Hosted by Lyn van Rooyen, coordinator editor of WCC Publications, the first Ecumenical Book Talks features the team behind the Waterfall book, editor Sara Speicher and graphic designer Åsa Höjer, both of whom speak candidly about the inspirational, emotional, and eye-opening journey of production. For the Waterfall book, the unique design elements are especially interesting to hear about, Van Rooyen added. She revealed that the idea for Ecumenical Book Talks originally came out of a series of interviews on publications during the WCC 11th Assembly. “Since then I’ve been thinking about such an absolute richness of resources in our publications,” she said. “I wanted to have a way in which someone would understand what is behind a book.” Ecumenical Book Talks will now be produced every couple of months, with some being produced as short videos, others as live online discussions. Anam Gill, the video producer for Ecumenical Book Talks, said her creative process involves understanding a book's themes and author's vision, then aiming to engage viewers through core messages, visual metaphors, and dynamic elements. “The discussions maintain energy and flow, incorporating movement through visual aids, guest interviews, and multimedia elements,” she said. “The goal is to keep each episode vibrant and engaging, allowing the audience to connect with the book on a deeper level.” Those connections are vitally important for the whole WCC fellowship, agreed both Gill and Van Rooyen. “What will faith communities do differently because they have this resource in their hand?” Van Rooyen asked. “With these Book Talks, I want to go behind the scenes and find out what motivated people to write or design these publications.” The videos may also inspire WCC member churches to convene their own local Book Talks to further explore what a particular publication might mean for them. “The philosophy behind Ecumenical Book Talks is that they serve as an introduction to a publication, and perhaps inspire people to read a publication to figure out the meaning for them as an individual, then within their community,” said Van Rooyen. Collaboration and brainstorming with colleagues and WCC member churches will allow the Book Talks to explore fresh angles during each episode, said Gill. “This synergy between content and creativity drives the process,” she said. “My hope for future book talks is to create a platform for book talks that not only explores the themes of the books but also fosters dialogue and connection.” The next Ecumenical Book Talks will focus on youth publications. Book: Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance Video: Ecumenical Book Talks: Episode 1 | 
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