wfn.org | NCCCUSA General Assembly, Nov. 13-15, Oakland, Calif.

["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227 (Nov. 12-15 at 510-451-4000)
Cellphone: 917-690-6075
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org
NCC11/9/01 NEWS ALERT

ATTENTION DAYBOOKS/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS/RELIGION EDITORS
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ANNUAL NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Nov. 11-16, 2001, Oakland, Calif.  Principal Venue: Marriott City Center
Hotel
Newsroom: OCC 210 - 2nd Floor, Oakland Marriott Hotel

The National Council of Churches is the nations leading ecumenical
organization, with 36 mainline Protestant, African American and Orthodox
member denominations and living peace churches comprising 50 million
adherents in 140,000 local congregations.  The NCCs annual national General
Assembly is its highest governing body - and will meet Nov. 13-15 in
Oakland, Calif., with related events Nov. 12 and 16. Ambassador Andrew Young
of Atlanta, Ga., NCC President for 2000-2001, to preside.

Here are Daybook/Assignment Deskworthy agenda items and highlights.
Detailed agenda available at www.ncccusa.org/news/ga2001agenda.html:

** MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 9 A.M.TO 1:30 P.M. --
     TOUR OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WORKSITES

The Rev. Rolf Bell of the Habitat for Humanity International West Regional
Office and a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and
Krysta Morgenthaler of the East Bay Habitat for Humanity affiliate, will
lead some 30 NCC General Assembly members and staff along with local clergy
on a tour of Habitat for Humanity work in the Bay Area.

Group leaves 9 a.m. from the Oakland Marriott City Center Hotel, visits
several sites, and concludes at First Presbyterian Church, Oakland, where
(at 12:30 p.m.) NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar will speak about his
participation in Habitat for Humanitys summer build in Korea.  The NCC
and Habitat for Humanity International signed a Memorandum of Agreement
earlier in 2001.  Also speaking: Habitats East Bay Chair of Faith
Relations, Rev. Ron Thompson, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
and the affiliates founder.

Stops along the tour: 1419, 1425 and 1431 82nd Avenue (corner of
International Boulevard); 370 105th Avenue (880 toward Oakland Airport, east
on 98th Avenue toward the Hills, right onto Edes Avenue, right onto 105th
Avenue); Habitat Brownfield site on Edes Avenue, ending at First
Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway.

Local Contact: Lisa Wash, Director of Development, East Bay Habitat for
Humanity, 510-251-6304.

** TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1 TO 3:30 P.M. -
      NCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENING SESSION

Opening worship, with United Methodist San Francisco Episcopal Area Bishop
Beverly J. Shamana, with offices in West Sacramento, Calif., author of
Seeing in the Dark: A Vision of Creativity and Spirituality, preaching.

Around 2 p.m. (estimated), following opening formalities, the General
Assembly will hear Words of Comfort and Prayers for Healing post-September
11 from a World Council of Churches delegation.  NEWS CONFERENCE/INTERVIEW
OPPORTUNITY TO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW (3:30 p.m.).

Led by Methodist Bishop Mvume Dandala of South Africa, the WCC delegation
also includes Church of Pakistan Bishop Samuel Azariah from Pakistan, Greek
Orthodox Metropolitan Elias Audi from Lebanon, Quaker Presiding Clerk Jean
Zaru from Palestine, theological seminary professor Septemmy Lakawa from
Indonesia, French Protestant Federation President Jean-Arnold de Clermont,
and Russian Orthodox official Nicholas Balachov.

The representatives of World Council of Churches member churches are in the
United States Nov. 8-14 as a "Living Letter" of compassion to the churches
and people of the USA.  The purpose of the visit, which begins in New York,
is "to express the solidarity and compassion of the worldwide ecumenical
fellowship" to U.S. churches and to "discern together what September 11 and
subsequent events mean for the witness of the churches" in the US and
elsewhere.

The delegation is also coming to reflect on "the long term consequences" of
the attacks and the resulting allied military strikes against Taliban
positions and terrorist camps in Afghanistan in the light of the WCC's
Decade to Overcome Violence.  Details at
www.ncccusa.org/news/wccdelegation.html  WCC Contact: Phil Jenks,
212-870-3193 or 2533; pej@wcc-coe.org

** TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 3:45 to 5:15 P.M. -
     REFLECTIONS ON SEPT. 11 AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

In conversation groups led by ecumenical officers of National Council of
Churches member communions, NCC General Assembly delegates will give time to
reflect on the September 11 attacks and their aftermath.  The groups will
give voice to such questions as: 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.  The international WCC delegation members will participate in the
conversations.

** WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 11:30 A.M. -
      WORSHIP, FEATURING A LOCAL CHILDRENS CHOIR

Renowned singer and choirmaster Ms. Inetta Harris, featured soloist with the
Oakland East Bay Symphony and Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Michigan
Technological University, will direct the childrens choir performing as
part of a General Assembly worship service focusing on children.

Familiar to many congregations in the Oakland area, Ms. Harris home
congregation is Greater Cooper A.M.E. Zion.  The service also will feature
the beginning of the NCC member communion quilt.

** WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1:30 P.M. --
      DR. TONY CAMPOLO TO SPEAK

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. Davids, Pa.

** WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 4 TO 6 P.M. -
      WORKSHOPS ON NCC PRIORITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS

Topics will include Interfaith Dialogue in a Challenging Environment,
Poverty Housing and Habitat, Children of Poverty, Building a Strong
Base - Resourcing Congregations for Spiritual Formation, Faith and Order
Challenges, Tools for Building a New Ecumenical Something, Climate
Change, Environment and the Church, State/Local Councils of Churches and
Interfaith Councils in Relation to/with the National Council of Churches,
Fundraising in a Broken World.

** WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 6:15 P.M.  -
      HONORS TO ANDREW YOUNG, OTHER ECUMENICAL LEADERS
Ambassador Andrew Young will soon conclude his term as the NCCs President
in 2000-2001.  He will be honored at a 6:15 p.m. reception Wednesday,
November 14.  The General Assemblys second annual sacrificial dinner
celebration honoring outstanding ecumenical programs and leaders will
follow.

** THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 9:45 A.M. -
      DR. MUZAMMIL SIDDIQUI, MUSLIM LEADER, TO SPEAK

Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi of Garden Grove, Calif., is the Immediate Past
President of the Islamic Society of North America, the largest Muslim
organization in the United States.  He will deliver a keynote address to the
National Council of Churches General Assembly on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 9:45
a.m.  Subject: The situation of Muslims in the United States since September
11, and his vision of how Christians and Muslims might cooperate and help
each other.

Concerned to build interfaith understanding in the wake of the September 11
attacks, NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar and prominent Muslim leaders met
September 26 and agreed to a regular pattern of consultation among Christian
and Muslim leaders. This builds on a foundation laid by the Councils
Interfaith Relations Commission over the past 25 years, which has included
periodic meetings (but not the regular consultation now planned) with Muslim
leaders and production of resources for interfaith understanding for use in
local communities.  Dr. Edgar recently visited the Plainfield, Ind.,
headquarters of the ISNA, with which the NCC has had a relationship for many
years.

** THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 5 P.M., GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL -
      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 a longtime Chicago
attorney and lay member of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.  She
will serve as National Council of Churches President in 2002-2003.  A
profile of Ms. Huszagh is available at www.ncccusa.org/news/huszagh.html

** FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 7 A.M. T0 1 P.M. --
      HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WORK PROJECT

A team made up of NCC General Assembly members and staff will assemble at
8:30 a.m. (lobby, Oakland Marriott City Hotel) and work from 9:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. on Habitat homes in Fremont (880 S to Stevenson Blvd. exit in
Fremont, east to Fremont Blvd., right on Fremont Blvd.  Merge left at
Fremont Blvd./Washington Blvd. fork into Washington Blvd.  Take first right
onto Roberts Ave.  Turn right onto Adams Ave.  The site is 6311 Adams
Avenue, at the corner of Roberts and Adams Aves.)  Each volunteer gets a
work apron decorated by children in churches across the United States.

Local Contact: Krysta Morgenthaler, Volunteer Coordinator, East Bay Habitat
for Humanity, 510-251-6304, ext.6.

** OTHER NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES GENERAL ASSEMBLY STORIES

POVERTY MOBILIZATION AND 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.

ALSO:  The NCCs Executive Board, a subgroup of the General Assembly, meets
Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.  A displays area will feature
NCC and partner programs.  A prayer chapel will be open from 7 a.m. to 10:30
p.m. daily Nov. 13-15.

-end-