WCC News: WCC executive committee convenes to prepare for central committee meeting

The World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee will convene from 19-20 June to focus on preparations for the WCC central committee, which will meet on 21-27 June. Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee, during the meeting of the WCC executive committee at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, 19 June 2023. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 19 June 2023 The executive committee, which will meet at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, will review the proposed annotated agenda for the central committee, the draft report of the executive committee to the central committee, the assembly evaluation prepared for the central committee, nominations and proposals for the leadership of commissions and joint consultative groups, and matters referred to the leadership of the finance sub-committee, including the draft investment policy. WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay will introduce the WCC strategic plan 2023-2030 to the executive committee. The strategic plan offers a common direction to guide the work of the WCC as a fellowship of churches until the next assembly. It includes an integrated programmatic approach to fulfil the mandate of the assembly and serves as a tool for monitoring activities and institution sustainability. The executive committee will also discuss the process of electing a new permanent committee on consensus and collaboration.  The governing body will also spend time praying together, as well as sharing on recent developments in the life of their churches and their ministries, and other events in the life of the ecumenical movement.  A consensus facilitation team will present an orientation on the work of the executive committee and the central committee. Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee, said he was very much looking forward to the meeting. “Since the election at the WCC 11th Assembly, we have already built great trust in each other, which will be a great basis for our common work,” he said. Photo gallery of the WCC executive committee meeting, 19-20 June 2023 Learn more about the WCC Executive committee WCC executive committee convenes from 19-20 June at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland