Bishop Margot Kässmann, the first woman to lead the Protestant church in Germany, has pledged to work to promote Christian unity and action for justice and peace.

Face to face with violence and death, churches in the Philippines are helping to build peace in a country where armed conflict continues to rage, says Maurice Melanes. Christian-Muslim cooperation is an important part of the alternative agenda.

A new document authorised by Pope Benedict XVI restating Roman Catholic views that Protestant denominations are not churches "in the proper sense" has been criticised as setting back the quest for Christian unity.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Germany's biggest Protestant gathering that the results of her meeting with leaders from the G8 industrial nations marked a "step forward" - though much remains to be done.

A leading figure in the official Chinese Protestant Church has emphasised autonomy and patriotism as two of its main values. But he claims the church is not subservinet to the state and is able to carry out its Christian mission.