WCC NEWS: In the mood for vibrant music? Or deep reflection? Visit the Networking Zone

Whether you need vibrant music, a lively dialogue, calming atmosphere, or a quiet coffee, you’ll find it in the Networking Zone of the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly. Located at the front of the assembly grounds, the space invites participants to engage one another in a more relaxed and social area apart from the plenaries. 1 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: The Fan Fare Revuelta band performs in the Networking Zone during the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany. The assembly takes place August 31 to September 8 under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Mike DuBose/WCC 02 September 2022 The Networking Zone features four different formal stations and three spaces for casual interaction. The ACT Alliance offers different events daily including the popular “ACT o’clock” in which short engagements take place on various issues from climate change to gender justice. “Meet an Expert” sessions make way for engagement with an expert while reflecting on issues for an hour. The WCC section promotes and raises awareness for the array of issues in which the WCC is involved, from racism to gender inequality, from social injustice to climate change, and many others. A display of WCC publications along with book launches and chats with WCC journal editors point to the wealth of resources for church and ecumenical witness available. On Thursday, visit the special section promoting the Thursdays in Black initiative with talks, badges, and pamphlets. August 31, 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: A presentation on the Ecumenical Institute Bossey in the WCC Zone of the Networking Zone on the first day of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September 2022. Photo: Simon Chambers/WCC The Protestant Church in Switzerland—the birthplace of the Reformed churches--exhibits key figures and some challenging histories in its development as a church. The space also offers a variety of conversations on topics such as carbon footprints to gender justice. The talks include practical activities and games to help the information sink in. The Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (Evangelical Church in Germany) and the  Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschland (Council of Churches in Germany) creatively draws participants to their section as they have compiled a menu of different candies which represent each church in the council. Take your pick of Salvation dancing bears, Old Catholic rainbows, Ethiopian dinos and many more. And don’t forget to check out fun and games like the photo booth, table football, and olden day printing press! Livestream of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany Photos of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany 1 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Joseph Bizimana tries his hand at using a replica Gutenberg printing press with help from Maja Bobst-Rohrer during the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany. The assembly takes place August 31 to September 8 under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Mike DuBose/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland