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In this issue:

- Pacific churches face HIV/AIDS epidemic

- WCC moderator, general secretary visit Kenya and Rwanda

- Indigenous peoples and globalization

- Symbols, rites and practices in the church

- Churches approach genetic engineering, ethics

- Photo exhibit on Sudan

- Asia consultation towards global Christian unity

- The social role of the Orthodox Church

Pacific churches face HIV/AIDS epidemic

30 March – 1 April 2004, Viti Levu – Nadi, Fiji

WCC member churches from the Pacific will come together to address the need for a common strategy and concerted action plan in the face of the growing impact of HIV/AIDS in the Pacific. Experts from UNAIDS, leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and other organizations are expected join people living with HIV/AIDS and church and community leaders to better equip them to take a competent lead against the epidemic, exchange experiences and discuss ways to overcome marginalization of those affected.

More on WCC and HIV/AIDS at:

wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/mission/hiv-aids-e.html

Contact in the Pacific: Fe'iloakitau Kaho Tevi, +679.3317.509; [email protected]

WCC moderator, general secretary visit Kenya and Rwanda

8-18 April 2004, Nairobi, Kenya and Kigali, Rwanda

WCC central committee moderator His Holiness Aram I and general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will meet with HE Mwai Kibaki, the president of Kenya, and pay respects at a site of the Rwandan genocide during WCC pastoral visits to Kenya (8-15 April) and Rwanda (16-18 April).

While in Nairobi, the moderator and general secretary will visit the National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK) and the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) headquarters as well as local church leaders and congregations. They will then proceed to Rwanda to meet with WCC member churches and government officials, and address participants in an ecumenical workshop on "Lasting peace in Africa". This visit will close with an address to the people by HH Aram I during a service at the National Stadium in Kigali on Sunday, 18 April.

Press conferenceswill be held in Nairobi on Thursday 8 April and Thursday 15 April following the meeting with President Kibaki. A press conference in Kigali is to be announced. Details regarding time and location will be announced shortly.

Media contacts

Kenya: Mitch Odero, +254.20.444.1483/1338/9, [email protected]

Indigenous peoples, churches seek alternative to globalization

15-20 April 2004, Quito, Ecuador

The WCC and the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) will gather 25 indigenous church and community leaders to examine emerging threats of globalization to indigenous communities. Participants will share their struggle to participate in political and economic processes, and identify ways to support churches, communities and organizations which seek an alternative society built on justice, peace and dialogue.

Contact in Ecuador: Manuel Quintero, +593.2.55.3996, [email protected]

More on WCC and globalization at:

wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/economy.html

Cultural context: symbols, rites and practices in the church

20-26 April 2004, Vienna, Austria

Theologians rooted in varying traditions and cultural contexts will gather to examine the ways various ecclesial traditions use symbols, rites and practices in their interpretation of the gospel, and how mutual understanding becomes possible. The outcome of this consultation, which is part of a larger study on hermeneutics undertaken by the Faith and Order Commission, will be presented at the upcoming July 2004 Faith and Order Plenary Commission in Malaysia.

WCC study on ecumenical hermeneutics:

wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/treasure.html

Seminar: churches approach genetic engineering, ethics

24-30 April 2004, Céligny, Switzerland

The WCC and Bossey Ecumenical Institute will address bioethics issues in light of continuing developments in biotechnology. Participants from various backgrounds are invited to help create a framework for ethical and theological discussions in the churches.

More on Bossey seminars at:

www.wcc-coe.org/bossey/seminars-e.html

Photo exhibit displays Sudan struggle

26 April - 9 May 2004, Ecumenical Centre, Geneva, Switzerland

The WCC will host a photo exhibit marking the daily lives and conflicts faced by the people driven from Sudan’s oil-rich and war-torn Western Upper Nile. The exhibit, which originally opened in London’s St Paul’s Cathedral in May 2003, was created by Danish writer and photographer Nicholas Strand and Italian architect and set-designer Luca Ruzza and produced by DanChurch Aid. It will be on public display at the Ecumenical Centre, 150 Route de Ferney from 26 April to 9 May 2004; viewing hours 8h30-17h00, Monday-Friday. An opening ceremony will take place Monday, 26 April. All are welcome.

For more information about this travelling exhibit:

www.between-the-streams.org

Asia consultation towards global Christian unity

30 April – 4 May 2004, Hong Kong, China

Participants from Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Evangelical and Pentecostal traditions in Asia will gather in the first of a series of regional consultations exploring the possibilities of engaging Christian churches and organizations in common reflection on their witness and unity. Initiated by the WCC, this effort to bridge existing gaps between today’s Christian communions and to achieve a truly representative global Christian gathering will culminate in a Global Christian Forum, to take place towards 2007.

Orthodox diakonia: the social role of the Orthodox Church

30 April – 5 May 2004, Valamo, Finland

Orthodox church leaders, theologians and historians will gather to promote and strengthen their common understanding of the theology, history and praxis of Orthodox diakonia. This conference, co-sponsored by WCC, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and Ortaid-Finnish Orthodox Aid, will include participants from Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox humanitarian organizations and social initiatives as well as observers from non-Orthodox traditions.

IOCC:www.iocc.org

Ortaid:www.ort.fi/ortaid