WCC Central Committee Plans Out 9th Assembly

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee members discussed plans for the Council’s much-anticipated 9th assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as they met in Geneva, Switzerland for the Committee’s annual meeting, Feb. 15-22, 2005.

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the WCC, said he welcomed the opportunity to have the 9th assembly in Latin America for the first time in the Council’s history.

"The testimonies of the churches and the challenges faced by the societies throughout the continent will inform our work in Brazil," Kobia said. "The role of the WCC in expressing support and solidarity with the Latin American people" during the difficult times of dictatorships "is greatly acknowledged and appreciated."

The weeklong ninth assembly begins on Feb. 14, 2006, at the pontifical Catholic University. The planning committee estimates that about 3,000 people will attend.

Meanwhile, youth stewards assisting the committee urged the delegates to create the youngest assembly ever, to “balance the scales” between the “old” and “young” participation in the WCC.

According to the WCC, the youth stewards “put their own spin on the assembly theme” during their presentation to the central committee by holding up cards with the assembly theme, “God, in your grace, transform the world" printed on them, and inserting a card that said, "let youth". The "renewed" version of the theme then read: "God, in your grace, LET YOUTH transform the world."

Some of the planning committee members will visit Brazil on November to scout out the assembly location. Some 85% of the delegates to the assembly will be nominated by the member churches; the central committee confirms these nominations, and nominates the remaining 15% of delegates, based on the proposals and alternates submitted by the member churches for consideration. Later this week, the central committee will consider this 15 percent, with consideration to balancing the delegate body for youth and gender representation and other factors, according to WCC.