wfn.org | Church leaders in France to discuss aftermath of Iraq war

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release 03-21
For Immediate Use
2 June 2003

Church leaders in France to discuss aftermath of Iraq war

The future of multi-lateralism and the international order, Iraq, the Middle
East, and the role of the churches will be the focus of a 5 June meeting in
Paris of  representatives of churches in France and staff and members of the
World Council of Churches' Commission of the Churches on International
Affairs (WCC/CCIA). The participants will also be received by the French
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Held at the invitation of Rev. Dr Jean Arnold de Clermont, president of the
French Protestant Federation and member of the WCC/CCIA, the meeting will
include representatives of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches as well
as Baptist, Anglican, Assembly of God, Lutheran, Evangelical and Reformed
churches .  Approximately 20 participants are expected.

De Clermont notes that the initiative for the meeting emerged from the French
churches' recent advocacy with their government. This was largely based on
their relationships, facilitated by the WCC, with churches in the United
States and the Middle East. "As small churches, these relationships have been
particularly helpful, and we need to find ways to continue them in addressing
critical issues."

Peter Weiderud, CCIA director, notes that the meeting will help participants
to "reflect further on where we, as churches, go from here, especially to
further strengthen the role of the United Nations and international law, and
promote the values, principles and ideas that underpin multi-lateralism".

The meeting with church leaders in France will be followed by a WCC/CCIA
extended officers meeting on 6-7 June. WCC staff and CCIA members will review
ongoing WCC work in international affairs, analyze political and global
trends, and make recommendations for consideration by the WCC Central
Committee that meets in Geneva, 25 August-2 September. Some of the topics
under discussion include the aftermath of the war against Iraq, the situation
in the Middle East, the responsibility to protect "endangered populations",
the Cyprus problem, and the international order. 

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Office, 
tel: +41 (0)22 791 64 21 /61 53

**********

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which
meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in
1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
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