wfn.org | World Council of Churches at a glance

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Nov. 2, 1998        CONTACT: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
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NOTE: This information box accompanies UMNS #637 and #638.

By United Methodist News Service

ORIGINS: Founded by representatives of 147 denominations, mostly
Anglicans and Protestants from North America and Europe, meeting in
August 1948 in Amsterdam.

MEMBERSHIP: More than 330 member churches, including the Orthodox, with
most of the new members coming from the Southern Hemisphere. Represents
about 400 million Christians. Roman Catholics are not members but
cooperate closely on certain issues.

50th JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS: Began Sept. 19 in Amsterdam, followed by an
ecumenical service at the Protestant Cathedral in Geneva on Sept. 20.
Will culminate at a service of recommitment by churches on Dec. 13 at
the WCC's Eighth Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe.

PREVIOUS WCC ASSEMBLIES: Evanston, Ill. (1954), New Delhi, India (1961),
Uppsala, Sweden (1968), Nairobi, Kenya (1975), Vancouver, British
Columbia (1983), and Canberra, Australia (1991).

COMMON CALLING: Christian unity, renewal, witness, justice and service.

UNITED METHODIST CONNECTION: Both predecessor bodies of the United
Methodist Church have been involved with the council since its
beginnings. United Methodist congregations and annual conferences
financially support the WCC and other ecumenical bodies through
apportionments to the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund.

METHODISTS WHO HAVE SERVED AS WCC GENERAL SECRETARY: Philip Potter, from
the West Indian island of Dominica, was elected in 1972; he was
succeeded by Emilio Castro of Uruguay in 1984.
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