March 2004
WCC and Roman Catholic representatives to meet
4-6 March 2004, Antelias, Lebanon
The Executive Committee of the Joint Working Group (JWG) between the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Roman Catholic Church will hold its annual meeting to identify emerging priorities in the ecumenical relationship between the two bodies. Issues will be further discussed at the JWG annual plenary meeting taking place 6-13 May in Kolympari-Chania, Greece.
History of the JWG:
wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/ecumenical/jwgh-e.html
Pacific churches and youth to address climate change
4-11 March 2004, Tarawa, Kiribati
The WCC in collaboration with the Pacific Conference of Churches will gather scholars, clergy, lay people and youth from the region to raise awareness on climate change. Experts from the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme and the World Wildlife Fund as well as from other regions will be on hand to provide advice and guidance to the Pacific churches. The consultation will be preceded by a youth event on the same topic to allow youth to share from their perspectives. Work done at both meetings will feed into the work of the WCC Climate Change Network and the upcoming WCC assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2006.
On religion and climate change:
wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/moscow2003.html
Samuel Kobia to give keynote speech at US Ecumenical Advocacy Days
5-8 March, Washington DC, USA
WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will give the keynote speech on the evening of Friday 5 March, opening the 2004 Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice. Dr Kobia will be available to participants for questions regarding his work in the ecumenical movement on the following evening, 6 March. This event, sponsored by a broad range of US churches and faith-based coalitions, marks the second annual ecumenical gathering in Washington, DC concerning global issues.
Consultation: Christian unity and challenges of identity
30 March - 6 April 2004, Faverges, France
The WCC will bring together theologians and social scientists to explore problems of national and ethnic identity in the search for Christian unity. This consultation is the latest in a series of theological studies on Christian unity in local contexts. The goal of the study is to develop materials for local use that will enable the churches to act as agents of reconciliation in conflict situations.
WCC work on unity:
wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/goal-e.html
