October 2004
> Samuel Kobia to Canada
> Consultation on climate and water
> Annual meeting of WCC-US member churches
> New approach to overcoming racism
> UK chief treasury secretary to speak at WCC
> IMF and World Bank heads at WCC headquarters
»> WCC general secretary to visit churches in Canada
30 September - 4 October, Winnipeg / Toronto / Ottawa, Canada
The WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will preach at an ecumenical worship service and meet with Canadian Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Karen Hamilton during a visit to member churches and ecumenical organizations in Canada. During the visit, Kobia will take part in a public lecture and panel discussion on "The impact of emerging inter-faith relationships on classical ecumenism" as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Canadian Center for Ecumenism, and conduct a seminar with theological students of African descent from the Toronto School of Theology.
Media contact: +1-416-972-9494 hamilton@ccc-cce.ca
»> WCC convenes strategy consultation on climate and water
3-9 October, Soesterberg, Netherlands
Due to churches' growing concerns regarding climate change and water issues, the WCC will gather representatives from member churches and church-related relief and development agencies to shape a common ecumenical strategy on these issues. This consultation - hosted by Kerkinactie (Church in Action), a Dutch church-related ecumenical diakonia and mission organization - will act as a forum to analyze the current impact of climate change and water availability, and provide an opportunity to build consensus on an ecumenical strategy to influence international negotiations regarding these issues.
WCC work on climate change and water
wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/ecology.html
Kerkinactie (in Dutch)
Media contact: Wim Brouwer +31-30-880-1786 w.brouwer@kerkinactie.nl
»> Annual meeting of WCC-US Conference: "The Power and Promise of Peace"
5-6 October, Atlanta, Georgia
"The Power and Promise of Peace" is the compelling theme for the 2004 focus on the United States of the "Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV): Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace (2001-2010). It is also the theme of the 2004 annual meeting of the United States Conference for the WCC, scheduled for 5-6 October in Atlanta, Georgia, as a major DOV event. The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, will be the keynote speaker.
For more detailed information see the WCC press release at:
www.wcc-coe.org > press corner > US conference for the WCC
For registration materials and further information, please visit:
Media contacts:
Deborah DeWinter 212-870-2522 dhd@wcc-coe.org
John Baker Brown Jr., 404.523.5554, jbrown@faithandthecity.org
Joan Harrell, 404.527.5713, harrelljoan_@hotmail.com
»> Churches looking for a new approach to overcoming racism
12-15 October, Geneva, Switzerland
Some 35-40 participants, including women and men from different continents, of different ages and ethnic backgrounds - such as Indigenous People, Dalits and people of African descent - will take part in an encounter in Geneva on "Overcoming Racism Today". Issues to be covered include the church's mission, its role in perpetuating discrimination and, on the other hand, its contribution to the process of reconciliation in communities dealing with the consequences of racial, ethnic or caste discrimination. The main objective of the gathering, being organised by the WCC and its Programme to Combat Racism, is to promote a deeper understanding of approaches and challenges faced by churches and ecumenical groups living out their commitment to combat racism.
More information about WCC work on Justice, Peace and Creation:
wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/index-e.html
More information about the Programme to Combat Racism:
wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/racism-e.html
»> UK chief treasury secretary speaks at WCC seminar on poverty eradication
18 October, Geneva, Switzerland
The WCC will host the Rt Hon. Paul Boateng, chief secretary to the treasury in the United Kingdom, for a seminar on current initiatives in eradicating poverty. Boateng will speak about British initiatives towards achieving Millennium Development Goals, specifically in Africa, and describe the British proposal to create an international financial facility to ensure the implementation of those goals. WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will address "The ecumenical concern for poverty eradication and social justice", and WCC Africa president Dr Agnes Abuom will speak on "An assessment of poverty eradication in Africa". Representatives from church and civil society groups as well as members of the African Union and Geneva's diplomatic community will be present.
»> IMF and World Bank heads at WCC headquarters
22 October, Geneva, Switzerland
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia will join World Bank (WB) president James D. Wolfensohn and International Monetary Fund (IMF) deputy managing director Agustín Carstens for a panel discussion on poverty eradication, the integration of human rights and justice, and the participation of developing countries in WB and IMF policy development. Held as a culminating high-level encounter in a series started on February 2003, the panel will be attended by members of the three organizations and invited guests from social movements and ecumenical organizations. A statement on future common action will be produced after the encounter.
For more information on the series of encounters see past WCC press releases at:
www.wcc-coe.org > press corner > WCC encounters with IMF & World Bank
Need more advance warning?
Check the WCC Media Calendar at:
www.wcc-coe.org > Press Corner > Media Calendar
