Witnessing Together to Christ's Compassionate Love

This is the text of the address on 31 August 2022 of the moderator of the central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) to the WCC's 11th Assembly, which took place in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August to 8 September 2022.     

Emilio Castro: A Passion for the Gospel

This article reviews the role of Emilio Castro as general secretary of the World Council of Churches (1985–1992), highlighting his involvement in the Conciliar Process for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation; his appreciation for Orthodox spirituality and theology; and his commitment to strengthening relationships with Pentecostals and evangelicals.     

Philip Potter: Faith and Action

This article reviews the role of Philip Potter as general secretary of the World Council of Churches (1972–1984), highlighting his background in the Caribbean, his involvement in mission, and his support for the Programme to Combat Racism. In doing so, it considers those issues to which Potter was deeply committed, including the fundamental unity of Christian witness and service, the correlation of faith and action, and the inseparable connection between the personal spiritual life of Christian believers and their obedient action in the world.     

The Imperative of Diakonia for the Church and Theological Education

This article begins by arguing that diakonia is an imperative for the church, be it at the local, national, regional, or global level. It goes on to describe how diakonia has been part of the identity of the World Council of Churches during its 70 years of existence, and highlights the struggle of diakonia and development within the fellowship and ecumenical partners. The article focuses on the document Called to Transformative Action: Ecumenical Diakonia as the most recent attempt to reflect on who we are and what we do as church. It identifies one important aspect of diakonia as reflected in the Pan‐African Women's Ecumenical Empowerment Network perspective on theological education. The article concludes by reflecting on the author's vision for a just community of women and men in prophetic diakonia.     

Lesslie Newbigin and Edinburgh’s Common Call

In a world where pluralism is the norm, interfaith encounter and dialogue are essential parts of the Christian experience. Lesslie Newbigin reflected extensively on a theological understanding of the Christian encounter with those of other faiths, emphasizing the importance of both a humble orientation toward God and others and a firm commitment to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. This juxtaposition of humble witness and firm faith in interfaith encounter is also reflected in the Edinburgh 2010 mission conference’s Common Call. This article will explore Newbigin’s reflections on interfaith dialogue and consider their implications for the future of the ecumenical movement.     

The greening of Cuba? A case study in religion and permaculture in Santiago

ABSTRACT

Using the analysis of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Santiago, this article explores the relationships between religion, ecology, and permaculture in contemporary Cuba. I focus on qualitative interviews with permaculture activists who are affiliated with the Eastern Baptist Convention. These activists are working with an ecumenical center in Santiago that promotes the creation of sustainable local communities through programs dedicated to social service. This article argues that these individuals have embraced a theocentric ecological ethic that combines social and environmental justice. The cultural value of solidaridad (social solidarity), which has long been part of Cuba’s revolutionary history, is shaping the development of this ecological ethic. The value of solidaridad has helped activists establish relational bonds of mutual aid support, particularly in the aftermath of Cuba’s post-Soviet economic crisis.