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.