Contact: World Council of Churches, +41-22-791-6153, +41-79-507-6363, media@wcc-coe.org

MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 30 /Standard Newswire/ -- The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), meeting in Luebeck, Germany, 23-26 September 2008, reviewed programme, budget, and approved various public statements and reports and the extension of the contract of the current general secretary.

A statement on religious violence and intolerance in India was also approved expressing concern about the alarming trend of growing communal violence and religious intolerance in India, particularly in the State of Orissa.

The minority Christians in Orissa have recently experienced a series of attacks in the form of looting, destruction of churches and church-run institutions. Reports are that 50 thousand Christians have been displaced, some taking refuge in forests and living in relief camps.

The statement urged the government of India to meet its constitutional obligations and said the violence is "an assault on the Constitution of India." It also urged the government to "take steps to prevent violence, and harassments against the Christian minorities in Orissa and other parts of the country."

A statement on the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka caused by the 25-year civil war was also reviewed and approved by the executive committee. The statement calls on "all warring parties to adhere to the International Humanitarian Law, the UN’s Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and other humanitarian norms."

It also expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of violence and condemned the killing of non-combatants and all forms of human rights violations on both sides.

A statement recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was also presented and approved. A minute on the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration which called for "health for all" was approved.

Both documents called for the WCC and church to recommit themselves to the cause of human rights and need of health care for all.

On Wednesday, 24 September a reception was held for former general secretary, Philip Potter, 83, who now lives in the Luebeck area. Potter was WCC general secretary from 1972 to 1984. A presentation was made recognizing his past work with the WCC and his ongoing work in the ecumenical movement.

Toward the end of the meetings the executive committee extended the contract of Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, the current WCC general secretary, through the time when a new general secretary takes office.

"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 Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, the moderator of the WCC Central Committee.

A new general secretary is to be elected in September 2009 at the WCC central committee meetings to be held in Geneva. At the February 2008 Central Committee meeting a search committee was formed after Kobia announced he would not seek a second term as general secretary.

The search committee reported on responses received from member churches on the current job description of the general secretary and conversations held with WCC staff on the role of a new general secretary. Applications for the general secretary will be accepted as soon as a revised job description is released in October.

Minute on the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration (health for all):
www.oikoumene.org/?id=6311

Statement recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
www.oikoumene.org/?id=6312

Statement on humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka:
www.oikoumene.org/?id=6314

Statement on violence and intolerance in India:
www.oikoumene.org/?id=6315

Additional information on the WCC executive committe meeting:
www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/wcc-executive-committee-t-2.html

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

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 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.