wfn.org | WCC UPDATE: Ethiopia: Kobia highlights contribution, offers mediation

["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 - 03/10/2005

KOBIA HIGHLIGHTS UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION OF ETHIOPIA, OFFERS WCC MEDIATION

"As custodians of an ancient spiritual heritage, Ethiopian Christianity
has a unique contribution which is of central importance in Africa and to
the ecumenical family world-wide," stated the general secretary of the
World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, during his first
official visit to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, 24-30 September
2005.

Meeting at the start of the visit with H.H. Patriarch Abune Paulos, leader
of the 38-million-member Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Kobia contrasted the
"moral wealth" of the African continent with the "fear and poverty" which
marks the lives of so many in Africa, whose people struggle with "HIV/AIDS, insecurity, corruption and conflict".

"Ethiopia has a vocation to nurture a renewed commitment for peace and
reconciliation in the troubled lands of the African continent," Kobia
added. "Jesus Christ came into the world to give abundant life. This
signifies the intrinsic connection between our quest for visible unity of
the church and engagement in a life-centred ministry. Churches must unite
their voices and their actions if lasting peace and justice is to be
attained".

Patriarch Abune Paulos welcomed the WCC visit to Ethiopia, and confirmed
his intention to attend the 9th Assembly, planned for Porto Alegre, Brazil
in February 2006, where a significant Ethiopian Orthodox delegation is
expected to participate.

Accompanying the WCC delegation, Dr Agnes Abuom, WCC president from
Africa, underlined that the visit to Ethiopia was an opportunity to "draw
wisdom and strength" from the history and struggles of the church in the
country, and to accompany the people of Ethiopia at a "critical time".

> Averting violent confrontation

The visit came at a time of heightened political tension in the country as
government and opposition disputed the outcome of parliamentary elections
earlier in the year.

Meeting with Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi, Kobia expressed his
confidence that political leaders on all sides will make every effort to
safeguard the constitution and the peace and security of the people.

"We sincerely appeal to the Ethiopian government to reach out to the
opposition parties and civil society groups in Ethiopia and embrace the
path of dialogue as the means to resolving the pending matters following
the recent elections," the WCC general secretary stated.
Kobia offered the support of the WCC to church efforts at negotiating a
peaceful resolution to the political tensions between government and
opposition.

"The WCC is willing to offer every assistance and support to the government and the opposition to avert confrontation and instead put the interests
of the people of this great nation first," Kobia stated.

The general secretary called on religious communities in Ethiopia to
mobilize efforts to foster dialogue. "Religious institutions and political
leaders have a common responsibility to employ all options to alleviate
tensions and avoid conflict in a country which is emerging from a period
of such calamities," he emphasized.

The WCC has been active in mediation efforts between conflicting parties
in other African states, and has a long-standing history of initiative in
conflict prevention and resolution.

> Church social action

The WCC delegation was earlier received by Rev. Iteffa Gobena and the
leadership of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church - Mekane Yesus, which is
also a member church of the WCC in the country.

During the week-long visit, the delegation presented the mission and
priorities of the WCC to a gathering of Ethiopian Orthodox hierarchs, and
visited several social, educational and sustainable agriculture programmes
carried out by the church.

New initiatives in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and anti-stigma
education pioneered by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church were presented to the
WCC group. The WCC continues to coordinate a number of international
ecumenical social and humanitarian programmes in Ethiopia, one of the
world's poorest countries, which is emerging from decades of political
turmoil, famine and war.

Included in the programme were meetings with other government officials
and talks with the leadership of the African Union, based in Addis Ababa.

Additional information about the WCC visit to Ethiopia is available in our
September 21st press release:
http://www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/pr-05-55.html

This material may be reprinted freely.

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 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.