wfn.org | UGC journalists registration information

["Franziska Surber" <Franziska.Surber@warc.ch>]

This is a MIME message. If you are reading this text, you may want to 
consider changing to a mail reader or gateway that understands how to 
properly handle MIME multipart messages.

--=__Part1A304271.342__ Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Uniting General Council

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USAJune 18 â?? 28, 2010

>8 December 2009

>Dear communication and news colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to apply for media accreditation
for the Uniting General Council (UGC) of the World Alliance of
Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council
(REC) to be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA from June 18 to
June 28, 2010.

The general council will gather an estimated 1000 people from
108 countries. More than half will be delegates from WARC and REC
member churches. 

>Programme highlights

Ã?      Guided by the theme â??Unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peaceâ?? (Ephesians 4) delegates from WARC and REC will launch the
World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) through a merger of
the two organizations â?? a landmark in efforts to unite Christians
for common witness and service to the world. On 18 June,
delegates will gather in worship at the Spoelhof Fieldhouse
Complex on Calvin College campus to mark the historic event.

Ã?      The presence and witness of North American indigenous
peoples (representatives of Canadaâ??s First Nations and of
American Indian tribes) will be important throughout the UGC. The
first plenary session of the newly-created WCRC will begin with a
formal ceremony led by American Indian tribal leaders from the
Grand Rapids area who will welcome delegates to their land. 

On Tuesday, June 22, the American Indian leader and
author, Wilma Mankiller, will make a keynote address. Mankiller,
a member of the Cherokee Nation, has received wide recognition
for her advocacy work on behalf of American Indians. The
presentation will be followed by an afternoon of activities in
the historic Ah-Nab-AwenPark on the Grand River which includes a
worship service led by members of North American      indigenous
peoples and a Pow Wow. 

Ã?      UGC delegates are charged with planning the focus of WCRC
initiatives for the next five year period. Deliberations will
include developing strategies for addressing the impact of the
global economic system on vulnerable peoples and the
environment.

>Practical information

The UGC will take place on the campus of Calvin College, a
liberal arts college affiliated with the Reformed church
movement. The UGC Communication and News Team will offer support
to attending media and also provide daily electronic news feeds.

Facilities and services for journalists include a news room,
reserved seating in the plenary hall, programme and subject
briefings, and news conferences. The working languages of the
council are English, French, Spanish and German. 

We attach here the provisional timetable for the council, an
accreditation form and registration form as well as visa
information for journalists. These documents may also be
downloaded from www.reformedchurches.org (
http://www.reformedchurches.org/ )as of 10 December, 2009.

If interested in attending the council as accredited media,
please return the completed accreditation and registration forms
by email or fax. This will help us greatly in our administration.
If you are unable to attend but would like to receive advance
stories and daily stories during the event, please indicate that
on the accreditation form and submit it.

We wish to provide the information and support services you need
to cover this event and will welcome your questions and requests.

Be sure to bookmark the UGC website and visit it regularly for
updates www.reformedchurches.org (
http://www.reformedchurches.org/ )

>Sincerely,

>Kristine Greenaway
>Head of Communications Office
>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>tel +41 22 791 6243
>communication@warc.ch
>www.warc.ch ( http://www.warc.ch/ )

>--=__Part1A304271.342__=--