WCC General Assembly's statement deplores Russian invasion of Ukraine

On September 8, 2022, at the end of the 11th Assembly, held in Karlsruhe (Germany) under the slogan "Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity", the World Council of Churches adopted a final resolution on the war in Ukraine and the problem of migration. The document is posted on the WCC website.

The resolution notes that the thoughts and prayers of all participants are focused on the war in Ukraine.

The WCC recalled that more than 13,000 Ukrainian civilians had died in six months, many cities had been laid into ruins, about 14 million people had been forced to flee their homes. Moreover, there are reports of atrocities and crimes against humanity, the risk of catastrophic consequences of shelling of the Zaporozhzhia nuclear power plant and hostilities in the area of the Chornobyl disaster. “We urge all parties to withdraw and refrain from military action in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and other such locations that may risk unimaginable threats to current and future generations,” the document says.

The members of the WCC Assembly deplored the war in Ukraine as "illegal and unjustifiable."

“As Christians from different parts of the world we renew the call for an immediate ceasefire to halt the death and destruction, and for dialogue and negotiations to secure a sustainable peace. We appeal to all sides in the conflict to respect the principles of international humanitarian law, including especially with regard to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and for the humane treatment of prisoners of war,” the authors of the resolution say.

War is incompatible with God’s very nature and will for humanity and against our fundamental Christian and ecumenical principles, the document notes. The WCC rejects any misuse of religious language and authority to justify armed aggression and hatred.

The WCC joins in prayer for all the victims of the tragic conflict in Ukraine and assures them of the love and accompaniment of the WCC global fellowship of churches. It also commends the local churches, specialized ministries and all humanitarian organizations that are supporting the suffering people in all parts of Ukraine and beyond, and who are receiving and caring for refugees.”

The World Council of Churches has expressed its readiness to provide a platform and a safe space for encounter and dialogue of Churches and religious organizations to address the pressing issues arising from this conflict. The document emphasizes the calling and obligation of WCC members to seek unity and serve the world together, as evidenced by the presence of representatives of the Church from Ukraine and the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as participants from WCC member churches and ecumenical partners from elsewhere in Europe and from all regions of the world.

The WCC calls on the faithful and leadership of the Churches in Russia and Ukraine to raise their voice against the death, destruction, displacement and dispossession of the Ukrainian people.

"We recognize that in war there are no 'winners', and no one should ever resort to war," the Assembly's final document recalled.

“In response to increased militarisation, confrontation and weapons proliferation, we call for a much greater investment by the governments of Europe and the entire international community in searching for and promoting peace, and in strengthening non-violent conflict resolution, civil conflict transformation and reconciliation processes, rather than in escalating confrontation and division,” the WCC addressed the world community.

As the UOJ reported, according to an Orthodox journalist, there are two wars going on in Ukraine: for the country and for the Church.

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