wfn.org | NCC Annual General Assembly Meets Nov. 13-16 in Tampa, Florida

["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of Churches
Media Contact: NCC/CWS News, 212-870-2252; news@ncccusa.org
NCC10/21/02 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETS NOV. 13-16 IN TAMPA, FLORIDA

The National Council of Churches annual General Assembly and related
meetings will be held Nov. 13-16 in Tampa, Fla.  Venue: Hyatt Regency, Two
Tampa City Center.  Elenie K. Huszagh, Esq., of Nehalem, Ore., NCC President
for 2002-2003, will preside.

General Assembly brings the NCC family together for worship, Bible study,
workshops and plenary presentations, and business.  Delegates from the NCCs
36 Protestant, Orthodox, historic African American, Anglican and Peace
member churches - comprising 50 million members - will be present from
across the United States, with guests from several other countries.

Visitors are encouraged to take this opportunity to fellowship, to learn and
to get to know the life of the National Council of Churches and of Church
World Service, the international humanitarian agency of the NCCs member
churches.  See www.ncccusa.org <http://www.ncccusa.org>, phone 212-870-2386,
or e-mail ga2002@ncccusa.org <mailto:ga2002@ncccusa.org> for
registration/program details.

Under the theme For the Common Good: Seeking Justice, Working for Peace,
the Assembly will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Mission Education
Movement in North America and the 50th Anniversary of the Revised Standard
Version Bible - both National Council of Churches contributions to the life
of the church.	In plenaries and workshops, the Assembly also will discuss
pressing contemporary issues including Middle East peace, Christian-Muslim
relations, the search for new expressions of Christian unity in the 21st
century, how to support quality public education and healthcare, and how to
help build peace, justice and health in Africa.

AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS:

** 100th ANNIVERSARY OF MISSION EDUCATION

Thursday, November 14: The mission education movement has its roots in the
Young Peoples Missionary Movement, which sought to awaken home churches
to mission work as an essential part of Christianity.  Today,
representatives of 17 denominational and ecumenical bodies in the United
States and Canada carry the movement forward through the NCCs Program
Committee on Education for Mission (PCEM).

A luncheon (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), worship (1:30 p.m.), keynote address
(3:15 p.m.), video and display will celebrate the 100th anniversary of
ecumenical mission education.  The worship will be led by Corey Nelson of
the Presbyterian Church (USA) and will feature the Thuma Mina Mission
Theatre Company.  The Keynote address by Dr. Dana L. Robert, Truman Collins
Professor of World Missions at Boston University, will be on Education for
Mission and the Rise of World Christianity.

** REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM RELATIONS

At 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 15, Dr. Tarek Mitri, the World Council of
Churches Program Executive for Christian-Muslim Relations and Dialogue,
will speak on Christian-Muslim Relations: Historical Realities and Todays
Relationships.  At 4:00 p.m., Assembly participants will have an
opportunity to engage in discussion with Dr. Mitri, who will speak about
issues that arise out of that history requiring attention in
Christian-Muslim relations today.

** FRIDAY AFTERNOON FORUMS

Participants will be able to choose from among eight forums, scheduled for
4:00-5:45 p.m. Friday, November 15:
'	The History of Christians in Muslim Lands, and How That History
Affects
Christian-Muslim Relations Today
'	The Church and Public Education: Challenges and Opportunities
'	Ministerial Ethics and Accountability
'	Focus on Africa
'	Healthcare as a Justice Issue
'	Is Christian Feminism an Oxymoron?
'	Making Peace in the Middle East
'	Resourcing Congregations on Issues of Religious Diversity

** CELEBRATING WHO WE ARE

On Friday, November 15, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., participants will have
opportunity to meet other delegates and learn more about the NCCs 36 member
communions at the All-Assembly Dinner, Celebrating Who We Are.

** REVISED STANDARD VERSION BIBLE RECEPTION AND DINNER

A 6 p.m. reception and 6:45 p.m. dinner on Saturday, November 16, will
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Revised Standard Version of the
Bible - a translation prepared under the National Council of Churches
auspices.  The program will include presentation of the NCC Presidents
Award to Her Excellency the Honorable Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, Ambassador
from Cyprus to the United States, and General Secretarys Award, to Dr. Jack
B. McConnell, M.D., Founder, Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, Hilton Head,
N.C.

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