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By Manuel Quintero (*)

The World Council of Churches central committee issued a reminder on the pressing issue of climate change this week, urging member churches and others to "Be stewards of God's creation".

Election issues fresh from the headlines formed the focus for three public statements adopted by the World Council of Churches central committee on Tuesday 19 February in Geneva: one each on Kenya and Pakistan, and one on the larger picture of democratic electoral processes.

Una destacada ecumenista británica, la Dra. Mary Tanner, recibió la orden de Dama Comandante del Imperio Británico por su trabajo en el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias y la Comunión Anglicana.  En una solemne ceremonia, celebrada en el Palacio de Buckingham este miércoles 13 de febrero, la Dra. Tanner fue investida de la condecoración por la Reina Isabel II.  Diez años atrás había recibido la Orden del Imperio Británico de manos del Príncipe Carlos.  La Dra. Tanner tiene en su haber una fecunda trayectoria ecuménica.  Entre 1991 fue secretaria general del Consejo para la Unidad Cristiana en el Reino Unido y en 1993 fue moderadora de la Quinta Conferencia Mundial sobre Fe y Orden en Santiago de Compostela.  En la última asamblea del Consejo Mundial en Porto Alegre fue elegida una de las ocho presidentes/presidentas del CMI, en representación de las iglesias de Europa.

Los recursos para mitigar los efectos del cambio climático pueden llegar demasiado tarde, dice el obispo metodista Carlos Poma sobre la discusión acerca de la deuda ecológica en el Comité Central --que concluye hoy sus deliberaciones.  Los efectos de los cambios climáticos se manifiestan con inundaciones y sequías en Bolivia, un país que contribuye al calentamiento global con apenas el 0.003% de las emisiones mundiales de dióxido de carbono (CO2), versus el 30.3% de Estados Unidos o el 3.8% que corresponde a América Latina.  "Algunas especies de aves y reptiles han desaparecido o están amenazadas de extinción.  El derretimiento de los glaciares se ha acentuado en los últimos años y eso amenaza con la sequía a las provincias del Altiplano.  Pero a la vez estamos sufriendo grandes inundaciones.  El gobierno declaró este martes el estado de desastre natural.  Cerca de sesenta personas murieron y 60.000 familias han sido afectadas por las inundaciones en nueve provincias", señala Poma.  El líder metodista boliviano cree que es importante llevar la discusión sobre la deuda ecológica al seno de las iglesias y comunidades indígenas que ya están siendo directamente afectadas por los cambios climáticos.

Presidido por una mujer africana y con una composición que incluye tres jóvenes, ocho mujeres, cuatro ortodoxos y una importante representación del Sur, el comité de búsqueda de un nuevo secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) ha comenzado ya a trabajar.

The WCC's Pacific Region is taking its opportunity to shine at these central committee meetings. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the WCC, the member churches of the Pacific presented a wood and shell plaque to the organisation and shell medallions to the moderator and other officers. "When we received the program for the 60th anniversary, we discussed it, and (the churches) asked me to present something from the Pacific", said Mr John Taroanui Doom, WCC president from the Pacific. "I like to show things from the Pacific"! The gifts are locally made, with special wood from the Marquesas Islands and glistening mother of pearl shell from Tuvalu. They were made at a factory that has provided work for local young people. The plaque and medallions note the anniversary and the years 1948-2008, with the WCC "Oikoumene" logo in gold and the motto "We intend to stay together" in English and French. Doom also presented the medallions to WCC staff and representatives at the Global Christian Forum held in Kenya this past November.

By Walt Wiltschek (*)

Dr Mary Tanner, WCC president from Europe, was late for these central committee meetings. She had a good reason, though: an audience with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Tanner received the title of "Dame" from the queen this past Wednesday, 13 February, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. The queen shook her hand at the investiture and pinned a star and a medal on her. Tanner, a member of the Church of England, received the honour as a double citation for her work with the World Council of Churches and with the Anglican Communion. "It's not for me personally that it is such an important thing, but that the work for the WCC and the Anglican Communion is thought worth recognizing", Tanner said. "I'm aware that so many people taught me and worked with me around the ecumenical tables, from whom I've learned so much". It was Tanner's second major honour from the Crown. Ten years ago she received an Order of the British Empire, which was presented by Prince Charles. WCC moderator Rev. Dr Walter Altmann offered his congratulations for her latest honour during a plenary session, and Tanner was applauded by the central committee.

Each working day of the WCC central committee meetings begins with a time of common prayer. These daily prayers are a blend of scriptures, readings, songs, and music of the various traditions represented by the 349 WCC church members. The committee responsible for planning these times of prayer chose to use one of the past WCC Assemblies (nine to date) as the focus each day. Tuesday morning, the Canberra Assembly of 1991 with the theme "Come, Holy Spirit—Renew the Whole Creation" inspired the prayer service.

By Walt Wiltschek (*)

Aunque la democracia ha posibilitado mayor libertad y participación ciudadana, en algunos casos ha sido abusada al punto de tener nefastos efectos, señala una declaración adoptada hoy por el Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias, reunido en Ginebra hasta el 20 de febrero.

After 25 years standing vigil at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, a totem pole was returned to the soils of the earth Sunday at an event attended by many of those taking part in this week's central committee meetings. The totem was presented as a gift of the churches of Canada at the WCC's Sixth Assembly, held in Vancouver, as a way to raise the profile of indigenous people.  The totem consisted of carved images offering an interpretation of the story of humanity's search for the spiritual experience. But time and weather took its toll on the nearly 50 foot-tall totem since its placement at Bossey, and it had become unstable. Following advice from the First Nations of Canada, the WCC decided to respectfully remember the gift and the work of those who carved it. Rev. Carmen Lansdowne, a Central Committee member from the United Church of Canada and member of the indigenous people of western Canada, was asked to lead the commemoration. A small, permanent display will continue to tell the totem's story.

The four newest titles in the WCC's "Risk Series" of books were introduced at a session with the authors Monday afternoon. Two of the four are by Zimbabwean author Ezra Chitando, looking at the HIV/AIDS issue in the African context. Chitando used body imagery to describe the call of the church to bring about transformation. Churches, he said, need to have sharp minds, ears to listen to the cries of the marginalized, warm hearts, healing hands, long arms, and quick feet. "Churches can only be relevant if they are bearers of hope, ambassadors of hope", he said. He emphasized that HIV/AIDS is a global problem, not just an African one. "We need to mobilise the entire global community", Chitando said. His books are titled "Living with Hope" and "Acting with Hope". The other two new books in the series are "Resisting the Intolerable", by Geneviève Jacques, which addresses the importance of human rights, and "With Hearts, Hands and Voices" by Margot Käßmann, examining "spirituality for everyday life".

Gathered in a church dating from the 12th century, the World Council of Churches seemed like a relative youngster as it celebrated its 60th anniversary Sunday 17 February.

The World Council of Churches central committee has approved the appointment of a search committee for a new general secretary. It is expected that the election of a new general secretary will come at the next central committee meeting in September 2009.

Mr. Khamphone Kounthapanya is president of the Lao Evangelical Church, one of two church bodies newly welcomed into full fellowship as members of the World Council of Churches at the 13-20 February Central Committee meeting. Kounthapanya shared some information about his church:

Para enfrentar la pandemia del VIH/SIDA se necesita de iglesias compasivas que reaccionen ágilmente y con programas de largo alcance; pero también capaces de un examen crítico de las creencias culturales africanas, señaló aquí Ezra Chitando, profesor asociado de Historia y Fenomenología de la Religión en la Universidad de Zimbabwe.  Dos libros del profesor Chitando, quien también es asesor teológico de la Iniciativa Ecuménica sobre el HIV/SIDA en Africa, fueron presentados este lunes 18 en el marco de la reunión del Comité Central del CMI:  "Living with hope" (Viviendo con esperanza) y "Acting in hope" (Actuando en esperanza).  Ambos examinan la respuesta de las iglesias africanas a la pandemia, desde la etapa inicial de negación a la presente de "compromiso constructivo" en la lucha contra el VIH/SIDA.

El Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias ha aprobado el nombramiento de un comité de búsqueda de un nuevo o nueva secretaria general. Se espera que la elección del nuevo secretario o secretaria general ocurra en la próxima reunión del comité central en septiembre de 2009.