wfn.org | NCC General Assembly Nov. 14-17, Second Alert

[CAROL.FOUKE@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org
102NCC11/6/2000

MEDIA ADVISORY #2: NCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOV. 14-17, ATLANTA

Your coverage is welcome at the annual General Assembly of the National Council of Churches, the nation’s leading ecumenical organization, set for Nov. 14-17 in Atlanta, Ga.  Opening is at 1:30 p.m. on the 14th; adjournment at 11:45 a.m. on the 17th.  The General Assembly’s 250 delegates represent the NCC’s 35 Protestant and Orthodox member communions, which in turn count a total of 50 million adherents.  NCC General Secretary (“CEO”) is the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar.

Key agenda items (details follow):
* Work on a decade-long “Mobilization to Overcome Poverty” and the “Expanding the Ecumenical Vision” initiative.  Several prominent “keynoters” will offer their perspectives.
* Votes on a proposal for an NCC Africa policy and on an NCC “AIDS in Africa Initiative.”
* Ecumenical reception honoring the National Council of Churches’ President, Ambassador Andrew Young (serving in that office in 2000-2001).
* Ecumenical program and leadership awards, including awards to outstanding state and local ecumenical programs (expect Atlanta “local angle.”)

Venue: Crowne Plaza Ravinia, 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta.  For room reservations, phone (800) 554-0055 or (770) 395-7700. Newsroom: “Azalea A.”  GA Plenaries: “Ravinia I.”

MEDIA LOGISTICS

Media Registration: Please show media ID or letter from employer to pick up your press badge and G.A.-related documents at the general registration tables.  Advance registration is helpful but not required.  Register online at www.ncccusa.org (follow the link to “NCC 2000 General Assembly On-Line Registration and Info”) or contact MRA Services at 425-636-1640.

Newsroom Services: NCC media relations staff will be few in number and will make heavy use of our New York office voicemail.  (Newsroom phone number is not available in time for this alert, and might not have voicemail.)  Please leave us a message on 212-870-2227 with your name, phone number, detailed request/questions and deadline, and allow us ample time to call you back.  At 212-870-2227, we plan to offer voicemail updates on General Assembly business.  And we’ll post G.A. news daily at www.ncccusa.org/news/newshome.html. 

The newsroom will open at least half an hour before the General Assembly convenes each day and remain open as late as needed.  Media may use the newsroom workspace, phone (bring your calling card for long-distance), fax and e-mail-friendly phone line on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please bring your own laptop computer.  When the General Assembly is in session, NCC media relations staff will be in the plenary hall at the press tables.  

Details, NCC Assembly Agenda, Crowne Plaza Ravinia Hotel, Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 14-17

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 1:30-3:30 p.m. - National Council of Churches annual General Assembly convenes.  Opening statements by the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary (“CEO”) and Ambassador Andrew Young, President.  Keynote address by Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary, Consultation on Church Union, on “History of the NCC’s Commitment to Ecumenism.”

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 3:30 p.m. - News media chat with the NCC General Secretary (Azalea A).

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 4-6 p.m. - Expanding the Ecumenical Vision Reflection Session.  Ten conversation groups will consider, “What would a new ecumenical relationship look like for the 21st century?” and “What should be its mission?”  Groups will report 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 9 am. - noon - Conversation groups report out from Tuesday afternoon’s reflection session on mission, vision and vocation of a new ecumenical movement.  Also this morning: 
* Reports from Church World Service and the NCC’s Bible Translation and Utilization Committee. 
* American Bible Society presentation on the Jubilee Bible.  * Celebration of the Episcopal/Lutheran agreement. * Worship on “Mobilization to Overcome Poverty.”

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. - Recommendation for action on the “Mobilization to Overcome Poverty.”  Keynoters: Former Congressman William Gray, now of the United Negro College Fund, and Call to Renewal leader Jim Wallis.

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 3 - 5:30 p.m. - Mobilization to Overcome Poverty Reflection Session.  Ten conversation groups will work on the question, “What innovative strategies should the member communions covenant together on that would effectively lead us toward achieveable goals and objectives in the fight to end poverty, especially as it impacts on children?”  Groups will report 9:45 a.m. Thursday.

Thursday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. - noon - Worship, followed by a report on the World Council of Churches Decade to Overcome Violence and the report out from Wednesday afternoon’s reflection session on the proposed “Mobilization to Overcome Poverty.”  Action on resolutions, including “Mobilization to Overcome Poverty,” “AIDS in Africa Initiative” and “Policy Resolution on Africa.”  Vote to seat Alliance of Baptists as the NCC’s 36th member.

Thursday, Nov. 16, 1:30 p.m. - NCC Faith and Order Commission reports.  Addresses by the Rev. Dr. John T. Ford of Catholic University on the “Roman Catholic Vision for the Future of the Ecumenical Movement” (1:30) and by the Rev. Dr. Bernard Wilson, Executive Minister, The Riverside Church, New York City, on “Pentecostal Vision for the Future of the Ecumenical Movement” (3:30).

Thursday, Nov. 16, 6:15 p.m. - Ecumenical reception honoring NCC President Andrew Young, followed by a “Celebration Honoring Ecumenical Leadership,” with awards to outstanding ecumenical program and leadership awards.

Friday, Nov. 17, 9 - 11:45 a.m. - Action on the resolution “Expanding the Ecumenical Vision.”  Closing worship (10:30 a.m.) around the theme “Breads of the World.”

Friday, Nov. 17 - Noon - NCC General Secretary available to media (Azalea A).

-end-