The executive committee of the World Council of Churches decided this week during their meeting in Germany to extend the term of their current general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, until a new leader takes office.

Initially, the committee was planning to select an interim general secretary during their Sept. 23-26 meeting in Luebeck, Germany.

However, it was decided that Kobia will remain the WCC general secretary until the election at the Council’s central committee meeting to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, next year from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2.

“By accepting this, Rev. Kobia will bring continuity to the office while we go through the transition process of finding a new general secretary,” said the Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, the moderator of the WCC central committee.

Kobia had announced in February that he would not seek a second term as general secretary, and a search committee was afterwards formed.

Other issues discussed at the WCC executive committee included the global food crisis, the conflict in Darfur and the unstable situation in Sri Lanka. The Committee also reviewed program plans, the budget, and assessed the progress in forming a new WCC assembly.

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The World Council of Churches is an ecumenical fellowship founded in 1948 that now boasts a membership of 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries.