wfn.org | World Council of Churches Agenda August 2004

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

World Council of Churches - Agenda
For immediate release: 20 July 2004

AUGUST 2004

    - Faith and Order plenary commission
    - Asian churches train human rights activists
    - WCC general secretary to visit churches in Korea
    - WCC executive committee to meet in Seoul

FAITH AND ORDER PLENARY COMMISSION
28 July - 6 August, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Faith and Order plenary commission, a 76-year-old body referred to as 
the most comprehensive theological forum in Christendom, will bring 
together approximately 150 members of the clergy and laity as well as 
scholars, youth and outside observers under the theme "Receive one another 
as Christ has received you, to the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). The 
commission is comprised of 117 church-appointed members from around the 
world, including 12 representatives of the Roman Catholic Church.

Details on the meeting, including agenda, speakers, issues to be discussed 
and press accreditation are now available on the meeting's website. News 
and features will be updated daily during the meeting.

To find out more please go to:
www.wcc-coe.org/kualalumpur2004.html

Media contact in Kuala Lumpur: Juan Michel +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

ASIAN CHURCHES TO TRAIN CHRISTIAN ACTIVISTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS
9-15 August, Jakarta, Indonesia

Approximately thirty representatives from Asian churches and church-related 
organizations will come together for a human rights training programme on 
the history and implementation of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. 
Participants from fifteen countries throughout the region will report on 
current human rights situations in Asia and discuss ways to enhance church 
involvement in human rights advocacy at the local and national levels. This 
programme is organized by the Christian Conference of Asia in cooperation 
with the World Council of Churches.

Participants will come from Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, 
Philippines, Laos, Korea, Japan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, 
Aotearoa-New Zealand, East Timor and Bangladesh.

Christian Council of Asia  www.cca.org.hk

Media contact in Jakarta: Tony Waworuntu +852 2691 1068 tonycca@cca.org.hk

WCC GENERAL SECRETARY TO VISIT CHURCHES IN KOREA
19-23 August, Seoul, Korea

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will visit the WCC member churches in Korea and meet 
with leaders of member churches in North East Asia. Following the visit, 
WCC moderator Catholicos Aram I will join Kobia in a seminar on "New vision 
and challenges to ecumenism in the 21st century", where they will give the 
opening address and keynote speech respectively, marking the beginning of 
the 80th anniversary celebrations of the National Council of Churches in 
Korea (NCCK). A courtesy call to the President of the Republic of Korea, 
Roh Moo-hyun, is also expected.

WCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO MEET IN SEOUL
24-27 August, Seoul, Korea

The WCC executive committee will meet to discuss the adoption of consensus 
procedures and other preparations for the ninth WCC assembly in Porto 
Alegre, Brazil, in 2006. Committee members will also hear updates on 
current peace and reconciliation initiatives, and WCC programmes and 
relationships with its member churches. This will be the last executive 
committee meeting before the full central committee comes together in 
February 2005.

Unless noted otherwise, events are by invitation only and not open to the 
press or general public. The information above may change without notice.

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches is the world's most inclusive ecumenical 
organization, whose purpose is to promote Christian unity in faith, witness 
and service to the world.  A fellowship of churches inaugurated in 1948, 
today the WCC brings together over 340 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and 
other churches in over 100 countries, representing more than 550 million 
Christians.  Although not a member church, the Roman Catholic Church works 
cooperatively with the WCC.  The WCC's highest governing body is the 
assembly, which will meet in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February 2006, 
under the theme "God, in your grace, transform the world".  The WCC general 
secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya.
Headquarters: 150 Route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
http://www.wcc-coe.org - http://www.wcc-assembly.info