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![Rev. Dr Stephen Bevans speaking at the mission plenary of the WCC assembly in Busan. Mission: a call to life-giving witness](all-news/mission-a-call-to-life-giving-witness/image_thumb.jpg)
Mission: a call to life-giving witness
Today the WCC10th Assembly featured a mission plenary. The plenary session presented an action-oriented reflection based on the new WCC mission statement: Together Towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes. The plenary sought to highlight the common challenges and opportunities for mission in the current global context.
Assembly elects new WCC presidents
The 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches elected eight new presidents today during a closed session at its proceedings in Busan, Republic of Korea.
![Dr Parichart Suwanbubha, a representative of Buddhist tradition, participating in the symbolic act of sharing water at the WCC assembly in Busan. Religious leaders highlight significance of water at WCC assembly](all-news/religious-leaders-highlight-significance-of-water-at-wcc-assembly/image_thumb.jpg)
Religious leaders highlight significance of water at WCC assembly
A symbolic act of pouring water into one common vessel, carried out by religious leaders representing Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist faiths, marked the significance of water in various religious traditions. This action took place at the WCC 10th Assembly, currently underway in Busan, Republic of Korea.
![Prayers for peace at Imjingak. Oubunmi Adedoyin Badejo from Nigeria. World Council of Churches visits North Korean border](all-news/world-council-of-churches-visits-north-korean-border/image_thumb.jpg)
World Council of Churches visits North Korean border
On Saturday participants in the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Busan showed their solidarity with the people of Korea by means of peace messages. They visited the border between South and North Korea, which has divided the Korean peninsula for the past 63 years.
![Konrad Raiser at the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan Religion, Power, Politics: A conversation with Konrad Raiser](all-news/religion-power-politics-a-conversation-with-konrad-raiser/image_thumb.jpg)
Religion, Power, Politics: A conversation with Konrad Raiser
On 1 November, in the exhibition hall at the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea, former general secretary of the WCC Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser discussed his book Religion, Power, Politics. Raiser is a theologian from Germany and author of many works in the area of political ethics and public theology, including For a Culture of Life: Transforming Globalization and Violence.
![A performance at the WCC assembly features Asian concerns, acknowledging struggles of churches seeking justice and peace. Asia shares aspirations for justice and peace at the WCC assembly](all-news/asia-shares-aspirations-for-justice-and-peace-at-the-wcc-assembly/image_thumb.jpg)
Asia shares aspirations for justice and peace at the WCC assembly
At the WCC 10th Assembly, the Asia region shared current realities through churches’ voices, cultural symbols and artistic performances. A continent of diversity and religious plurality, Asia is filled with contradictions of wealth and poverty, and a strong resilience. As its churches seek paths toward “justice and peace” in their societies, Asia offers an impressive range of experience.
![A symbolic prayer tree for gender justice at the “Madang” space of the WCC assembly in Busan. "Umulga" SHe-Space: women and men working together for gender justice](all-news/umulga-she-space-women-and-men-working-together-for-gender-justice/image_thumb.jpg)
"Umulga" SHe-Space: women and men working together for gender justice
The WCC has devoted 60 years of active commitment to gender justice. The WCC 10th Assembly being held in Busan, Republic of Korea is continuing the campaign for advocacy for gender justice. The WCC, in partnership with Korean women, has designed an encounter space – Umulga SHe-Space in the Madang exhibition hall at the WCC assembly.
![Prime Minister Chung Hongwon delivers welcome remarks to the WCC 10th Assembly. Prime Minister of Republic of Korea welcomes WCC assembly](all-news/prime-minister-of-republic-of-korea-welcomes-wcc-assembly/image_thumb.jpg)
Prime Minister of Republic of Korea welcomes WCC assembly
Greetings to South Korea were extended by Chung Hongwon, prime minister of the Republic of Korea, at the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan. In his speech he welcomed the assembly participants, and acknowledged contributions of the Korean churches towards peace, justice and provision of help to the disadvantaged.
![Dr Wedad Abbas Tawfik from Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria speaking at the WCC assembly in Busan. Witnessing “God of life” amidst suffering](all-news/witnessing-201cgod-of-life201d-amidst-suffering/image_thumb.jpg)
Witnessing “God of life” amidst suffering
“’God of life, lead us to justice and peace’ has become a prayer around the world.” These were words of Dr Wedad Abbas Tawfik about the theme of the WCC 10th Assembly. She shared her experiences and hopes for social and political stability as a Coptic Christian in her country, Egypt.
![From left: Michel Sidibé, Mélisande Schifter, Vicken Aykazian, Duleep de Chickera and Wedad Abbas Tawfik at the WCC assembly in Busan. Participants connect assembly theme to their realities](all-news/participants-connect-assembly-theme-to-their-realities/image_thumb.jpg)
Participants connect assembly theme to their realities
A plenary session of the 10th Assembly of the WCC delved deeply into the question how, in a world faced with violence, conflicts and discrimination, the “God of life” can lead people, communities and churches towards “justice and peace”.
![Participants of the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea. WCC assembly opens with prayers, reflections and great hopes](all-news/wcc-assembly-opens-with-prayers-reflections-and-great-hopes/image_thumb.jpg)
WCC assembly opens with prayers, reflections and great hopes
The 10th Assembly of the WCC opened on Wednesday, 30 October in Busan, Republic of Korea under the theme “God of life, lead us to justice and peace.”
![A video message of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I was screened at the opening of the WCC assembly in Busan. Ecumenical Patriarch invokes prayers for WCC Busan assembly](all-news/ecumenical-patriarch-invokes-prayers-for-wcc-busan-assembly/image_thumb.jpg)
Ecumenical Patriarch invokes prayers for WCC Busan assembly
In a video message shown at the opening of the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Busan, Republic of Korea, Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, called on Christians to “pray for the peace of the whole world and for the unity of all”.
![Walter Altmann, moderator of the WCC Central Committee, speaking at the WCC assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea. Peace with justice is central to WCC’s work](all-news/peace-with-justice-is-central-to-wcc2019s-work/image_thumb.jpg)
Peace with justice is central to WCC’s work
Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, moderator of the WCC Central Committee, has called “peace with justice” a theme central to the work of the WCC. In a report he presented at the WCC 10th Assembly, he shared some of the principal accomplishments and challenges in the work of the WCC over the last seven years.
![Dramatic performance at the WCC Busan assembly narrates a history of the national and Christian mission in Korea. Koreans tell their stories through music performance at WCC assembly](all-news/koreans-tell-their-stories-through-music-performance-at-wcc-assembly/image_thumb.jpg)
Koreans tell their stories through music performance at WCC assembly
Participants in the WCC 10th Assembly witnessed a vibrant artistic performance filled with music and drama, telling the story of the national and Christian mission history of Korea.
![Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary, speaking at the WCC assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea. WCC general secretary sees hope for the ecumenical movement](all-news/wcc-general-secretary-sees-hope-for-the-ecumenical-movement/image_thumb.jpg)
WCC general secretary sees hope for the ecumenical movement
Amidst dramatic events, injustices and crises in the world, God is creating a “new dawn” for the ecumenical movement, said the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC. He was reporting at the 10th Assembly of the WCC on the council’s work over the last seven years. He welcomed the coming of this Assembly which he expects to be an event of humility, honesty and hope.
![WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit greets a young participant at a pre-assembly gathering in Busan. Events leading up to WCC assembly focus on justice and peace](all-news/events-leading-up-to-wcc-assembly-focus-on-justice-and-peace/image_thumb.jpg)
Events leading up to WCC assembly focus on justice and peace
Justice and peace were highlighted topics during events leading up to the WCC 10th Assembly. The pre-assembly gatherings engaged assembly participants including youth, indigenous peoples, women, and people with disabilities, as they discussed how to contribute to the assembly in a meaningful way.
![The travelers arrive in Busan after 20 days. © Joanna Lindén-Montes By train to Busan: Journeying for peace in Korea](all-news/by-train-to-busan-journeying-for-peace-in-korea/image_thumb.jpg)
By train to Busan: Journeying for peace in Korea
“They’re coming, they’re coming,” shouts a young women, looking toward the train pulling into platform 6 at Busan Station. When the doors open, people get off with large suitcases. They look tired – yet incredibly happy at the same time. They’ve traveled from Berlin to Busan, 20 days across Europe and Asia. Their objective: To send out a signal against the division of Korea – and for peace in the country which has been split in two for 63 years.
![Chelsea Benham (left), GETI participant, exchanging greetings with Dr Dietrich Werner, WCC’s coordinator of ecumenical theological education, in Seoul. © Candice Eloby Theological education initiative begins in Seoul](all-news/theological-education-initiative-begins-in-seoul/image_thumb.jpg)
Theological education initiative begins in Seoul
More than 200 international theology students of varied Christian traditions have commenced participating in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI). An opening with a vibrant worship service at the Graduate School of Theology of Hanshin University marked the beginning of the GETI on 26 October in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
![Opening worship and celebrations at the women and men’s pre-assembly WCC’s 60-year journey for gender justice continues](all-news/wcc2019s-60-year-journey-for-gender-justice-continues/image_thumb.jpg)
WCC’s 60-year journey for gender justice continues
Participants from across the ecumenical membership of the WCC gathered from 28 to 29 October for a Women and Men’s Pre-assembly programme preceding the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea. The WCC has had a long tradition and commitment to gender justice and advocacy for a just community of women and men in church and society, a commitment which began at the first WCC assembly in 1948.
![South Korean pastors and peace activist fasting and praying in downtown Busan, protesting against nuclear radiation and asking to shut down South Korea’s Kori Nuclear Power Plant. Christian activists pray and fast to protest nuclear dangers in Busan and beyond](all-news/christian-activists-pray-and-fast-to-protest-nuclear-dangers-in-busan-and-beyond/image_thumb.jpg)
Christian activists pray and fast to protest nuclear dangers in Busan and beyond
In preparation for the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), pastors and peace activists in that nation are holding a 40-day “fasting prayer” in front of the Busan City Hall. They are protesting the dangers of nuclear radiation and asking to shut down South Korea’s oldest and incident-prone Kori Nuclear Power Plant, some 20 kilometres from the venue of the WCC assembly.