wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Kobia urges the "courage to hope"

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World Council of Churches - News Release

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For immediate release - 26/08/2009 19:54:54

>KOBIA URGES THE "COURAGE TO HOPE"

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia sounded notes of hope as he delivered his
final address as general secretary to the World Council of
Churches central committee on 26 August.

“I hope it is unnecessary to emphasize that the ‘courage to hope’
has been a central theme of my personal ecumenical journey,”
Kobia said. “Holding together cross and resurrection, the sinful
reality we are facing and the good news of the gospel, hope in
Christ combines realism with the inspiring vision of God’s reign
to come.”

He pointed to examples of resilience in places such as the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, the Philippines, and
Israel-Palestine – where he said the “effects of occupation are
easily evident”. Kobia said he has valued the “pastoral dimension”
of his role, walking with churches in those difficult situations
so they know “they are not alone”.

“As I have travelled around the world, I have seen and heard
expressions of despair and pessimism in all regions of the world,”
Kobia said in a press conference following the address. “I
thought that as I did my last report as general secretary that I
would come back to what has been a major preoccupation of mine –
whether the ecumenical movement can inspire hope … in situations
that would otherwise seem hopeless.”

The comprehensive address touched on a host of other issues,
including the need for greater involvement of youth and young
adults in the ecumenical movement, the impact of migrant
communities, climate change, the shifting dynamics of ecumenism
in the 21st century and the new models of work into which the WCC
is living.

He listed care for creation, interreligious cooperation and “the
cry for transformative justice” as major areas the WCC has
addressed “with greater urgency”. The current greed-driven
economic crisis has added to global concerns, he said, and
further constrained the WCC’s own financial situation.

Amid the many challenges, Kobia urged those present to maintain
hope themselves, and not to lose focus.

“I plead with you not to lose sight of the greater picture or to
get bogged down in the institutional necessities and concerns,”
he said. “Let us always remind ourselves of the broader vision,
which holds the key for the future of humanity and this world.
This future has taken shape among us in Christ, in his death on
the cross and resurrection.”

Full text of the report by Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia:
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/cc2009/documents.html

More information on the central committee meeting:
http://www.oikoumene.org/cc2009

Free high resolution photos are available:

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/cc2009/photo-galleries.html

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

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith,
witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical
fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches
representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110
countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic
Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from
the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.