wfn.org | WCC Central Committee - Raiser, p.1

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World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
12 September 1996

CENTRAL COMMITTEE                                                    
No. 1

            WCC FINANCIAL CRISIS BOTH A DANGER AND OPPORTUNITY
                      RAISER TELLS CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Against a background of a financial crisis, World Council of
Churches General Secretary, Dr Konrad Raiser, has made a
straight-talking speech to members of the WCC Central Committee.

Raiser made no attempt to hide the seriousness of the current
situation, but laid out with confidence his vision for a possible
future direction and shape of the WCC.

The Central Committee, with 156 members, is the highest governing
body of the WCC between assemblies and meets approximately once a
year.

Addressing the opening session of the committee's forty-seventh
meeting at WCC headquarters in Geneva on Thursday 12 September,
Raiser explained the reasons for the current situation, which has
led to job losses of almost 20%, with more in sight.

Raiser stressed that the WCC remains viable and that "its basic
mandate is not in jeopardy".  He added that though financial
preoccupations "have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and
anxiety", they "have not paralysed our work".  

"Snapshots"

The general secretary provided a number of brief "snapshots" from
what he described as "an intensive year of work":

? Last month's meeting of the Faith and Order Plenary Commission
in Tanzania was "of decisive importance for the efforts to make
visible our koinonia (fellowship/communion) in Christ".

? Important work has been done on Ecclesiology and Ethics, as
well as Ecumenical Theological Education.

? Preparations have been intense for the forthcoming World
Mission Conference in Brazil whose theme is "Called to One Hope -
the Gospel in Diverse Cultures".

                                                                     
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? A major study on HIV/AIDS has been completed.

? An extensive survey has shown that education remains a chief
concern of member churches.

? Important progress has been made on the Programme to Overcome
Violence, mandated by the 1994 Central Committee. The subsequent
decision to focus on working for a culture of peace in the cities
"opens up some very creative possibilities".

? The study on a Theology of Life is almost complete and will,
along with the Programme to Overcome Violence and the Ecumenical
Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women, be reviewed at the
next WCC Assembly (Zimbabwe, 1998).

? Major reviews of the emergencies and refugee services have been
completed.  A new initiative, Action by Churches Together (ACT),
is coordinating an ecumenical response to emergencies, and
preparations are in full swing for the 1997 Ecumenical Year of
the Churches in Solidarity With Uprooted People.

? Other work in the areas of resource-sharing, solidarity
actions, capacity-building, networking and advocacy have shown
that "for the WCC, the challenge is to develop a more holistic
approach to the issues of justice and service".