wfn.org | NCCCUSA TOP GOVERNING BODIES MEET NOV. 11-15, CHICAGO

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Carol Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

NCC10/11/96                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY, RELATED BODIES, MEET NOV. 11-
15, CHICAGO
CWS 50th Anniversary Celebrations to Feature
Archbishop Tutu, CROPWALK

WHERE: The Bismarck Hotel, 171 W. Randolph St.,
Chicago, Ill.

WHAT: General Assembly, the National Council of
Churches' highest policy setting
body, made up of 270 delegates from the
NCC's 33 Protestant and Orthodox
member denominations.  This is the
assembly's annual meeting.  Dates:
Nov. 13 (9 a.m.) through Nov. 15
(adjournment at noon).  United
Methodist Bishop Melvin Talbert, the NCC's
president, presiding.

Fifty-member Executive Board, established
to provide a focus for NCC
program coordination, organizational
management and financial oversight.
The meeting Nov. 11 (4 p.m.) through Nov.
12 (adjournment at 3 p.m.)
is its third and last this year.

Church World Service and Witness Unit
Committee, Nov. 11-12.
Governs the NCC's relief, development and
refugee assistance ministry.

THE WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS WILL INCLUDE:

  Report of the NCC's General Secretary, the Rev.
Dr. Joan Brown Campbell (10:50 a.m. Wednesday,
Nov. 13).  She will preach Sunday, Nov. 10, at the
Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago.

  Church World Service 50th Anniversary
Celebrations, including a CROPWALK from the hotel
to First United Methodist Church (The Chicago
Temple), 77 W. Washington St., at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, followed by a 3 p.m. program
at the church.  That evening, the Most Rev.
Desmond M. Tutu, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of
Cape Town, South Africa, will address the CWS 50th
Anniversary Banquet (7:30 p.m., Bismarck Hotel).

  Special Session on the NCC Burned Churches
Program, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14.  The session
will include a report on the NCC-led program to
investigate and stop hate-motivated attacks on
houses of worship, especially arson and vandalism
against African American churches; to help with
rebuilding churches and communities, and to
address the racism that underlies the attacks.

  Introduction of a policy statement on "No Barriers
for Deaf People in Churches" (9:45 a.m. Thursday,
Nov. 14).

  Plenary on U.S. welfare policy, "Unto the Least of
These -- The Welfare Dilemma" (4:05 p.m. Thursday,
Nov. 14).

  Greetings from Imam W.D. Mohammad (9:30 a.m.
Friday, Nov. 15).

  General Assembly opening worship (9 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 13) will be led by representatives
of state ecumenical councils.  For the first time
this year, as part of the new NCC governance
structures called for in the "Transformation
Process," each state council of churches may name one
representative with voice (but not vote) to the
General Assembly.  At the State-Local Ecumenism
Luncheon (12:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14), General
Assembly delegates will interact with a panel of
state and local ecumenical leaders on ways to
enhance relationships between the NCC and state
councils, conferences and associations of churches
and local partners.

  At the Interfaith Breakfast (7 a.m. Friday, Nov.
15), delegates will interact with a panel that
will include Imam Mohammad and Dr. Will Herzfeld
(Evangelical Lutheran Church in America),
chairperson of the planning team for a national
African American Christian-Muslim Consultation.

-end-
-0-