News
An 18-person search committee for the next World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary was named by the WCC Central Committee Thursday (29 August).
The committee will seek candidates to succeed Dr Konrad Raiser, who plans to retire at the end of 2003. Raiser has served as general secretary since January 1993.
Ten members of the search committee were elected by paper ballots submitted Wednesday by each Central Committee member. The Executive Committee named six more members under procedures drawn up in 1987 to provide for regional, gender, church tradition and age balance. The two vice-moderators of the Central Committee serve as ex-officio members.
Some Central Committee members expressed disappointment that the committee was not as widely representative as hoped, especially in youth participation and regional balance.
Raiser acknowledged that despite the best efforts of the Executive Committee, the desired balance had not been entirely achieved. "Unfortunately, there are no members from the Pacific," he said.
But in response to a motion that the slate be returned to the Executive Committee for a second try, Raiser said this would necessitate changes in the names elected by the Central Committee and make it impossible for the search committee to make its first report to the Central Committee before it adjourns Tuesday (3 September). So the original slate was approved.
The members of the search committee are:
The Rev. Dr Maake Masango (Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa), moderator. Masango received the most votes in Wednesday's balloting by Central Committee members.
Ms Inger Aasa Marklund (Church of Sweden)
Dr Agnes Abuom (Anglican Church of Kenya)
Bishop Dr Hilarion Alfeyev (Russian Orthodox Church)
Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania (Orthodox Autocephalous Church)
Archbishop Aghan Baliozian (Armenian Apostolic Church, Etchmiadzin), Australia
Ms Donnalie Edwards-Cabey (Church of the Province of the West Indies), Antigua and Barbuda
Bishop Aldo Manuel Etchegoyen (Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina)
Dean Anders Gadegaard (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark)
Ms Anne Glynn Mackoul (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East), USA
Ms Carmencita Karagdag, (Philippine Independent Church)
Dr Clifton Kirkpatrick (Presbyterian Church USA)
Mr Arthur Norman (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
Bishop Bernard Ntahoturi (Episcopal Church in Burundi)
Dr Bernice Powell-Jackson (United Church of Christ), USA
Bishop Anba Youannes (Coptic Orthodox Church), Egypt
Ex-officio: Dr Marion S. Best (United Church of Canada)
Justice Sophia O.A. Adinyira (Church of the Province of West Africa), Ghana.