January 2004
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
18-25 January 2004
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an ecumenical initiative that, each year, involves Christian communities all over the world. Traditionally, it is celebrated from 18-25 January. In the southern hemisphere, where January is vacation time, churches often find other days to celebrate it, for example around Pentecost.
For more information:
www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/feat-03-15.html
US DOV focus takes shape
11-14 January 2004, New York, USA
The Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) Reference Group, an international advisory group to the DOV, and the US DOV Committee, comprised of US denominational representatives, will meet to prepare for the 2004 focus on the US. All events planned for the upcoming year will take place in the context of a central theme that has been chosen by US churches and will be unveiled during this meeting. Participants will also analyze DOV accomplishments and make projections as 2005, the midpoint of the decade, draws closer.
For information on how 2004 US focus was chosen:
www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/pr-cc2003-09e.html
More information about the DOV is available at:
North American church leaders prepare for FTAA agreement
12-14 January 2004, Stony Point, USA
The World Council of Churches, Church World Service, the Canadian Council of Churches, and other international ecumenical organizations are convening North American church leaders to a consultation on the impact of economic globalization in light of the upcoming Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement. Participants will clarify a joint perspective and develop plans of action to raise awareness on this issue in the churches.
WCC participates in World Social Forum
16-21 January 2004, Mumbai, India
The World Council of Churches will organize four seminars and a panel discussion at the 2004 World Social Forum (WSF). The interfaith panel discussion on "Spirituality of Life and Human Dignity" will address peace, reconciliation and human rights issues. Seminar topics include "Affirming the dignity of children", "Multi-faith perspectives on women and trade", "Trade and ecological debt", and a youth seminar on "Promoting just trade". The panel will be jointly organized with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA). Co-organizers for the seminars include the LWF and the EAA, as well as the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, National Council of Churches in India, the World YWCA, and the World Student Christian Federation.
More information about the WSF is available at:
Information about WCC participation in the WSF is available at:
www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/wsf-2004-e.html
Churches address dignity of street children, globalization
21-25 January 2004, Mumbai, India
The World Council of Churches and the Christian Conference of Asia will organize this consultation to analyze the effects of globalization on street children, particularly in the Asian context. Participants from Africa, Latin America, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Europe and members of the Asian Ecumenical Network on the Dignity of Children will work towards evolving strategies to better equip church organizations to address issues such as juvenile justice, education and health which affect children living and working in the streets. Participants will explore a theological response to the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The consultation will coincide with the World Social Forum.
Human rights in Africa: churches develop unified response
25-30 January 2004, Nairobi, Kenya
The World Council of Churches (WCC), All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and national councils of churches from African countries meet together with Africa-based human rights groups to review current human rights issues and develop a unified plan of action to respond to human rights issues in Africa. These bodies will come together to follow up on the recent AACC assembly and examine shared WCC-AACC initiatives.
