WCC News: “You are not alone,” prayer for the Caribbean region affirms

A joint prayer for the Caribbean region with ambassadors and staff from various Caribbean Permanent Missions in Geneva was held on 16 February at the office of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay provided reflection during the prayer at the office of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 16 February 2026 Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Moravian Church in Switzerland, the prayer brought together representatives from several Caribbean Permanent Missions to the UN and International Organizations in Geneva. Included among them were representatives from the Permanent Delegation of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to the UN, the Permanent Missions of the Bahamas, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, and Jamaica. Clergy representatives from the Moravian Church in Switzerland were also present in person and online, and led parts of the morning prayer along with the Caribbean staff from the WCC.  H.E. Colin Murdoch, permanent observer of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to the UN in Geneva, offered words of welcome. An online greeting was delivered by Rt. Rev. Philip Wright, archbishop, primate, and metropolitan of the church in the Province of the West Indies and WCC regional president for the Caribbean and Latin America. Reflecting on the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus takes his disciples up a mountain to witness his transfiguration, WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay invited those gathered to consider the mountaintop as a place of prayer, vision, and clarity. “It is the place of movement from fear to faith, from darkness to light, from despair to hope, from sorrow to joy, from discouragement to renewal,” he said. “The mountaintop is a place of empowerment and strength,” Pillay continued. “As we climb a difficult mountain, when we reach the top and speak with the Lord, we find strength and empowerment to face the giants of this world.” He assured participants: “We are here today to pray with you and to say that you are not climbing this mountain alone.” He reminded them that Jesus called his disciples to go and fulfil their mission. “We are not called to escape the world; we are called to carry the light of Christ into a broken and suffering world.” In the midst of despair, disasters, war and climate catastrophe, we as disciples of Christ are called to work for justice and peace, to bring relief and aid, and to reach out to the poor, the displaced, and those in despair, Pillay said. “We are called to challenge the powers that be, saying strongly and prophetically: might is not right.” Photo gallery: Ecumenical prayer for the Caribbean region  WCC member churches in the Caribbean Participants of the Ecumenical prayer for the Caribbean region included representatives from the Permanent Delegation of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to the UN, the Permanent Missions of the Bahamas, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, and Jamaica, as well as clergy from the Moravian Church in Switzerland and the WCC staff. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/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 356 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 general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland