Following a World Council of Churches (WCC) meeting with church leaders from Russia, Syria, the U.S. and Europe on role of the church moving all parties in Syria towards a peace agreement, following their discussions with Kofi Annan, former UN secretary general and Lakhdar Brahimi, Joint Representative for Syria, a press conference will be held on 19 September in Geneva, Switzerland.
Date: 19 September, 2013
Time:13hrs. (1pm) Geneva (Central Europe time)
Subject: Church leaders address the crisis in Syria
Featuring: Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary, World Council of Churches
Location: The Ecumenical Centre
150 Route de Ferney
Grand-Saconnex
(free parking available)
Communiqué from the WCC consultation on the crisis in Syria
Church leaders from Russia, Syria, the U.S. and Europe gathered Wednesday 18 September at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey outside Geneva to discuss the role of the church moving all parties in Syria toward a peace agreement.
Also in attendance at the WCC-sponsored event were former U.N. secretary general, Kofi Annan, and current U.N. representative to Syria, Lakhdar Bramhimi.
At the end of the meeting the group agreed to a communique that said there can be no military solution to the crisis in Syria and that it was time for the international community to take responsibility to end the violence and begin a political process toward peace.
"Now is the time to raise one voice for peace and work for a negotiated solution among all parties to the conflict," the communique said. "Churches must continue to raise their voice in their congregations and with their governments. We must strengthen the public outcry so that those in power will protect the common interest of humanity."
In remarks to the church leaders Annan said that their gathering was timely and important and that the churches must give the message “Go beyond 'not go to war' but build peace”.
Bramhimi told the group that in addition to prayers and support for the Syrian people and those negotiating peace, they need the advice of the church.
Both acknowledged that the possibility of a negotiated political settlement is possible given the U.S. and Russian agreement during the past week, however, challenges remain. Annan added that while most churches are against military strikes in response to the chemical weapons attacks, the churches must now speak to the leaders to promote peace.
The church leaders present at the Wednesday meeting included:
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Archbishop Hilarion, Russian Orthodox Church
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H.E. Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima, Ecumenical Patriarchate
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Dr Charles Reed, Archbishop of Canterbury representative
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Rev. Stan Noffsinger, Church of the Brethren, US
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Rev. Dr Sharon Watkins, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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Bishop Martin Schindehütte, German Protestant Churches (EKD)
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Rev. Thomas Wild, French Protestant Church
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H.E. Archbishop Dr Vicken Aykazian, Armenian Apostolic Church (Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin)
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H.B. Gregorios III Laham Patriarch of Antioch and of All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
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Metropolitan Eustathius Matta Roham, Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Jazirah and Euphrates, delegated by His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka
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Cor-Episcopos Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, delegated by His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka
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H.G. Bishop Dimitrios Charbak, delegated by H.B. John X (Yazigi), Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East
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H.G. Bishop Armash Nalbadian, Armenian Orthodox Church Diocese of Damascus
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Fr. Ziad Hilal, s.j., Society of Jesuits International Organizations
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Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary, World Council of Churches, Geneva.
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Rev. Martin Junge, general secretary, Lutheran World Federation, Geneva.
Media Contact: Mark Beach, via email:meb[at]wcc-coe.org, phone: 41.77.507.6363 or +41.22.791.6018