wfn.org | WCC UPDATE: WCC LEADER PRAISES CANADIAN CHURCH DIALOGUE

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

World Council of Churches - Update
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org 

For immediate release: 4 October 2004

WCC LEADER PRAISES CANADIAN MODEL OF CHURCH DIALOGUE 

An intensive schedule of meetings between Dr. Samuel Kobia, general secretary
of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and the Canadian churches culminated
on Sunday 2 October in Ottawa. Speaking at a city-wide ecumenical service in
Southminster United Church, Kobia outlined his understanding of a changing
ecumenism which, he said, is characterized by increased bilateral dialogue,
fewer multilateral structures, the shift of Christianity from North to South
and a growing hunger for spirituality. He also emphasized that ecumenical
worship is a concrete manifestation of the movement towards unity.

On his last full day in Canada before leaving on 4 October for Atlanta to
meet with US churches, Kobia earlier celebrated Global Communion Sunday in
Parkwood Presbyterian Church in Ottawa. 

Kobia's visit to Canada began in Toronto on 1 October, where he made a major
presentation on the "Impact of Interfaith Relations on Ecumenical Theology
and Practice" to mark the 40th anniversary of the Canadian Centre for
Ecumenism.

"Greater awareness [in the last three decades] of religious plurality invited
a new approach to the realities of our world. It has questioned some of our
theological categories and language and put to the test the commitment of
Christians to the common good of their societies," the general secretary
said.

Kobia said efforts to prevent polarization between religious communities at
an international level are more important than ever before. The global media
encourage people to perceive conflict in one place as conflict everywhere,
causing enmities to spill over into other regions. "There is a need to
de-globalize situations of conflict and to analyze each one within its own
context."

He told the audience of clergy, theologians and students that "we
[Christians] are not to stand in judgement of others. We need to reassure our
partners in dialogue that we are sincere and open in our wish to walk
together towards the fullness of truth as we struggle together with others
in a world torn apart by rivalries and wars, social disparities and economic
injustices."

Kobia urged the Canadian ecumenical community and the council of churches not
to be discouraged when dialogue fails to meet their highest wishes. "The
impact of dialogue in the context of conflicts may disappoint high
expectations. When it is unable to quell conflict, its relevance is
questioned. However, by its very nature interreligious dialogue is not an
instrument to resolve problems instantly in emergency situations," Kobia
stated.

The general secretary, making his first official visit to Canada 30 September
to 4 October, spent the day of 1 October with the leaders of three large
member churches of the WCC - the Anglican Church of Canada, the Presbyterian
Church in Canada and the United Church of Canada - and their staff members in
Toronto. He also addressed an ecumenical dinner, where he praised the
Canadian Council of Churches' (CCC) model of collaboration between Orthodox,
Protestant, Anglican and Roman Catholic churches and similarly the ecumenical
justice coalition "Kairos", where economic, social and environmental issues
are addressed and acted upon only with the full support of all denominations.

During the following two days Kobia met with students of African descent
attending several of Toronto's well-known theological colleges, which work
together through the Toronto School of Theology. He told the students, from
Africa as well as from other countries of the South, about the Focus on
Africa programme of the WCC, the Decade to Overcome Violence, and the
programme dealing with issues of racial violence and the African-American
contribution to non-violent change. 

On 4 October, before leaving for the United States, Kobia will take part in
an all-day forum on dialogue in Ottawa organized by the CCC, which counts 19
member churches including the Roman Catholic Church. 

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

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 The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
 more than 120 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, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
 general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.