World Council of Churches general secretary the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia has urged the government of Sri Lanka to immediately release from detention a church official who has now been under arrest for nearly a month.

An international churches' consultation has appealed to the government of Sri Lanka and the rebel Tigers to halt fighting in order to free tens of thousands of civilians trapped in a war zone.

Churches around the world must speak out and act for justice in Israel and Palestine, church leaders told members of an ecumenical delegation visiting the region.

Responding to global financial crisis must be more than "short term financial bail out." It must seek "long term transformation" and "sound ethical and moral principles", says the World Council of Churches.

A Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits is taking place from 21 to 24 March 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand, at the joint initiative of the World Council and the Lutheran World Federation.

Religious and value-based organizations from five continents have agreed to form a coalition for the UN Decade for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding, and Cooperation for Peace.

Peace-building and housing and education issues will be highlighted as a world-wide ecumenical team visits churches, faith organizations and civil society movements in Israel and Palestine from 14-21 March 2009.

Conflicts in Congo and Gaza, the International Year of Reconciliation, women's issues and the impact of the global economic crisis were action points for the recent World Council of Churches executive.

As the season of Lent draws near, the Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) is inviting Christians to mark the occasion with reflection and action on some urgent water justice concerns.

The global economic crisis offers an opportunity to create a more just financial system, a representative of the World Council of Churches has said during the World Social Forum in Brazil.