World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org For immediate release - 18/08/2006 05:32:48 PM
TRIBUTE TO PHILIP POTTER ON HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY
High-resolution photo available - see below
"Generations of activists within church and society have benefited from Philip's advice and guidance," World Council of Churches' (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said today about the Council's third general secretary, Rev. Dr Philip Potter.
In a moving tribute to Potter, who celebrates his 85th birthday tomorrow, Kobia highlights the "great strides" taken by the WCC under Potter's leadership, including a "courageous campaign against apartheid [*] and other forms of racism", "a vigorous debate on the nature of post-colonial Christian mission", a "coordinated witness for peace amid east-West tensions and the threat of nuclear annihilation, as well as an exploration of new forms of spirituality, worship and music".
Citing a WCC central committee resolution taken at the time of Potter's retirement, Kobia gives thanks to God for "the underlying unity in all Dr Potter's efforts" as his commitment to "one ecumenical movement, one fellowship of churches moving together along one pilgrim way, the hope of the one humanity promised by God".
The full text of Kobia's tribute is available on the WCC website at: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=2415
A high-resolution photo of Rev, Dr Philip Potter is available free of charge at : http://oikoumene.org/fileadmin/images/wcc-main/news/summer2006/060219-1034. jpg
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 promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.