wfn.org | WCC FEATURE: 9th Assembly: Kobia's expectations

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World Council of Churches - Feature
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For immediate release - 31/01/2006

TRANSFORMING THE WORLD TOGETHER

By Samuel Kobia (*)

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The first Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in the 21st
century "will mark the beginning of a new phase in the search for
Christian unity," says WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in the
following article, in which he reflects on his hopes for the WCC's 9th
Assembly, to take place in Porto Alegre from 14-23 February.

WCC assemblies have been landmark events in the life of the ecumenical
movement for almost 60 years, gathering together a unique and comprehensive spectrum of Christians and churches. I hope that this Assembly, being the
first one in the 21st century, will mark the beginning of a new phase in
the search for Christian unity, and will be characterized by its vision of
a new culture and forms for the modern ecumenical movement.

> A changing global context

The 9th Assembly is being held at a time of widespread injustice, poverty
and despair. The immense challenges which face humankind at this time call
for careful discernment of the "signs of the times", and courageous
visions of hope from the ecumenical movement. Our world is in need of
profound transformation.

We live in an era marked by destructive power and disgraced human dignity.
Economic and cultural globalization, new forms of militarism and domination, and ecological destruction have rarely been so evident. The prevailing
international economic and political models have failed to stem the tide
of injustice and inequality.

The religious context is also evolving, and religious identity has
returned to the public sphere in various ways. While the 20th century was
dominated by confrontations between ideologies, "identity" is emerging as
one of the characteristic divisive features of the 21st century. All
Christians are being challenged to look at their identity in the context
of a new religious plurality.

> A renewed ecumenical agenda

"God, in your grace, transform the world", the theme of the Assembly, is
both a prayer and a hope. It reminds us that God, in Christ, has offered
humankind and the whole creation reconciliation and new life. This
inspires me to believe that the Assembly can give an impulse towards a
renewed ecumenical agenda for the 21st century.

Against the background of continuing conflict in Iraq and a war on terror,
the Assembly will mark the completion of the first five years of the
Decade to Overcome Violence. The Decade was launched by the WCC in 2001 as
a way of mobilizing the churches' peace-making efforts and resources. The
question for the churches remains: how can we together foster a culture of
peace, seeking to restore the authentic nature of our humanity, in a
context where violence has become so prevalent?

At the 8th Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1998, the WCC and the ecumenical movement made a commitment to walk in solidarity with Africa. Yet, as we
meet, entire regions of the continent are once more facing famine. The
condition of Africa challenges us to rethink what it would take to lift
the continent out of poverty. It is evident that aid alone, however
massive, is not the answer, and that Africans' moral strength must be at
the centre of any durable solution.

There are, of course, other critical issues that the churches cannot avoid
addressing at the Assembly, including social and ethical ones. Since the
Harare Assembly, the WCC has successfully provided a platform for churches
to discuss critical differences in a responsible way. It must continue to
enable the churches to confront their differences in dialogue, and to
rediscover a common voice wherever possible.

I would like to give greater attention to two particular areas in the
future. I hope that the presence and participation of young people will be
visible and substantial throughout the Assembly. Their aspirations and
interests need to be heard and their involvement needs to continue well
beyond the event. Secondly, I am convinced that the ecumenical movement
will have to take spirituality much more seriously in order to nourish and
more fully undergird our ecumenical experience together.

> A new culture and new forms

The WCC is, first and foremost, a fellowship of churches. In recent years,
we have consistently stated our desire to both deepen and broaden this
fellowship. The Assembly is a unique opportunity for the churches to
listen to one another. As we do so, I hope that we will find ways of
working together that will strengthen our sense of ownership and participation.

The Special Commission on Orthodox participation in the WCC, which was
mandated by the last Assembly, has opened the way to important changes in
the ethos and culture of the Council that will benefit our work and life
together. I am convinced that the adoption of a consensus model of
decision-making will greatly assist us to deepen the sense of fellowship
and to approach difficult questions with discernment.

As the ecumenical movement has looked at the proliferation of its
structures at all levels, it has become clear that such a multiplication
of bodies is not sustainable. This can divert human and financial
resources away from ecumenical activities in the churches and society into
the maintenance of overlapping structures. I am keen that we develop a new
approach to ecumenism in the 21st century, and that we seriously consider
new forms and configurations.

> Refocused priorities within the WCC

Promoting visible Christian unity remains the core mission of the Council.
The Assembly may also give an impetus to new forms of work. However, as we
evaluated our programme work during the last period, it became clear that
the WCC should do less and do it well.

The modern ecumenical movement emerged out of a series of historical
streams - faith and order, life and work, the mission movement - as well
as the dynamic efforts of the youth movements. These have provided the
framework for the activities of the WCC. In the early 21st century, it is
increasingly clear that the ecumenical movement has reached an important
point of transition, and that new categories of activity may be needed.

I therefore expect the Council to engage in less programmatic activities,
but to deepen its involvement in strategic areas. We have to find new ways
of relating to and communicating with our member churches and ecumenical
partners and to move towards a more integrated, interactive and dynamic
way of working with our constituencies.

Areas such as advocacy and diakonia are central to the mission and being
of the churches. In these, we will need to re-organize our work to adapt
to new opportunities so that we can integrate our reflection and action on
issues of just economy, ecology and sustainable development.

Churches nurturing a culture of peace, equipping themselves to become
moral communities and refusing the intolerable will remain a central focus
of the WCC's work. The ongoing tension between different religious
traditions points to the necessity of deepening our relations with
neighbours of other faiths, moving beyond dialogue to active collaboration
in areas of common concern.

In all areas, we need to find new ways of enabling youth participation,
and creative approaches to ecumenical formation and leadership training,
in order that we may see young people becoming central actors in the WCC,
now and in the future.

> Signs of hope

We meet in Latin America where many of the concerns and challenges that I
have mentioned are matters of daily life and survival. The witness of the
Latin American churches in the midst of extreme injustice and the impact
of globalization can offer a model of prophetic resistance and hope, to
inspire us all.

We should not underestimate the real potential of the churches together to
contribute to the transformation of the world, in spite of the reality of
the difficulties we face. With common faith and a renewed hope, anything
is possible. May this Assembly once more "set up signs" of a common and
visible Christian voice and witness, for a transformed world.

[1317 words]

(*) Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church
in Kenya. He became WCC general secretary in January 2004, having
previously served the Council in various capacities since 1978, most
recently as its special representative for Africa, and as director of its
cluster on "issues and themes". In 1984, he returned to Kenya to the
National Council of Churches (NCCK), serving as its general secretary from
1987 to 1993.

[Sidebar text]

9th WCC Assembly: Praying for a transformed world

The 9th assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will be held in
Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 14-23 February 2006. Its theme is a prayer:
"God, in your grace, transform the world".

The first WCC assembly of the 21st century, it will gather up to 3,000
church leaders and ecumenical representatives from nearly every Christian
tradition around the world. As such, it will be one of the broadest global
gatherings of its kind.

WCC assemblies are often turning points in the life of the World Council,
and this one is expected to leave its mark on ecumenical history.
Deliberations will focus on issues such as the future of the ecumenical
movement, the churches' commitment to economic justice as well as their
witness to overcoming violence, and the challenges faced in the midst of
religious plurality.

In Porto Alegre, members of the ecumenical family will be able to gather
around the assembly at a Mutirão, a Portuguese word that means coming
together for a common purpose. Made up of workshops, exhibitions and
cultural celebrations, this part of the assembly programme will offer
opportunities for members of the wider ecumenical movement to gather,
reflect and celebrate together.

This is the first WCC assembly to be held in Latin America, and it is
being hosted by the National Council of Christian Churches in Brazil
(CONIC) on behalf of churches throughout the region. Pre-assembly events
for youth and for women will be held from 11-13 February.

Assembly website: www.wcc-assembly.info

[246 words]

Opinions expressed in WCC Features do not necessarily reflect WCC policy.
This material may be reprinted freely, providing credit is given to the
author.

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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.