wfn.org | Title: WCC 9th assembly theme decided

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release 03-29-15e
For Immediate Use
01 September 2003

WCC CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Ninth WCC Assembly to focus on theme of transforming grace

"God, in your grace, transform the world" will be the theme of the Ninth
General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), planned for February
2006 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. 

The decision was taken today by the WCC Central Committee meeting in Geneva,
August 26 to September 2. 

The final wording of the theme in English, German, French, Spanish and
Portuguese will be announced after the officers' meeting in November. 

The Central Committee also approved the budget for the Assembly, which will
be 6.3 million CHF. 

The Ninth Assembly will have 700 delegates, almost 300 less than in previous
years. It will last for 10 days, two days less than previously. 

The churches have been asked to inform the WCC by February 2004 of their
exact membership, so that their level of representation may be defined and
that the Assembly may be inclusive and balanced.  

"The Assembly should become a space which reflects the dynamic of the wider
ecumenical movement", stated the Central Committee. 

WCC Central Committee documents are available at:
http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments2003.nsf 

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Office,  tel: +41
(0)22 791 64 21 /61 53

**********

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which
meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in
1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Media Relations Office
Tel: (41 22) 791 6153 / 791 6421
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