The World Council of Churches has concluded its central committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, with new plans to adopt a streamlined programme strategy that will provide a new framework for the next seven years of ecumenical action and advocacy.
“The decisions made this week equip the WCC for a dynamic, integrated and deliberate engagement with some of the major challenges facing our churches and the world at the start of the 21st century,” WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia noted after the conclusion of the council's central committee meeting, held in Geneva, 30 August to 6 September 2006.The layout of the new framework is revealed below:
Programme priorities
The WCC Central Committee endorsed a reorganised programme strategy, stemming from decisions made at the WCC's 9th Assembly in early 2006. The focus was on six areas:
• WCC and the ecumenical movement in the 21st century;
• unity, mission, evangelism and spirituality;
• public witness: addressing power, affirming peace;
• justice, diakonia and responsibility for creation;
• ecumenical and faith formation; and
• interreligious dialogue and cooperation.
Communication was decided to receive renewed priority in the coming period, as the WCC reinforces efforts to raise its own profile and to influence the international agenda.
Speaking at the closure of the meeting, general secretary Kobia stressed the "urgently critical nature" of Christian-Muslim dialogue, and underscored the importance of interreligious dialogue in all aspects of the council's work.
The central committee also gave priority to ongoing work for unity and fellowship. Kobia said there was now a clear process with timelines for carrying that work out. He said Christian world communions would be included in the process.
Global issues
The Middle East region was at the centre of a series of statements on issues of international concern. A major new ecumenical advocacy initiative for peace in the divided region, proposed earlier by the WCC general secretary, was also approved.
Major public issues on which the committee agreed action were:• The war in Lebanon and northern Israel: central committee called for a sustainable and unconditional ceasefire and lifting the blockade of Lebanon;
• Children in conflicts, with focus on Northern Uganda: expressed concern at the threat to international peace and security and impediments to the provision of humanitarian emergency aid as a result of the ongoing conflict;
• Just trade: called on churches to encourage their governments to continue working for a new multilateral trade mechanism, with a new set of multilateral trade rules which are just and democratic;
• A compassionate response to HIV and AIDS: called for universal access to treatment, care and support, and encouraged churches to continue to play a critical role in overcoming the pandemic and to welcome persons living with HIV and AIDS;
