wfn.org | WCC NEWS: New global alliance for development getting closer

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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 - 05/12/2005

WCC PARTNERS MOVE CLOSER TO A NEW ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT

Marking a new stage in ecumenical efforts to overcome poverty and
injustice, churches and related organizations have agreed to move ahead
with the establishment of a new global alliance for development.

The changing world context and impact of globalization require that
churches combine their efforts for witness and service and for peace and
justice, according to WCC's general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia at the
consultation of over 50 churches and organizations from all regions, which
ended in Geneva on 2 December.

"Diakonia (service) is central to the mission and being of the churches,"
emphasized Kobia. "Guided by the prophetic tradition, we are compelled to
see justice as the essence of the love of God in our critique of the
destructive impact of injustice and misuse of power. The new alliance
offers us an opportunity to create something new, something which lives
out the principles we all uphold, something which strengthens us all."

"A collective analysis and response by the ecumenical family to the
problems we face in Africa and elsewhere is absolutely necessary,"
confirmed Bishop Mvume Dandala, general secretary of the Nairobi-based All
Africa Conference of Churches. But he warned that any new initiative must
be primarily focused on local empowerment and the building of "self-confidence" of people and churches.

"There is a definite need and common interest for ecumenical partners to
move from isolated initiatives to a coordinated approach, especially in
the face of critical problems like HIV/AIDS," agreed Rev. Cornelia
Füllkrug-Weitzel, director of Bread for the World, one of Germany's main
church aid agencies.

Studies confirm that the WCC and its related agencies form potentially one
of the largest international networks for development. Those present at
the consultation anticipate that increased coordination and more strategic
collaboration between participants in the alliance could increase their
effectiveness in addressing issues of poverty and injustice. It is also
hoped that the alliance will enhance the visibility of ecumenical
organizations in the area of development.

The alliance is expected to have a close relationship with ACT International, the WCC-related coordination body for emergency relief, and with the
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.

A final name for the alliance will be decided by May 2006 at which stage
churches and organizations will be invited to apply to become participants. Any WCC member church, department of a church, or related ministry or
agency which is mandated to undertake development cooperation may apply to
be part of this new alliance.

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.