News
A memorable Central Committee meeting saw the election of the World Council of Churches' (WCC) first African general secretary, a commitment to explore new ways of configuring the whole ecumenical movement, and an in-depth examination of the place of disabled people in the life of the churches.
In a speech made immediately following his election, WCC general secretary-elect Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia from the Methodist Church in Kenya reaffirmed his commitment to the ecumenical vision: "I believe very strongly that working together and walking together will help us stay together". He stated, "This is a spiritual journey we need to sustain, to fulfill the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ that all may be one, that the world may believe."
Responding later to questions from the press, Kobia referred to some distinctively African qualities that he would bring to his new role. For example, "One thing we say marks Africans out is the ability to celebrate life in the midst of death, and the capacity to hope in a situation that looks hopeless," he said. Asked what he would change in the way the WCC Central Committee operates, Kobia evoked his support for a "consultative, participative, listening approach".
Retiring WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser used his final report to underline the importance of including Roman Catholics, Evangelicals and Pentecostals in a broader and more inclusive ecumenical movement. Reconfiguration will be discussed in November in Antelias, Lebanon, at the invitation of the moderator. Churches will be directly involved in the consultation, and will be enabled to take a full part in the process.
Raiser also reflected on his recent visits to churches in Asia, and addressed the "Caring for Life" theme highlighted in Central Committee plenary sessions. The theme, he said, "confronts us with many of the fundamental spiritual and ethical concerns of our time", such as issues arising from developments in bio-technology.
Raiser expressed satisfaction at progress made on the financial problems which the WCC has faced over the last two years. Describing the forecasts as "modestly encouraging", he also acknowledged the pain involved in reducing budgets, programmes and staff levels.
In a farewell service held on Sunday in the Ecumenical Centre's chapel, Central Committee moderator, His Holiness Aram I, thanked Raiser for his years of service to the WCC. According to the moderator, Raiser's ecumenical work has been characterized by quality, commitment and vision. H.H. Aram I described him as a sensitive pastor, a brilliant professor, and a humble yet courageous man, with a deep sense of responsibility.
The place of disabled people in the life of church and community was explored in a profoundly insightful document entitled "A Church of All and for All", prepared by the Ecumenical Disabilities Advocates Network (EDAN) and the WCC's Faith and Order Commission. Urging the inclusion of people with disabilities just as they are, the report says, "Without the full incorporation of persons who can contribute from the experience of disability, the Church falls short of the glory of God, and cannot claim to be in the image of God." The Central Committee reaffirmed the WCC's commitment to the work of EDAN.
Following intense discussions, the Central Committee announced that the theme of the Council's 2006 assembly will be: "God, in your grace, transform the world". More work will now be done to devise a programme that develops the theme in the light of WCC member churches' particular contexts.
Major statements were made on various public issues, particularly Iraq, Europe and Liberia. In a statement on Iraq, the Central Committee called for the United Nations to be given the lead role in rebuilding the country's institutions and infrastructure, and for withdrawal of occupying forces. A statement on Europe welcomed the EU's recognition of the importance of the churches, and called for human rights, ethics and morality to be at the centre of EU development and security policies. In a statement on Liberia, the Committee recognized the suffering of the Liberian people during the recent wars, and expressed its support for the actions of Liberian churches in their work for peace and restoration of harmonious community life.
Reflecting the perceptions of US churches as well as those of the wider ecumenical family, the Committee announced that the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence will focus on the United States of America next year. The 2003 focus is Sudan. According to the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, "If ever there is a part of the world where work for peace is important, it is the USA." Kirkpatrick referred not only to the churches' concerns over the war with Iraq, but also to issues such as the death penalty and the size of the country's prison population.
In a challenging report, the Central Committee moderator His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, spoke of the importance of inter-religious dialogue. "More and more, globalization will create a profound crisis of identity. The only force strong enough to stand up to this threat and protect identity is religion. Through dialogue, people of faith must come to see their identity within one household of God and as part of one common identity in God," he declared.
The WCC's financial situation was outlined in a report from the Central Committee's finance committee. All loans have been repaid, and a credit line guaranteed by a mortgage on the Ecumenical Centre has not been used. By focusing on core programmes and carefully controlling expenditure, the WCC is overcoming the financial difficulties faced over the last two years.
Further steps to help bring financial stability to the WCC were approved by the Central Committee, including the intended allocation of over CHF 2m to reserves by the end of 2004. A campaign to increase contributions from member churches is beginning to bear fruit, with 66% of churches now contributing. The target is for 100% to be contributing by 2005. A new "fair, transparent and objective" system to calculate membership contributions was approved.
The Steering Committee of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC met in Neapolis, Greece, in June 2003. Its reflections included consideration of the consensus model of reaching decisions, WCC membership criteria, ecclesiology, and common prayer. In his own report, Raiser said that the Steering Committee had "revitalised" the spirit of the Special Commission. Its concerns and insights will be part of the wider discussion over the next three years about reconfiguring the ecumenical movement.
The Central Committee meeting was held against the backdrop of an exhibition by the Ghanaian sculptor Kofi Setordji, "The Scars of Memory", on the theme of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. His haunting images were a reminder to delegates of the spiritual and material needs of the world, the gospel imperative to work for peace and justice, and the central role "Caring for Life" - the overall theme of this Central Committee's deliberations - has in Christian witness.
All press releases, documents and photos from this 53rd meeting of the WCC Central Committee can be found at
www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments2003.nsf
Selected free photos are available at: