churches, children themselves and child rights organisations,” said Seidel to the participants of the online conference.

Seidel presented several resources developed by WCC with churches and partners sharing climate justice initiatives undertaken by children. “For example, the toolkit ‘Climate Justice with and for Children and Youth in Churches: Get informed, Get Inspired, Take Action’ features several examples and tools from children worldwide who mobilised their communities and leaders around climate solutions,” explained. 

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Ecumenical solidarity visit encourages cooperation between churches and people of Sudan

Together with the All Africa Conference of Churches and the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa, the solidarity visit to Sudan is taking place from 20-25 April. 

This visit was originally planned for early 2020, but was prevented by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is now being undertaken in a context that in the meantime has greatly changed, in particular due to the events of October 2021 in which the Sudanese military suspended the Constitution and dissolved the civilian administration,” notes Rev. Ibrahim Wushishi Yusuf, WCC programme executive for Peacebuilding in the African Region. 

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WCC acting general secretary responds to First Lady of Ukraine: “I pray that peace may prevail and the war will stop”

In a response to a letter from First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed both his appreciation for her candid reflections as well as his own pain at the ongoing and increasingly grave humanitarian consequences of the conflict.

“Reading your letter, I heard the cries and the weeping of the Ukrainian mothers who lost their children, of the families who lost their dear ones, the despair of those under the ruins of bombed houses, of those dehydrated and starving without hope of escape since the ravages of war do not allow for secure humanitarian corridors,” wrote Sauca.

“But I also hear the pain and suffering of Russian mothers, wives, children and parents who receive their dear ones in a coffin, from this illogical fratricide war.”

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Russia, Ukraine conflict may impede global economic recovery

The rising oil price, the potential weakening of the rand against the United States dollar, and supply constraints around wheat, pose upside risks to food and headline inflation.

This is according Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana who noted that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine carries with it significant risks for a world economy that is yet to fully recover from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The longer the conflict lasts as well as the imposition of further sanctions could lead to widespread global inflation and impede global economic recovery,” Godongwana said on Wednesday.

He made these remarks in Parliament during the debate on the 2022 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals.

“On the positive side, we expect that the rally in export commodity prices, stemming from supply concerns brought about by the conflict, will provide added support to the local mining sector and a possible windfall to revenue collections,” the Minister said.

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World Relief: Stand with Ukraine

A statement from World Relief reads: “Over the weekend, our hearts sank as we watched images of mothers and children fleeing Ukraine while their husbands stayed behind to fight. We prayed for the people who are sheltering in subways or waiting in miles of backed up traffic to escape the violence.

“As hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians come to terms with the shocking reality of life as a refugee, you may be wondering what you can do to help in a situation that seems totally out of your control.

“Yet, the Bible tells us we were created for such a time as this. We’re called to not be overcome with evil and injustice, but to overcome evil with good. And when disaster strikes, World Relief can respond to this biblical calling because of people like you.

Today, the war in Ukraine has taken center stage in the news. World Relief is preparing to resettle Ukrainian refugees and is providing assistance to those already in the United States that are desperately seeking help for their families. We’re working with partners in the region to provide assistance on the ground. The situation is changing rapidly, and so will the ways in which we are called to respond.

The reality is, we’re facing more simultaneous disasters than we’ve seen in generations – flooding, cyclones, war, hunger… World Relief counts on people like you to mobilize churches and our staff to respond to each of these disasters, and more. We cannot control when disaster strikes, but God calls you and me to respond with compassion wherever and whenever help is needed most.

“The World Council of Churches affirms and supports the appeal issued on 24 February 2022 by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate),” said Sauca.

“Recalling the ties of history and affinity between the Ukrainian people and the Russian people, His Beatitude called directly on President Putin to stop the war, which he likened to Cain’s murder of Abel.”

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WCC urges President Putin to stop war, restore peace to Ukraine

“The World Council of Churches affirms and supports the appeal issued on 24 February 2022 by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate),” said Sauca.

“Recalling the ties of history and affinity between the Ukrainian people and the Russian people, His Beatitude called directly on President Putin to stop the war, which he likened to Cain’s murder of Abel.”

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Pope expresses ‘deep pain’ in call to Ukraine’s Zelenskyy

According to Deccan Herald, Pope Francis expressed his “deep pain for the tragic events” resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv’s embassy to the Vatican said Saturday.

“Today Pope Francis had a telephone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Holy Father expressed his deepest pain for the tragic events unfolding in our country,” the embassy wrote on Twitter. 

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  • Bible Media News (BMN)* is an independent faith-based media organization.
  • This is the first installment of a series of short interviews with faith leaders.

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President Ramaphosa: Mediation needed in Russia-UKraine conflict

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for mediation in order to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

A Russian military invasion of Ukraine is currently unfolding, and has left at least 137 Ukranian civilians and military recruits dead and hundreds of others wounded.

“That… conflict should be subjected to mediation, negotiation [and] engagement. It is not necessary for people to go to war and have people getting killed, and infrastructure getting damaged.

“…Countries of the world, particularly the United Nations [UN] Security Council… should be getting more engaged in a mediation process… This is what I believe should happen to bring the hostilities to an end,” he said.

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  • Bible Media News (BMN)* is an independent faith-based media organization.
  • This is the first installment of a series of short interviews with faith leaders.

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WCC urges to stop this war, and to restore peace to the people and nation of Ukraine

The World Council of Churches affirms and supports the appeal issued on 24 February 2022 by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate),” said Sauca. “Recalling the ties of history and affinity between the Ukrainian people and the Russian people, His Beatitude called directly on President Putin to stop the war, which he likened to Cain’s murder of Abel.”

This call must be heard, Sauca said. “WCC makes the same appeal to President Putin, to stop this fratricidal war, and to restore peace to the people and nation of Ukraine.”

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  • Bible Media News (BMN)* is an independent faith-based media organization.
  • This is the first installment of a series of short interviews with faith leaders.

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‘Pray for us,’ says Ukrainian Bible Society

Spokesman for the Bible Society of Ukraine, Rostyslav Stasyuk said, ‘Please continue praying for peace in our country, for the governments on both sides that their hearts are influenced by the Holy Spirit, pray for our soldiers who are sacrificing their lives to protect their homeland.’

He added, ‘Also pray for church leaders and especially ministers to remain strong mentally and physically as they carry the message of hope and encouragement.’

Currently, all Bible Society staff are accounted for, though there are concerns for those who live in areas close to the fighting.

Rostyslav said, ‘It is crucial that we continue providing support for our churches and people, with Bibles’.

The news comes in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this morning.

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  • Bible Media News (BMN)* is an independent faith-based media organization.
  • This is the first installment of a series of short interviews with faith leaders.

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