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The leadership of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee met in Geneva on 11 May to prepare for the Executive Committee meeting and the Central Committee meeting and the visit of Pope Francis in June.
The WCC continues to focus on its pilgrimage of justice and peace, preparations for the 11th Assembly in 2021, and the WCC’s 70th anniversary. During 2018, the WCC fellowship will not only celebrate significant milestones in the history of the WCC but also continue to address modern injustices and the ongoing struggle for a just peace.
The Central Committee of the WCC will meet 15-21 June for its third gathering since it was elected at the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea in 2013. The meeting will take place at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva and at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland.
The Central Committee, which meets every two years, serves as the chief governing body of the WCC until the next assembly. It is responsible for carrying out the policies adopted by the assembly, reviewing and supervising WCC programmes and the budget.
The group of 150 Central Committee representatives from WCC member churches will review WCC programme planning for 2018-2021 and participate in a series of plenaries and committee meetings. The theme of the meeting is “Walking Together. Serving Justice and Peace”.
In addition, there will be a series of plenary sessions on the Living Fellowship, such as ”Breaking Barriers: the Search for Unity Today” and Ecumenical Diakonia, Experiences from the Pilgrimage and the WCC 70th Anniversary.
The 70th anniversary of the WCC in 2018 is an opportunity to mark the achievements of the past 70 years in working for Christian unity and action, and to look to challenges ahead as a fellowship of churches responding to God’s call for unity, mission, justice and peace.
The Central Committee will also receive the report from the Mid-Term Evaluation Team and the document ”Called to Transformative Action Ecumenical Diakonia”, which clarifies the understanding of ecumenical diakonia and provides a common platform for acting and reflecting together.
A new Ecumenical Global Health Strategy will it be presented to battle the public health threat of HIV and AIDS.
A new and revised Communication Strategy for 2018-2021 will also be presented with special focus on the living fellowship.
The WCC Central Committee leadership includes Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator, Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima and Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, both vice-moderators of the WCC Central Committee and the general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit.
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WCC Central Committee
For media:
Media accreditation opens for the WCC Central Committee 2018 on 15 May.
Special accreditation needed to attend the Ecumenical Pilgrimage with Pope Francis on 21 June. Media accreditation opens on 15 May.
For questions regarding both the Central Committee meeting 15-21 June, 2018 and The Ecumenical Pilgrimage to the World Council of Churches, please contact:
WCC director of communication Marianne Ejdersten; e-mail: [email protected], mobile phone: +41 79 507 63 63
WCC media coordinator: Claus Grue, email: [email protected], mobile phone: +46 70 611 09 77
WCC photo coordinator: Albin Hillert, email: [email protected], mobile phone: +46 73 070 11 08
WCC Communication Department +41 22 791 61 11, email: [email protected]