Victorian Council of Churches

03/06/2026

Act for Peace has a range of resources, images and prayers for Refugee Week 2026.

The Christmas Bowl is the Christmas appeal of Act for Peace, the international humanitarian agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia

01/06/2026

Melbourne Welsh Church
A special service for Emergency Services held on 31st May 2026 and hosted by Melbourne Welsh Church - to recognise those who serve in our community in times of crisis including Ambulance Victoria, Victorian Police, VCC Emergencies Ministry, Fire Rescue Services, Forest Fire Management Victoria.
Photos: Edmund Murphy, CEO, VCC Emergencies Ministry, and Rev Sion Gough Hughes, Minister at Melbourne Welsh Church, and VCCEM Board Member.

28/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GyJwaq38r/

📚 The WCC released "Towards Nicaea 2025: Exploring the Council’s Ecumenical Significance Today", a collection of essays marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council and the formulation of the Nicene Creed.

The essays are organised around six themes: Nicaea in historical and political perspective; theology, Christology, and Trinitarian doctrine; contextual readings of Nicaea from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Indigenous communities; gender, justice, and liberation; unity, apostolicity, and ecumenical dialogue; and liturgy, common prayer, and ecology.

In his foreword, WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay describes the anniversary as “an opportune time and moment to (re)capture the aspirations, intentions, and formidable actions for Christian unity.”

Rev. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba, WCC programme director for Unity, Mission, and Ecumenical Formation, reflected that a council without mission is a museum piece. "Towards Nicaea 2025 understands that the confession of Nicaea, 'true God from true God,’ was never a formula to defend but a faith to share,” she said. “Nicaea 2025 is not just history revisited; it is unity rehearsed, mission renewed.”

Learn more and download this publication for free: https://oikoumene.org/news/new-wcc-volume-marks-1700th-anniversary-of-council-of-nicaea

28/05/2026

Victorian Christian Communities dinner - guest speaker: Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok

On 20 May, His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, together with the clergy of the Melbourne Eparchy, took part in the Victorian Christian Communities Dinner 2026. The event aimed to acknowledge the contribution of Christian communities to the social life of the State of Victoria and was organised by t...

22/05/2026

✨ Applications open for 2027–2028 academic year at WCC’s Ecumenical Institute at Bossey

✨Deadline: 31 October 2026

The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, part of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and attached to the University of Geneva, is now accepting applications for its 2027–2028 academic programs in ecumenical studies. These internationally recognized programs offer unique opportunities for theological formation, intercultural exchange, and ecumenical engagement.

Learn more: https://www.oikoumene.org/news/applications-open-for-2027-2028-academic-year-at-wccs-ecumenical-institute-at-bossey

📸Ivars Kupcis/WCC

22/05/2026

GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS
You have connected us with all your creatures.
The Judaeo-Christian vision of the cosmos
defends the unique and central value
of the human being amid the marvellous concert
of all your creatures.
May we recognise that human life is incomprehensible
and unsustainable without other creatures.

Remind us every day,
that we are part of the universe,
linked by unseen bonds and, together,
we form a universal family.
Do not allow technocratic paradigms
to isolate us from the world and deceive us.
Fill us with a sacred, affectionate and humble respect.

Amen.

Based on the words of Pope Francis, Laudate Deum 67.

From Book 2 of "Praying with Pope Francis" published by the Sandhurst Care for Creation Team.

The book can be downloaded from our website, see comments for link.

21/05/2026

Sione Hehepoto, a final year candidate for ministry in the Uniting Church (Vic Tas Synod) was one of five UCA younger adults who attended the Christian Conference of Asia - Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly in April 2026. You can read his reflection here. Sione also spoke at the VCC AGM held on Saturday May 16th.

Categories News Sandy's Comments CCA AEYA Chiang Mai, Thailand April 2026 Post author By admin Post date May 21, 2026 Five young leaders (from the Uniting Church in Australia) travelled to Thailand in April to participate in the Fifth Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA 2026), a significant region...

20/05/2026

Online for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity gathering hosted by National Council of Churches in Australia. Key presentation by His Grace Bishop Vardan Navasardyan, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand.

18/05/2026

A timely word in this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity here in Australia.

Ecumenism is integral to the Church of Scotland’s calling and mission, the General Assembly has been told.

Presbyteries and congregations are encouraged to examine how they can work more closely together with other denominations to strengthen local mission, discipleship and service.

The process of 'Building God's House' together entails nurturing practical cooperation and mutual welcome across traditions.

Read the full story on the CofS website, link in comments section below.