wfn.org | WCC Central Committee Considers Future 'Structure, Style, Ethos'

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (9/6/02)--The World Council of Churches
Central Committee focused on the future shape of the ecumenical movement and
on the World Council's own "structure, style and ethos" at this year's
meeting Aug. 26-Sept. 3 in Geneva, Switzerland. 

WCC General Secretary Konrad Raiser opened the meetings, attended by
American Baptist Churches USA General Secretary A. Roy Medley and Ecumenical
Coordinator Rothang Chhangte, by calling for a "new ecumenical
configuration" in the 21st century. 

The 158-member Central Committee also reviewed the WCC's program plans for
2003-2005 with a view of both strengthening the organization and responding
to its finance committee's call for a reduction in spending in anticipation
of a projected operating budget income shortfall.  The Central Committee
accepted proposals for a plan to considerably reduce budgeted expenditures
for 2003, which would necessitate significant adjustments to program and
infrastructure costs. 

In a major action the Central Committee endorsed the Final Report of the
Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC.  Dialog and debate
earlier had focused on the report's five main themes: ecclesiology, social
and ethical issues, common prayer, a consensus-model of decision-making, and
future membership and representation in the Council.  "The proposed changes
to the future worship life of the WCC sparked off passionate reactions,"
according to a WCC report. 

The Central Committee adopted a statement on South Asia that addresses
religion, politics and intolerance in the region, particularly in
Bangladesh, as well as the conflict situations in Sri Lanka and between
India and Pakistan.  Other statements addressed the threat of military
action against Iraq, violence in Colombia, and the ecumenical response to
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

The Central Committee appointed an 18-person search committee that will seek
to identify a candidate to succeed Raiser, who will retire next year after
having served ten years as general secretary. 

In another action, Porto Alegre, Brazil, was selected as the site for the
next WCC General Assembly in 2006. 

American Baptist Churches USA, a founding member of the World Council in
1948, is one of 342 church bodies in 120 countries which compose the WCC.

02ABN130

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