wfn.org | Title: WCC: Executive committee reviews activities

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

World Council of Churches  
Press Update
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 23/02/2004 - pu-04-12

 Executive committee reviews whole spectrum of WCC activities

			Cf. WCC Press Release, PR-04-02, of 12
February 2004
			Cf. WCC Press Update, UP-04-11, of 20
February 2004

			    Free photos and statements
available: see below

Key initiatives on inter-religious dialogue and HIV/AIDS, plans
for the
WCC's ninth assembly, and statements on critical international
situations
were some of the main areas of discussion at the WCC executive
committee
meeting which ended in Geneva on 20 February 2004. A special
ceremony and
prayer service marked the formal installation of the new WCC
general
secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, earlier in the week.

Among other initiatives, the committee agreed to a proposal to
convene a
major multi-religious international conference. It will provide
an
opportunity to reflect on critical issues arising from the
present state of
relations between religious communities as well as those
challenging
religious people in todays world. According to Kobia,
"Inter-religious
dialogue is increasingly an imperative in our contemporary
world, and will
be one of the top priorities for the WCC in coming years."

WCC staff presented a special report on the Council's
programmatic work on
HIV/AIDS. The WCC has given high-level attention to the pandemic
since
1986. In recent years, the WCCs Ecumenical HIV/AIDS
Initiative in Africa
and efforts in other regions have facilitated the emergence of
new church
networks and multiple local initiatives, with the common purpose
of
countering the impact and devastation of HIV/AIDS.

The executive committee discussed preparations for the ninth
assembly, to
be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February 2006, under the
theme "God,
in Your Grace, Transform the World", and voiced support for an
emphasis on
prayer, encounter and deliberation at the event.

Although the number of delegates will be limited to 728
(slightly more than
originally planned), an open ecumenical programme will be
organized
alongside the formal assembly sessions to allow ecumenical
partners,
marginalized groups, networks and visitors to share in the
event. Special
attention will be given to the WCCs Decade to Overcome
Violence
(2001-2010), and to the involvement of young people in all
aspects of the
assembly life.

The WCC is gradually moving towards a consensus method, seeking
to discern
the common mind in its governing and consultative bodies'
meetings. The
executive committee reviewed plans for new rules of procedure to
cover
these changes. Committee members also adopted terms of reference
for an
evaluation of WCC programmes, to be carried out before the ninth
assembly.

In the area of public issues, the committee made a powerful plea
for
halting the construction of the separation wall being built by
the Israeli
government, and condemned its humanitarian consequences on the
Palestinian
population. The committee also expressed concern about renewed
manifestations of anti-semitism, and asked WCC staff to develop
analysis on
this issue.

The committee also took action on other public issues, adopted a
statement
urging churches to reinvigorate efforts to prevent nuclear
proliferation,
reiterated its active support for renewed dialogue between the
governments
of India and Pakistan, and for the peaceful resolution of the
conflict in
Sudan.

According to a provisional financial report for 2003 presented
to the
committee, the WCCs financial situation has stabilized
following
re-organization of staff and programme decided in late 2002.
Moderator
Catholicos Aram I expressed the committees "profound
gratitude to all
churches and ecumenical agencies which have continued their
solidarity and
support at this critical juncture in the life of the WCC".

During a festive public event of prayer and commitment on 18
February, Rev.
Dr Samuel Kobia was formally installed as the new WCC general
secretary.
Speaking during the service, Dr Kobia committed himself to
"serving the
churches and the ecumenical vision May God lead me in my new
responsibility".

The executive committee will next meet in Korea in August 2004.
It oversees
the entire spectrum of WCC activities on behalf of the Central
Committee,
which is the Council's main decision-making body.

Statements on public issues are available at
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/2004exco-statements.html 

Free high resolution photos are available at
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/press_corner/2004excopix.html 

For more information contact:
	 Media Relations Office
 tel: (+41 22) 791 64 21 / (+41 22) 791 61 53
 e-mail:media@wcc-coe.org 
 http://www.wcc-coe.org 

 The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now
342, in
 more than 120 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, Netherlands. Its staff is
headed by
 general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in
Kenya.