What we do
The WCC 10th Assembly called the churches to join a pilgrimage of justice and peace. This call sets the direction for the WCC in the coming years. All WCC programmes aim to support the member churches and ecumenical partners to journey together, promoting justice and peace in our world as an expression of faith in the Triune God.
Today the WCC focuses its work in three programme areas: Unity, Mission, and Ecumenical Relations, Public Witness and Diakonia, and Ecumenical Formation.
All programmes share a responsibility for strengthening relationships with member churches and ecumenical partners, spiritual life, youth engagement, inter-religious dialogue and cooperation and building a just community of women and men.
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Churches overcoming racism
WCC work on overcoming racism focuses on the theological and ecclesial challenges faced by the churches in dealing with racism in their midst
WCC’s engagement for children
The World Council of Churches is working to improve children's well-being through a variety of projects at local, national and global levels. Being present – and often the gathering point – in rural and urban communities, churches have a unique position to influence society at all levels, from parents and school teachers to decision-makers in public and private sectors.
Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace
Become involved in the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, an initiative of the WCC member churches “to work together in a common quest, renewing the true vocation of the church through collaborative engagement with the most important issues of justice and peace, healing a world filled with conflict, injustice and pain.”
Current Dialogue
Current Dialogue is the World Council of Churches' journal on interreligious dialogue, offering a platform for debate to those who want to build bridges across religious divides and to their partners of different faiths. Current Dialogue addresses academics, interfaith practitioners, researchers, students, institutions, religious leaders of different faiths, and all those interested in the study of religions.
Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation
The Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation (CEEF) is the WCC's primary advisory body for the whole area of education, ecumenical formation and faith nurture, which was identified as a central priority by the WCC 9th Assembly in 2006.
Mission from the margins
As an expression of its commitment to justice, human dignity and liberation the WCC, since its inception, has been a reliable partner of discriminated and excluded people in their struggles. This is a theological activity with people who are exposed to racism, indigenous peoples, migrants, Dalits and people with disabilities.
Commission on Faith and Order
The Faith and Order Commission promotes visible unity of Christians by dealing with theological questions that divide churches.
Care for creation and climate justice
Care for creation and justice are at the centre of WCC work on climate change. The Bible teaches the wholeness of creation and calls human beings to take care of the garden of Eden (Gen 2:15). The God of the Bible is a God of justice who protects, loves and cares for the most vulnerable among his creatures.
Health and healing
The WCC’s health and healing programme facilitates networking and dialogue to promote health and healing for all people. Throughout 2017 and 2018, the WCC is developing a global ecumenical health strategy to meet continuing and new health challenges worldwide.
ECHOS Commission on youth in the ecumenical movement
This body enables young people to develop their visions of the ecumenical movement.
Migration and social justice
The WCC supports churches' networking and advocacy with uprooted people, and their efforts to explore the links between migration, racism and interfaith relations.
Strengthening inter-religious trust and respect
The WCC attempts to strengthen inter-religious trust and respect through bilateral and multilateral dialogues, regional and cross-cultural encounters on topics like religion and violence, perceptions of "the other", and the search for identity in pluralistic societies.
Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
The WCC is a committed and consistent partner for Indigenous Peoples in their struggles for land, identity, language and survival of indigenous cultures.
Commission on World Mission and Evangelism
The CWME offers spaces for sharing reflections, experiences, questions and discoveries on content and methods of Christian witness today.
Ecumenical United Nations Office (EUNO)
The strong, effective, and prophetic public voice of the EUNO promotes just peace and produces focused advocacy actions in response to emerging societal, church, and ecumenical trends through the accompaniment of member churches and ecumenical partners by advocating on behalf of and with them at international and national levels, most specifically towards the United Nations and member states.
Ecumenical continuing formation
The WCC project on ecumenical continuing formation provides leadership training including accredited short term courses as well as seminars, research groups and resource development. These take place either at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute or at the regional level in various parts of the world.
Spirituality and worship in ecumenical context
The WCC encourages churches to explore traditional and newer dimensions of ecumenical spiritual life, continue work on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and collect resources for worship and healing in community.
Solidarity with churches in the Middle East
The situation of the Middle East calls for collective efforts by ecumenical partners to achieve peace and justice at local, national, regional and international levels. The WCC aims to build a space where the entire ecumenical movement can put its collective energies and resources together for lasting peace.
Just Community of Women and Men
Building just communities of women and men is a priority in all activities of the World Council of Churches as it sets out on a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. Just gender relations are essential for the transforming renewal of church and society.
Food for Life Campaign
Hosted by the WCC since 2015, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance promotes just and sustainable food systems, and adequate nutrition through a rights-based approach and enhancing local food systems, and mobilizes action and reflection for food justice and zero hunger.
