NEWS
News from our member churches and the wider ecumenical movement, with our monthly roundup and a library of stories from ecumenical bodies around the world.
Ecumenical news: October 2026
News from our member churches and the wider ecumenical movement since our Annual Forum in May.
Churches and mental health
On World Mental Health Day, the Christian Conference of Asia encouraged churches to challenge the stigma around mental illness and to offer pastoral care in which people can talk about their struggles without shame.
Methodists and Catholics complete a twelfth round of dialogue
The international commission for dialogue between Methodists and Roman Catholics, which was set up in 1967, has completed the twelfth round of its work.
Young theologians on the future of Christian unity
A new WCC book, GETI 2025: Voices and Visions of Transformative Unity, brings together papers by young theologians who took part in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute held alongside last year’s Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order.
Anglicans and Orthodox meet in Alexandria
The International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue met in Alexandria, Egypt, from 19 to 24 September as guests of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.
Bossey celebrates 80 years
The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey marked eighty years on 7 October with greetings from church leaders around the world.
WCC commissions meet in Chiang Mai
The World Council of Churches’ commissions and reference groups on life, justice and peace opened their joint biennial meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 5 October.
Season of Creation closes, but the work goes on
The Season of Creation closed on 4 October, the feast of St Francis, with an online prayer service that gathered stories of care for creation from around the world and encouraged churches to keep that work going through the rest of the year.
Quakers pray for peace around the world
For World Quaker Day on 4 October, the Friends World Committee for Consultation hosted a six-hour online meeting for worship on the theme “Let Peace Be Among Us”, with more than 900 registrations from at least 50 countries.
A new general secretary for the National Council of Churches in Australia
The board of the National Council of Churches in Australia has appointed Dr Kate Power as its new general secretary, the first to be based in Queensland.
Lutherans and Catholics look towards 2030
A delegation led by Bishop Henrik Stubkjær, president of the Lutheran World Federation, met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on 1 October to look ahead to the 500th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 2030.
A Presbyterian visit to North India
The Moderator, Right Rev.
The Faith and Order Commission meets in Lund
Rev.
A fellowship day for theological students in Suva
Students and communities of Pasifika Communities University in Suva joined students of the Pacific Regional Seminary, the Catholic seminary for the region, for their annual combined fellowship day in late September.
Methodist Conference 2026
The Methodist Church of New Zealand’s Conference for 2026 was set for Wesley College, Paerata, from 2 to 7 October, under the theme “Maranga!
The World Evangelical Alliance at 180
WCC general secretary Rev.
The Lutheran World Federation visits Australia
Rev.
Catholic and Anglican bishops meet in Auckland
New Zealand’s Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops met in Auckland in September for their regular joint gathering, which takes place every year or two, and an Assistant Anglican Bishop from Polynesia joined them.
Sight Loss Sunday: making church accessible
Sight Loss Sunday, run by the UK-based Torch Trust, fell on 11 October this year with the theme “Who does God call?”.
Bible Society marks 180 years in New Zealand
Bible Society New Zealand marked 180 years of Bible mission in New Zealand on 2 September, giving thanks for the generations of supporters around Aotearoa who have prayed, given and served.