wfn.org | NCCCUSA Annual General Assembly Nov. 11-16, Oakland

[Carol Fouke <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org
NCC10/22/01 NEWS ALERT

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Nov. 11-16, 2001, Oakland, Calif., Marriott City Center Hotel

The NCC's annual General Assembly and related meetings will be held Nov.
11-16 in Oakland, Calif. Main Venue: Marriott City Center Hotel, 1001
Broadway Avenue.  The week will be rich in content and "photo
 opportunities."  General Assembly opens 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, and
adjourns 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15.  Ambassador Andrew Young, NCC
President for 2000-2001, to preside.

ON THE AGENDA:

** REFLECTIONS ON SEPT. 11 AND ECUMENICAL IMPLICATIONS

At one of the most broadly ecumenical national public gatherings in the
United States since Sept. 11, as many as 280 delegates from the NCC's 36
member communions - including mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African
American and peace churches from all parts of the nation - will give time to
reflection on the attacks and their aftermath.

Conversation groups, led by ecumenical officers of NCC member communions,
beginning at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, and workshops beginning at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 14, will explore such issues as "Terrorism and Faith,"
"Interfaith Dialogue in a Challenging Environment" and personal and pastoral
questions including, "How do we feel?  What do we need?  What are we doing
to cope?"  Implications for ecumenical work, including NCC priorities to
work against poverty and for broader Christian unity, will be discussed.

A World Council of Churches delegation will address the Assembly at its
opening session (1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13) and participate in that day's
conversation groups.  A prayer chapel will be open from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
daily Nov. 13-15.

** HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WORK PROJECTS

Delegates volunteering to work with Habitat for Humanity on Bay Area
 "builds" will meet at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, for orientation.  Work
teams will leave from the hotel as follows: First team, 8 a.m. Monday, Nov.
12; second team, 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12.  Third team, 7 a.m. Friday, Nov.
16.  Each volunteer gets a "work apron" decorated by children in churches
across the United States.

-more-
NCC OAKLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALERT/Page 2

** INSTALLATION OF ELENIE K. HUSZAGH AS NCC PRESIDENT 2002-2003

Venue: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Ave.,
Oakland.  Service of worship and installation: 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15.
Banquet follows.  Ms. Huszagh, of Nehalem, Ore., is an attorney and lay
member of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

** HONORS TO OUTGOING PRESIDENT, OTHER ECUMENICAL LEADERS

Ambassador Andrew Young, the NCC's President in 2000-2001, will be honored
at a 6:15 p.m. reception Wednesday, Nov. 14.  The General Assembly's second
annual "sacrificial dinner" celebration honoring outstanding ecumenical
programs and leaders will follow.

** POVERTY MOBILIZATION & WORK FOR BROADER CHRISTIAN UNITY

Last year the General Assembly launched a decade-long "Poverty Mobilization"
aimed at reducing U.S. poverty and an "Expanded Table" initiative to seek a
broader Christian unity.  Progress reports are scheduled for the 1:30 p.m.
session Wednesday, Nov. 14 (Poverty Mobilization) and 9:45 a.m. Thursday,
Nov. 15 (Expanded Table), with additional discussion during workshops on NCC
priorities and partnerships from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14.

** SHAMANA, CAMPOLO GUEST SPEAKERS/PREACHERS

United Methodist Bishop Beverly Shamana, author of "Seeing in the Dark: A
Vision of Creativity and Spirituality," will preach at the Assembly's
opening service (1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13).  Dr. Tony Campolo, popular
evangelical preacher, writer and commentator, will speak at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 14.  He is professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern
College, St. David's, Pa.

** FOCUS ON CHILDREN

The NCC and Children's Defense Fund on Wednesday, Nov. 14, are collaborating
 on a coast-to-coast focus on children.  Worship at 11:30 a.m. will feature
an Ecumenical Children's Choir (rehearsal: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11),
directed by Ms. Inetta Harris, Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Michigan
Technological University and featured soloist with the Oakland East Bay
Symphony.  Another visual: the new NCC member communion quilt.

** BEST PRACTICES FEST

A festival highlighting a variety of models of ministry from state and local
ecumenical and interfaith bodies opens 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, and
continues through 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14.

-end-