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Stewards programme and ecumenical leadership training seminar

The WCC brings together a regionally and confessionally diverse group of young people to participate in leadership training seminars, and to serve at WCC governing body meetings.

Such meetings provide many opportunities for "on the job" ecumenical formation. Stewards may also participate in other events, like those run by ecumenical youth organizations or, as was the case in January 2007, the World Social Forum in Kenya.

The leadership training seminars equip young people with skills and resources to continue their work on issues important to the churches at the regional and local levels. 

Stewards programmes 2011: Ecumenical experience for young people

Those aged 18 to 30 years can now apply to participate in two stewards programmes in 2011. Both programmes consist of three main elements:

  • Ecumenical leadership training seminar
  • Assisting with an international ecumenical event
  • Ecumenical project planning


The first programme is the WCC Central Committee stewards programme. It will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 8-24 February 2011. Twenty participants will be selected from various countries and Christian confessions to deepen their knowledge of the ecumenical movement and commit themselves to work for Christian unity in their own context. Stewards will help with the functioning of the Central Committee meeting which gathers about 150 church representatives.

The second opportunity is the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC). The IEPC stewardship programme will be held in Kingston, Jamaica from 12-26 May 2011. Forty-five participants will be selected for the IEPC stewards programme, with one third of them coming from Jamaica and the Caribbean. The IEPC will gather some 1000 participants from all over the world.

Both programmes will provide a space for ecumenical encounter, learning and discussion. The deadlines for submission of applications to the two programmes are as follows:

WCC Central Committee:  30 September 2010
International Ecumenical Peace Convocation:  30 November 2010

Download the information brochure to learn more: 
2011 Information Brochure (pdf)

Download the application form:
pdf version
Word version

Interested? Read the application form carefully, complete it clearly and fully (in English; type if possible) and send it to the address mentioned in the form.  Only applications which are fully completed and sent in time will be considered. The places in this programme are limited so some applicants are bound to be disappointed simply because there will not be enough places for all well qualified applicants.

Sweet memories from the stewards programme (WCC Central Committee 2006):

The meeting of the WCC Central Committee, which monitors and sets directions for the Council's work, took place from 28 August to 6 September, 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland. A group of young people from all over the world participated in the meeting as stewards. Click here to read their testimonies!

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Related documents

Ecumenical projects 2008 - Highlights

WCC steward programmes are unique events providing opportunities for participants to deepen their knowledge of the ecumenical movement, renew their ecumenical commitment and find inspiration for further work towards the unity of the Church. The following document (pdf, 3.3 MB) gives glimpses into the ecumenical projects developed by stewards as follow-up to their participation in the 2008 programme during the WCC central committee meeting in February.
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