The World Council of Churches called upon the Sri Lankan government to release Santha Fernando, a noted Christian activist who was arrested last month in Colombo.

Fernando, executive secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka, was detained at Colombo's international airport on March 27 while he was on his way to address a Christian meeting in India.

In a letter dated April 21 to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, WCC general secretary the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia demanded an immediate release of the Christian activist. more >>

The World Council of Churches is “on course” to select its next general secretary, according to the search committee’s moderator.

Several member churches have already nominated candidates, said Dr. Agnes Abuom in a report earlier this month from the WCC, and more applications are expected to trickle in as the Feb. 28 deadline approaches.

"The net for the search is cast far and wide, inviting all regions, member churches, men and women to apply," said Abuom, a member of the WCC Central Committee. more >>

World leaders need to make radical changes to the global economic system so that it is more just to the poor and protects the environment, said the world’s largest ecumenical body ahead the U.N. International Conference on Financing for Development that began Saturday.

“Now more than ever, radical changes and tangible commitments are needed,” insisted a statement by the World Council of Churches delegation attending the U.N. conference in Doha, Qatar.

The statement described the Doha meeting as a “historic opportunity for world leaders to take responsibility and enact transformations towards building an equitable and sustainable global economic system that meets the economic, social and cultural rights of all, women and men, and nurtures the environment.” more >>

A delegation of the World Council of Churches (WCC), headed by General Secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, is visiting India this week as the country has been witnessing large-scale attacks on minority Christians in recent months.

At the invitation of the Church of North India, Kobia is scheduled to stay in New Delhi on Thursday and Friday and deliver a keynote address at the CNI General Assembly, which is taking place in Pathankot, in the northwestern state of Punjab, Oct. 16-21.

The WCC agenda also includes meetings in Delhi with the leadership of the Methodist Church in India, the Catholic Bishops' Conference and state officials. more >>

The executive committee of the World Council of Churches decided this week during their meeting in Germany to extend the term of their current general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, until a new leader takes office.

Initially, the committee was planning to select an interim general secretary during their Sept. 23-26 meeting in Luebeck, Germany.

However, it was decided that Kobia will remain the WCC general secretary until the election at the Council’s central committee meeting to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, next year from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2. more >>

The world’s largest ecumenical body celebrated its 60th anniversary Friday afternoon in Amsterdam, Netherlands, at the same church it had held its opening service decades ago.

Representatives of member churches gathered at the Nieuwe Kerk Church for “prayerful celebration” for the official founding of the World Council of Churches on Aug. 23, 1948.

At its founding, the WCC had only 147 member churches but now it has grown to 349 churches, denominations and church fellowships representing more than 560 million Christians worldwide. more >>