wfn.org | WCC NEWS: WCC inaugurates ecumenical research centre

["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 - 28/06/2005

"BUILDING UNDERSTANDING AMONG RELIGIONS":
WCC INAUGURATES ECUMENICAL RESEARCH CENTRE

      Free photos available - see below

Building understanding among people and religions of the world is one of
the missions of the Council's new ecumenical research centre, said World
Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia at the
official opening of the facility on Sunday 26 June.

The renewed library and research facility being officially inaugurated
this week is part of efforts to expand the Council's academic research
capacity in ecumenism and theology - an effort made possible by a donation
from the Banque Pictet & Cie. Situated outside Geneva, on the grounds of
the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, the site complements the main library
and archives located at the WCC's headquarters in Geneva.

Speaking at the opening, one of the originators of the project, former WCC
general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, underlined that the modernized
and expanded library and archives are an "extraordinary resource" now
accessible to many more people.

For his part, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia recalled that the
original purpose of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey was to contribute
to the healing of the nations and churches after the second world war.

Kobia also proposed strengthening efforts to explore the interconnectedness of faith, economy and ecology. "Through the concerted endeavours of faith
and business leaders, it will be possible to build a more just, peaceful,
harmonious and sustainable society," he said.

The creation of the ecumenical research centre was made possible by a
generous donation from the Pictet & Cie bank, which is celebrating its
bicentennial this year. Mr Claude Demole, one of the bank's eight managing
partners, welcomed the establishment of the centre as a contribution to
the "spirit of tolerance and dialogue" which characterises Geneva and with
which his bank is "proud" to be associated.

With this new phase of development, the WCC library and archives now form
one of the leading international academic resources on theology and
ecumenism. The library, shared between two sites in Geneva and at Bossey,
contains over 130,000 books, periodicals, and thousands of unique archival
documents, photos and videos covering the history of the ecumenical
movement from the 19th century to the present day.

Further information on the WCC library: http://library.wcc-coe.org
Photos of the new ecumenical research centre are available at:
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/photo-galleries/other/bosseylibrary/newlibrary.html

Note to editors:
Founded in Geneva in 1805, Pictet & Cie is one of Switzerland's largest
private banks and one of Europe's leading independent asset management
banks, with deposits and assets under management of more than CHF 237
billion. The Bank's legal structure is a commercial partnership, with
eight general partners sharing unlimited liability.

Pictet is an asset management specialist focusing mainly on the following
areas of expertise: private and institutional asset management, fund
administration and management, global custody and Family Office services.
Headquartered in Geneva, the Pictet Group employs around 2,000 people and
currently has offices in most major financial centres around the world.
Further information: www.pictet.com

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

Sign up for WCC press releases at
http://onlineservices.wcc-coe.org/pressnames.nsf

The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 347, 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.