Felm, the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission, an official mission organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland that undertakes development cooperation, peacebuilding, and missionary work with partners in numerous countries worldwide, held its annual meeting on 30 August in Helsinki.

"When people talk about diakonia, they sometimes only think of charity or philanthropic work," Faria said. "But that is not all—diakonia is prophetic, it is political. We need to strive for a fair world that includes everyone, not one defined solely by economics."

How can churches maintain their prophetic and critical voice, at the same time speaking peace and hope to people? Why is unity among Christians still relevant today, and can we still trust international law and international organizations? Bishop Jonas Jonson speaks on the relevance of the 1925 Life and Work conference in Stockholm, which resulted in establishing both the World Council of Churches (WCC) and its Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), recently gathered for its 60th meeting in Athens, Greece.

Reflecting on 100 years of ecumenism, Jonson calls the movement "a blessing, all the work of the Holy Spirit." The churches have changed incredibly. "When we met in Stockholm now, there is so much friendship, spontaneity. People meet as friends," he said, "In 1925, they were all suspicious of each other."

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Amity Foundation, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended warm greetings on behalf of the global fellowship.

“Diakonia today looks at how we meet the immediate needs of the people while also addressing the structural issues that cause people to live in injustice, struggle, poverty, and need,” Mtata said in an interview with China Christian Daily about the recent Ecumenical Week in Sweden.

One hundred years after the landmark Life and Work Conference of 1925, churches from across the world gathered again in Stockholm to mark a new chapter in the ecumenical journey. Rev. Dr. Sofia Camnerin, general secretary of the Christian Council of Sweden, spoke with China Christian Daily about the preparations, experiences during the week, and reflections on the theme, as well as the involvement of young people.

Arab Christian leader Botrus Mansour has been named secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), pledging to serve as a bridge-builder for a global evangelical movement that spans continents, cultures, and a wide spectrum of traditions.

During a special Ecumenical Celebration in Filadelfiakyrka, Sweden, on 22 August, religious leaders from across the world drew together to commemorate the history of the ecumenical movement and to chart a future with even deeper unity and determined action.

At Stockholm’s “Called to Transformation” event, Rev. Dr. Kenneth Mtata reflected on a century of ecumenical diakonia, from the 1925 Life and Work conference to today. He highlighted key milestones and called for authentic partnerships, local agency, and renewed theological grounding to address contemporary humanitarian, social, and environmental challenges.