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

MEDIA ADVISORY, July 7 /Standard Newswire/ -- Climate change, its causes and consequences as well as the role of churches and the worldwide ecumenical family will be at the center of a 7-14 July visit to the Pacific region by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia.

During a series of encounters with leaders of WCC member churches and other religious and secular figures in Papetee (French Polynesia), Nadi (Fiji) and Apia (Samoa), a WCC delegation led by Kobia will discuss climate change issues, as well as consequences of nuclear testing and this year's focus on the region of the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence.

Inspired by the theme "Witnessing to the peace of God in Oceania", a number of activities and events are taking place during the year in the region as local churches work to highlight ways to overcome cultural and ethnic violence and to promote human rights in communities, workplaces, schools or homes.

In Nadi, the visit of the WCC general secretary coincides with a 9-15 July meeting of a group of church representatives planning the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation to take place in Jamaica in 2011. The WCC delegation and the planning group will participate at a forum on how churches in the region and worldwide are addressing the issue of violence.

The WCC has been at the forefront of work aimed at raising awareness about climate change over the last two decades, with the Pacific churches playing a significant role in it. The latter have also brought to the world's attention the consequences of nuclear testing in the region.

Members of the WCC delegation visiting the Pacific region:

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, WCC general secretary.
Rev. Eunice Santana, former WCC president (1991-1998); Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico.
Mr. John Doom, WCC president from the Pacific region; Maòhi Protestant Church (French Polynesia); national co-ordinator of the Association of the Former Nuclear Site Workers of Moruroa (Moruroa e Tatou).
Lic. Elias Crisostomo Abramides, WCC Focal Point to the UNFCCC Climate Change Programme; Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Buenos Aires and South America, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Argentina.
Ms. Faautu Talapusi, Congregational Christian Church in Samoa.

WCC work on climate change
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3127

WCC member churches in the Pacific
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4544

Pacific focus 2008 of the Decade to Overcome Violence
http://overcomingviolence.org/en/about-dov/annual-focus/2008-pacific.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.