Episcopal News Service Friday, September 15, 2006
WCC meeting concludes with seven-year plan for ecumenical action and advocacy
By Matthew Davies
[ENS] A new framework of ecumenical action and advocacy was adopted by the World Council of Churches' (WCC) central committee meeting, held August 30-September 6 in Geneva, Switzerland, which endorsed a reorganized program strategy highlighting six focus areas for the next seven years.
Bishop Christopher Epting, deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, represented Episcopal WCC delegate and executive council member Sarah Harte at the meeting. "The meeting was the first since the Porto Alegre Assembly," he said, "And our task was to translate the challenges and priorities of that assembly into some kind of programmatic design."
The six focus areas were identified as: WCC and the ecumenical movement in the 21st century; unity, mission, evangelism and spirituality; public witness: addressing power, affirming peace; justice, diakonia and responsibility for creation; ecumenical and faith formation; and interreligious dialogue and cooperation.
Communication will also receive renewed priority as the WCC reinforces efforts to raise its own profile and to influence the international agenda, according to a WCC press release.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_77840_ENG_HTM.htm
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An interview with WCC president Dr. Mary Tanner
"People in the pew ask why can't we worship, live and work together now"
By Stephen Webb
[Source: World Council of Churches] Dr. Mary Tanner from the Church of England is a leading theologian and author who has been involved in the ecumenical movement in a variety of ways over the years. Among other contributions, she has led landmark studies and events, and moderated the WCC's Fifth World Conference on Faith and Order at Santiago de Compostela, Spain (1993).
Elected as one of the eight presidents of the World Council of Churches (WCC) at the 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Tanner speaks in the following interview about the promises and challenges lying ahead for the ecumenical movement, the role of the WCC, and why she thinks it is essential to work for full Eucharistic communion.
Full interview: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_77838_ENG_HTM.htm