The central committee elects twenty of its members to serve as the executive committee of the WCC, along with the central committee officers - moderator, two vice-moderators and the general secretary - as well as the moderators of its programme and finance committees.

Meeting twice a year, the executive committee's role in policy-making is limited to matters specifically referred to it by the central committee – apart from unforeseen emergencies, in regard to which it may take provisional decisions. It appoints programme staff, monitors ongoing work, and supervises the budget approved by the central committee.

The executive committee elected in 2006

The 25-person executive committee elected at the WCC's 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in February 2006, met for the first time at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute near Geneva, 16-19 May 2006. The committee, with members from churches in every region, is moderated by Rev. Dr Walter Altmann from Brazil.

During the first meeting, the committee approved new programmatic directions for the Council and endorsed a framework for activities in the following years. The programme plan lists six areas: WCC and the ecumenical movement in the 21st century; unity, mission and spirituality; public witness; justice and diakonia; ecumenical and faith formation; interreligious dialogue and cooperation.