Transcript 9th_assembly_english

World Council of Churches
WCC 9th Assembly
Porto Alegre 2006
An introduction
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Welcome to the assembly
 The WCC’s 9th
assembly will meet in
Porto Alegre, Brazil from
14 to 23 February 2006
 A time of encounter,
prayer, celebration and
deliberation
 A gathering of
thousands of Christians
from around the world
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The tasks of the assembly
 The WCC’s highest governing body
 Meets every 7 years
 Gathers in prayer
 Reviews programmes
 Determines priorities
 Issues a message
 Elects Presidium and Central Committee
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The assembly theme
 ‘God, in your grace, transform the world’
 A prayer
 A sign of hope
 Socially grounded
 Spiritually centred
 Vision of fullness of life and justice for all
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Dimensions of the theme
Through prayer and Bible study the assembly
will approach the theme holistically:
 God, in your grace, transform our world
 God, in your grace, transform the earth
 God, in your grace, transform our societies
 God, in your grace, transform our churches
 God, in your grace, transform our lives
 God, in your grace, transform our witness
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The 9th assembly logo
 Inspired by the
assembly theme
 In harmony with the
oikoumene symbol of
the boat and cross
 Implies unity and
diversity
 A hint of Brazil
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The symbolism of the logo
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The context: Brazil
 Porto Alegre, Brazil
 Largest country in
Latin America
 Hosted by the
Brazilian Council of
Churches (CONIC)
 Diverse cultural and
religious context
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Porto Alegre
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Porto Alegre
 The state capital of Rio
Grande do Sul
 Dynamic centre of
culture and democracy
 Population of 1.5 million
 25 ethnic groups
 Diverse church and
religious life
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The 9th assembly venue
 The Pontifical Catholic
University (PUC)
 Professional conference
facility
 Venue of the World Social
Forum
 6 km from the city centre
 Accommodation in hotels
 Local transportation
 High quality infastructure
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The 9th assembly venue
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Participation at the assembly
Over 700 delegates from more than 340
member churches in 100 countries
 Representatives of over
200 councils, agencies
and non-member
churches
 Latin American and
Brazilian hosts
 Over 1500 visitors and
observers
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The 9th assembly programme
 Prayer Life
 Bible Study
 Plenaries
 Ecumenical
Conversations
 Mutirão
 Committees
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Spiritual life
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
A ‘Praying Assembly’
 Opening and closing
celebrations
 Common morning and
evening prayer
 Bible study in home
groups
 Mid-day Eucharist
services
 Sunday worship with
host congregations
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The thematic plenaries
Churches’ involvement in …
Economic Justice
 focus on viable alternatives
Christian Identity & Pluralism
 context of secularism and religious
plurality
Church Unity
 churches and the future of ecumenism
Latin America
 celebration with Latin American churches
Overcoming Violence
 mid-decade celebration and renewal
God, in your grace, transform the world
 insights on the Assembly theme and
message to congregations
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Ecumenical conversations
Opportunity for sustained
dialogue on:
 The changing religious and
cultural context
 The changing ecumenical
context
 The changing international and
political context
 The changing social and
economic context
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
‘Mutirão’ –
coming together to make a difference
 An open space for
ecumenical partners,
congregations, student
groups and visitors
 Offering prayer, Bible
study, seminars,
exhibitions, workshops
 Living fellowship and
shared experience
 Culture and celebration
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
The assembly business agenda
 Reports of WCC general
secretary and moderator
 Admission of new members
 Programme and policy
committees
 Statements on public issues
 Decisions by consensus
 New central committee
 Assembly message
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
A youth assembly
 Young people - a central
part of assembly life
 Youth camp alongside the
assembly
 Ecumenical formation
 Fresh insights
 Youth pre-assembly
 Stewards’ programme
during assembly
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Participate in the 9th assembly!
 Pray for the churches and WCC towards the
assembly
 Organize discussions, Bible studies and events
on the assembly theme
 Attend as a delegate of your church
 Participate in the ecumenical ‘Mutirão’
partnership event
 Use the resources on the assembly website
 Make a donation to support the 9th Assembly
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Assembly website:
www.wcc-assembly.info
WCC 9th Assembly 2006
Behind the scenes…
 A major logistical and human
undertaking
 Assembly Planning
Committee and Assembly
Worship Committee
 9th assembly office in
Geneva
 Local coordinator in Porto
Alegre
 Staff and volunteer support
 Contact:
 [email protected]
WCC 9th Assembly 2006