News
On 18-19 January, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will pay his first official visit to the churches of the country that is home to the headquarters of the WCC.
On the agenda of the two-day visit to Switzerland's capital city Bern are discussions with the leadership of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (SEK-FEPS) and its member churches.
The WCC general secretary will also meet with Moritz Leuenberger, the current president of Switzerland's seven-member Federal Council, and with Micheline Calmy-Rey, the federal councillor responsible for foreign affairs.
Since Kobia's visit to Bern coincides with the beginning of the 18-25 January Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, he will preach at a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service at the French-language church in Bern.
A meeting with the Federation of African Churches in Switzerland and a visit to the offices of Bread for All, the development service of the Swiss Protestant Churches, are also on the visit's programme (see below).
Topics scheduled for discussion with the Swiss churches are the WCC's forthcoming 14-23 February 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil; the reconfiguration of the ecumenical movement and the WCC's self-understanding and vision; and the way in which churches and ecumenical bodies address ethical and moral issues.
In his meetings with government representatives, Kobia will address issues like the reform of the United Nations, as well as the situation in Israel/Palestine and in Korea.
Kobia will be accompanied by WCC staff members Jacques Matthey (mission and evangelism), Teny Pirri-Simonian (church and ecumenical relations), Martin Robra (ethics and ecology), Sabine Udodesku (executive secretary), and Peter Weiderud (international affairs).
Programme
18 January
AM Meeting with the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (SEK-FEPS) Council
PM Meeting with president Moritz Leuenberger
17:00 Worship at Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service at the French church
in Bern; Kobia to preach.
19 January (all activities AM)
Meeting with Federation of African Churches.
Meeting with federal councillor for foreign affairs Micheline Calmy-Rey.
Visit to Bread for All headquarters.
Media contact: Simon Weber +41-31-370-2501 +41-78-739-5853 (mobile)
Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches' website:
www.sek.ch [in German and French]