Street market in Porto Alegre, Brazil, May 2020. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC
The World Council of Churches
executive committee released a public statement on the role of churches
in the context of COVID-19. Focused on love, steadfastness, hope and
courage, the statement reflects on the damage COVID has wreaked over the
last five months—and how churches can offer hope.
“Though in some ways the pandemic has been a great
equalizer in its range and global impact, it is also exposing and
exacerbating the deep divisions, injustices, economic inequalities and
racism in our societies,” the statement reads. “Churches and faith
communities are called to accompany the most vulnerable people and
communities, as well as to be in solidarity with each other.”
The church is called to be the light of the world and
the salt of the earth, the statement reads. “We pray that churches
everywhere will be empowered and equipped to be messengers of unity,
trust and truth, against the voices promoting division, suspicion and
unsubstantiated rumour.”