wfn.org | WCC UPDATE: Brazilian churches ready for the 9th WCC Assembly

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World Council of Churches - Update
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 15/11/2004

ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITMENT: BRAZILIAN CHURCHES ARE READY FOR THE NINTH WCC
ASSEMBLY

Photos available free of charge, see below

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia lauded
the enthusiasm and commitment of Brazilian Churches to prepare for the ninth
WCC Assembly. 

"I am extremely satisfied with the enthusiasm and commitment of Brazilian
Churches regarding this Assembly, a key factor in the success of this kind of
event," said Kobia after visiting Porto Alegre from 9 to 12 of November as
part of his first visit to Latin America. "This is a genuine enthusiasm,
which also includes Roman Catholic Church representatives we have spoken
with," he said. 

Kobia added that, together with the local coordination, entrusted to Pastor
Rui Bernhard, several working groups have been created and will guarantee a
careful preparation process. During his visit to Porto Alegre he participated
in the meeting of the Assembly Planning Committee established by the WCC, and
met with National and Local committees made up of churches' representatives
from Brazil and Porto Alegre. 

The WCC general secretary also visited the Pontifical Catholic University
(PUC) where the Assembly will take place. After meeting with dean Norberto
Rauch, vice dean Joaquim Clotet and other university authorities, Kobia
toured part of the university and was extremely satisfied with the
facilities.

PUC representatives expressed their desire that the role of the university
not to be limited to merely providing infrastructure but to participate in a
more active manner. 

>>> Support from authorities

The WCC general secretary met with the governor of the state of Rio Grande do
Sul, Germano Rigotto, and invited him to participate in the Assembly's
inaugural act. "We will be bringing the world to Rio Grande do Sul," said
Kobia, who also underlined the cordial welcome of the local churches as a
very auspicious sign of the quality that will mark the event. 

The governor expressed the willingness of the state to be considered a
partner and an ally and said he would do whatever he could to ensure the
success of the Assembly which he believes will give the state greater
visibility. He also underscored the importance of themes like overcoming
violence and poverty, which will be central during the event. 

The mayor of the city of Porto Alegre Joao Verle also welcomed Kobia and
emphasized the ecumenical practice in the city. While there will be a new
administration in February 2006 when the Assembly takes place, Verle said he
is confident that incoming authorities will also be willing to collaborate. 

During these visits Kobia was accompanied by the president of the Evangelical
Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), pastor Walter Altmann
and Catholic archbishop of Porto Alegre Dom Dadeus Grings.

>>> Ecumenical formation and mission

The WCC general secretary visited the IECLB Theological School (EST) in Sao
Leopoldo, some 30 kilometers from Porto Alegre. Dean Prof. Dr Lothar Hoch and
vice dean Prof. Martin Volkmann presented the work of the school to Kobia. 

The WCC general secretary then offered a class to post-graduate students.
Kobia invited them to participate in the 'mutirao' that will take place
parallel to the official Assembly program and underscored its value as an
important opportunity for ecumenical formation. 

During the visit to the EST, Kobia also visited the IECLB's Mission among
Indigenous Commission (COMIN). The work of the commission focuses on issues
of land, health, education and indigenous rights. "But the central issue of
reconciliation is present in all the work," said one of the two coordinators,
pastor Hans Trein. 

The first German immigrants who reached Brazil at the beginning of the 19th
century, poor families who had no opportunities or place in Germany, were
used by the Brazilian government to spearhead its land occupation policy
involving land that belonged to indigenous people. The church was both a
victim and an accomplice in this situation and part of the journey toward
reconciliation involves supporting indigenous people in the struggle for
their rights, according to COMIN. 

Among other initiatives, the commission works to recover and re-value
indigenous languages. "The indigenous themselves, reflecting the ideology of
the oppressor, considered them 'dialects' when in some cases they are more
complex than some European languages," said the other commission coordinator,
pastor Arteno Spellmeier. 

Kobia underlined the importance of this work and said that a similar
situation takes place in Africa. Some people speak one or more African
languages as well as English and/or French but will only refer to these when
asked what languages they speak, he said. 

- - - 

The WCC general secretary visit to Latin American continues in Brazil (Porto
Alegre), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Uruguay (Montevideo) and Chile (Santiago).

A detailed programme of the visit as well as high resolution photos are
available in: 
www.wcc-coe.org > Press Corner > Latin America visit

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org

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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.