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"The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the ecumenical movement have lost an outstanding ecumenist, a man of vision and great passion for the future of life on earth and for a church visibly united in faithfulness to Christ's calling", said WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in a tribute to Rev. Dr Lukas Vischer, who died on 11 March 2008 at the age of 81.

"We express our sincere sorrow and sympathy to the families of those who were killed or injured in the shootings last week at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem," said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia on 10 March, joining his voice to those of the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem. "An attack on a Jewish seminary has a profound impact on all people of faith. The World Council of Churches strongly condemns this attack."

El secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, expresó el lunes la absoluta condena de los "ataques mortales a civiles realizados por los militares israelíes en Gaza y por militantes que lanzan cohetes desde Gaza". Alegando que el "camino para la paz está abierto, pero vacío", exigió que se ponga fin a las "incesantes violaciones del derecho a la vida y los derechos humanos", así como al "bloqueo que ha privado sistemáticamente de casi todos sus derechos a los habitantes de Gaza".

En una conversación sobre un amplio temario que tuvo lugar en el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) con sede en Ginebra, el secretario general de las Naciones Unidas, Excmo. Sr. Ban Ki-Moon, y el secretario general del CMI, Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, acordaron que las dos organizaciones mundiales deben trabajar en colaboración más estrecha con respecto a varios problemas mundiales, especialmente el cambio climático.

Absolute condemnation for the "deadly attacks on civilians by the Israeli military on Gaza and by militants firing rockets from Gaza" was expressed by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia today. Claiming that "the path to peace stands open but empty," he called for an end of the "incessant violations of life and of human rights" and of the "blockade that has systematically deprived Gazans of almost all their rights."

In a wide ranging discussion at the Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC) the UN secretary general, H.E. Ban Ki-Moon and WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia found agreement for the two world bodies to work more closely on several global issues, particularly climate change.

El Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) clausuró su reunión celebrada del 13 al 20 de febrero, después de haber elegido el lugar para la Convocatoria Ecuménica Internacional por la Paz de 2011; dio nuevos pasos hacia la ampliación de la Asamblea del CMI; acogió nuevas iglesias miembros; nombró un comité de búsqueda para designar un nuevo secretario general y celebró el 60º aniversario del Consejo. El principal órgano rector del CMI aprobó también varias declaraciones públicas, asuntos de política y planes del programa.

The WCC Central Committee this week condemned a whole category of peculiarly indiscriminate weapons known as cluster munitions. A cluster munition scatters many small bombs in order to kill and injure people over a wide area. The church debate in Geneva coincided with a world conference on banning the weapons that stirred deep debate between governments and NGOs meeting in New Zealand.

La crisis humanitaria en Gaza y el flagelo de las municiones de racimo fueron objeto de declaraciones del Comité Central del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), que también exhortó a "un cambio profundo en la relación con la naturaleza, las políticas económicas, y los patrones de consumo, de producción y tecnológicos" para enfrentar el cambio climático.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee closed its 13-20 February meeting after having chosen 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.

Nazeli Kandakarjian, a member of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia) in Lebanon, is serving as a young adult steward at these central committee meetings. She arrived five days late for the training programme due to a series of visa difficulties, ultimately receiving her visa just a few hours before her rescheduled flight on 11 Feb. "It was like in the movies", she said of the last-minute rush. When she finally arrived in Geneva, though--her first trip outside the Middle East--she was warmly welcomed by the other stewards. They were eager to learn about her, and she enjoyed hearing their stories, as well. She said the group bonded quickly and has worked well together. "It's like being in the center of the globe", said Kandakarjian, who was born in Kuwait. "I have people from all over the world telling me their experiences. It couldn't be any better than this. I'm so happy to be here". A friend who attended the WCC Assembly in Porto Alegre in 2006 encouraged her to apply for the stewards programme. She did, because she liked the idea of actually working at the meetings and not just being an observer. Now Kandakarjian is carrying that same message to others. "I would like to encourage everyone to be in this kind of experience", she said, expressing an appreciation for the ecumenical work she was able to witness. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's great". All of the stewards were recognised at the conclusion of the meetings Wednesday with a round of applause and the moderator's thanks, and each received the gift of a WCC watch.

Presided by an African woman, with a membership that includes three youth, eight women, four Orthodox and a strong representation from the South, the search committee for a new World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary has already begun to work.

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 (*)