wfn.org | WCC NEWS: WCC GENERAL SECRETARY TO VISIT LATIN AMERICA

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

World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 29/10/2004

WCC GENERAL SECRETARY TO VISIT LATIN AMERICA: 
BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, URUGUAY AND CHILE ON THE AGENDA

Five countries in 21 days await World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in Latin America, in what will be his first visit to the region since he took up the post. 

 From November 1 to 21 Kobia will visit Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile in that order. The agenda includes meetings with leaders and members of Christian churches, ecumenical organizations and other religious communities, as well as with representatives from civil society and government authorities. 

In Porto Alegre, Brazil, Kobia will participate in the Planning Committee
meeting for the 9th WCC Assembly, to be held in this city in February 2006. 

Some highlights of the visit are the following (a more detailed programme in
Spanish will be available on our website, see below): 

>>> Bolivia - La Paz (November 1-4)

An interview with President Carlos Mesa Gisbert (to be confirmed) as well as
with opposition leader Evo Morales are on the agenda. Kobia will also visit
the Ombudsman and the Permanent Human Rights Assembly and will meet with
Church leaders. The trip will also include a visit to Kheaskapa (District of
Kollasuyo and Ancoraimes) and Kalasaya. 

A press conference is planned for November 3 in the afternoon (venue and time
to be confirmed).

Press contact: Paula Valdez 71-29-5555 paulayvs@yahoo.es pvaldez@bolivia.com

>>> Brasil - Brasilia (November 5-6)

The highlights of his agenda in Brasilia include an interview with President
Inacio Da Silva and possibly some members of his cabinet. Kobia will also
preach during an ecumenical service in the Anglican Cathedral. 

Press contact in Brasilia: Ervino Schmidt 55-61-321-4034
conic.brasil@terra..com.br

>>> Brasil - Salvador (November 7-8)

In Salvador, Kobia will meet with Cardinal Geraldo Magela (Brazilian National
Bishops' Conference) and will visit the Northeastern Catholic Bishops'
Conference (Bahia and Sergipe). He will also meet with representatives from
social and ecumenical organizations, including the Ecumenical Service
Coordinating Committee (CESE) and the Center of Bible Studies (CEBI) as well
as with representatives from Afro-Brazilian religions. 

Press contact in Salvador: Eliana Rollemberg 9983-5227 eliana@cese.org.br

>>> Brasil - Porto Alegre (November 9-13)

In Porto Alegre, the WCC general secretary will participate, together with
local leaders in a press conference planned for Tuesday November 9 at 14:00
(venue to be confirmed). That same evening he will preach at an ecumenical
service in the Anglican Cathedral. 

On November 11 he will meet with Governor Germano Rigotto and the city's
Mayor Joao Verle. He will also visit the Campus of the Pontifical Catholic
University (PUC), site of the IX Assembly. 

During the rest of his stay in Porto Alegre, Kobia will participate in the
WCC Assembly Planning Committee meeting and will meet with local Church
leaders. On November 12 he will visit the Theological Seminary of Sao
Leopoldo. 

Press contact in Porto Alegre: Caroline Str|ssmann 55-51-3221-3433
carol@ieclb.org.br

>>> Argentina - Buenos Aires (November 14-16)

An interview with President Nestor Kirchner (to be confirmed) is one of the
key items on the agenda, which also includes a meeting with Foreign Minister
Rafael Bielsa, a reception in the San Martin Palace and a ceremony where the
WCC secretary general will be granted the title of Illustrious Visitor to the
city of Buenos Aires. 

On the academic front, he will be named an Honorary Professor of the
University of Buenos Aires and will offer a public lecture on Violence and
Globalization during an academic and cultural act in the Golden Hall of the
city's Parliament. 

The ecumenical chapter of the agenda includes meetings with Church leaders
and ecumenical organizations, a visit to an ecumenical service project in a
poor neighborhood, and a meeting with representatives from social
organizations, unions and human rights groups.

A meeting with the press is planned for Monday November 15 at 11:00 in the
San Martin Palace. 

Press contacts in Argentina: 
Gabriela Zerbin 4787-0436 comunicacion@ierp.org.ar
Daniel Favaro danielfavaro@infovia.com.ar
Claudia Florentmn clauflorentin@fibertel.com.ar

>>> Uruguay, Montevideo (November 17-18)

In Montevideo, as well as meetings with representatives from churches and
ecumenical organizations, Kobia will meet with the city's Mayor Mariano Arana
Sanchez (to be confirmed) and with relatives of the detained-disappeared. On
Thursday he will travel to Colonia Valdense where he will meet with church
representatives and visit the Emmanuel Center. 

A meeting with the press (time and venure to be confirmed) will take place
Wednesday, 17 November in the afternoon. 

Press contact in Uruguay: Anmbal Sicardi 413-65-52/54
iemucomunicaciones@adinet.com.uy

>>> Chile, Santiago (November 19-20) 

The final stage of the trip will include a meeting with the General Secreatry
of the Presidency in the La Moneda palace, as well as meetings with
representatives from churches and ecumenical organizations. Kobia will also
meet with Pentecostal bishops and pastors and will visit the memorial for the
victims of the military regime in Villa Grimaldi. On Friday the 19th he will
travel to Curico, where he will preach in the Pentecostal Church.

Press contact in Chile: Eduardo Cid +562-511-3878 +562-0954-58204
eduardoclaichile@entelchile.net

- - -

A more detailed programme (in Spanish) will available as of Monday, 1
November at: 
www.wcc-coe.org > Press Corner > Visit to Latin America

- - -

Press contacts
- Throughout the visit, Juan Michel +41-79-507-6363 Juan@wcc-coe.org
- Bolivia: Paula Valdez 71-29-5555 paulayvs@yahoo.es pvaldez@bolivia.com
- Brazil, Brasilia: Ervino Schmidt 55-61-321-4034 conic.brasil@terra.com.br
- Brazil, Salvador: Eliana Rollemberg 9983-5227 eliana@cese.org.br
- Brazil, Porto Alegre: Caroline Str|ssmann 55-51-3221-3433
carol@ieclb.org.br
- Argentina: Gabriela Zerbin 4787-0436 comunicacion@ierp.org.ar / Daniel
Favaro danielfavaro@infovia.com.ar / Claudia Florentmn
clauflorentin@fibertel.com.ar
- Uruguay: Anmbal Sicardi 413-65-52/54 iemucomunicaciones@adinet.com.uy
- Chile: Eduardo Cid +562-511-3878 +562-0954-58204
eduardoclaichile@entelchile.net

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.