The Central Committee is elected by the Assembly from among its delegates and serves as the chief governing body of the WCC until the next assembly, meeting every 12 to 18 months. It is responsible for carrying out the policies adopted by the Assembly, reviewing and supervising WCC programmes and adopting the budget of the Council.

The Assembly elects the presidents of the WCC, who serve as members of the Central Committee. The Executive Committee (including the officers) is elected by the Central Committee and normally meets twice a year. The general secretary serves ex officio as secretary of the Central and Executive Committees.

From 29 August to 5 September 2012, the WCC Central Committee will meet for the last time before the upcoming WCC Assembly in 2013. The meeting will take place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in Kolympari, Greece, at the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

During its 16 to 22 February 2011 meeting at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, the Central Committee decided on the theme of the next WCC assembly: “God of life, lead us to justice and peace”. The 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, which will take place in Busan, South Korea, in 2013, is expected to "gather all churches and offer expanded space to partner ecumenical organizations".

Central Committee 2011 website

During its meeting at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, from 26 August to 2 September 2009, the Central Committee has elected Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit to succeed Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia as general secretary of the World Council of Churches. The Central Committee also decided on the venue and shape of the next WCC assembly.

Visit the Central Committee 2009 website

At its 13-20 February 2008 meeting in Geneva, the WCC Central Committee chose the venue for the 2011 International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, achieved progress towards a broader WCC assembly, welcomed new member churches, appointed a search committee for a new general secretary and celebrated the Council's 60th anniversary. The WCC main governing body also put its stamp on a number of public statements, policy concerns and programme plans.

Visit the Central Committee 2008 website

The Central Committee meeting 2006 (Geneva, 30 August - 6 September 2006) was the first meeting of the new committee, elected in February 2006 at the 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil. It decided on programme plans and a renewed organizational structure, and appointed a series of advisory bodies. 

Visit the Central Committee 2006 website

In February 2005, the WCC Central Committee met for the last time before the Council's 9th assembly, which took place in Porto Alegre in 2006. For Central Committee, preparing the assembly also meant envisaging the future, with a reshaped WCC "doing less, but doing it well", and a fellowship of churches deeply rooted in spirituality.

The committee adopted a consensus model of decision-making that will help the members of WCC governing bodies to grow in a spirit of listening and respect of different opinions, rather than having winners and losers. In a series of public statements, the WCC Central Committee members reminded church and political leaders of their responsibilities in overcoming violence and injustice worldwide.

Visit the Central Committee 2005 website