wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Kobia visits Greek churches

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World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 12.05.2005

GREEK CHURCH LEADERS CALL FOR STRENGTHENING OF UNITED CHRISTIAN WITNESS

Greek church leaders have called for "coordinated efforts and a united
Christian witness" to tackle global problems more effectively.

"The church does not close its eyes to the burning issues of our times,
issues that can only be dealt with effectively through coordinated efforts
and a united Christian witness," stated Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens
during a meeting with the WCC general secretary in Athens.

Christodoulos recalled that "such concerns led the Orthodox Church of
Greece to become a founding member of the World Council of Churches in
1948."

Members of the 12-person Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and other
hierarchs, presided by the archbishop, met with Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia on 12
May to discuss progress in WCC-Orthodox relations and other issues.

The three-day visit to Greece, the first by the WCC general secretary,
coincided with the Conference on World Mission and Evangelism which opened
near Athens earlier in the week. Kobia expressed the "deep gratitude" of
the Council for the invitation of the Church of Greece to host the
conference, and for the "splendid welcome" of the Holy Synod.

Hope and measured optimism

During the meeting, the Orthodox church leader reiterated his "sense of
hope and measured optimism" for the future of Orthodox participation in
the WCC, following proposals for reform made by the Special Commission on
Orthodox Participation in the WCC, which was set up in 1998 to address
Orthodox criticism of the Council's orientation and priorities. The
archbishop expressed his hope that the suggested changes will be endorsed
to "the benefit not only of the Orthodox churches but the entire WCC
constituency".

Responding to the archbishop, Kobia thanked the Church of Greece and other
Orthodox churches for opting to be "active protagonists and not mere
spectators" in the life of the ecumenical movement. He affirmed that the
"harvest" of the work of the Special Commission anticipates "radical
changes in the life, culture and direction of the WCC, allowing this
unique fellowship of Christian churches to face the challenges of the 21st
century."

Kobia also held talks with the synodal committee on inter-Orthodox and
inter-Christian relations, which is the church's main body responsible for
ecumenical relations. Meetings with the international mission agency of
the Church of Greece, 'Apostoliki Diakonia', which is actively involved in
foreign and domestic missions, resulted in a commitment to revive
programmatic collaboration with the Council in the areas of mission and
service.

Olympic ideals

Earlier, on 11 May, the WCC general secretary met with the Greek minister
of education and religion, Ms Marietta Giannakou. The delegation discussed
the contribution of dialogue in all forms to overcoming intercultural
conflicts, and the necessity of multilateral platforms such as WCC. The
WCC general secretary recalled that Greek philosophy and Olympic ideals
had proved to be powerful forces for greater understanding and unity of
mankind - values which were shared by the ecumenical movement.

Kobia remains in Greece until 16 May, and is accompanied by WCC deputy
general secretary Mr Georges Lemopoulos.

The full text of the addresses of Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and
of Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, respectively, are available on the WCC website:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/christodoulos-welcome.html
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/kobia-greece.html

Photos of the meeting on 12 May are available on the WCC website:
http://www.mission2005.org/12_May.901.0.html

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 347, 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.