General Information
World Council of Churches 9th Assembly in Porto Alegre
Rt Rev'd Dr Jo Seoka - Anglican Bishop of Pretoria
The World Council of Churches assembled for the first time at Porto Alegre in South America from the 14th - 23rd February 2006. There were altogether about 3000 people at the Assembly and 200 workshop participants. There were six hundred and ninety one (691) official delegates with the right to speak and vote.
Church leaders, members and ecumenical partners came from 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, United and other member churches of the WCC. Many locals came as visitors on a daily basis.
The theme of the Assembly was, "God in your grace, transform the world". The Assembly was prayerful and its deep spiritual life was reflected in the Daily Morning prayer that was followed by the Bible studies in small groups.
The theme was used as the prayer for the Assembly as participants prayed that God in his grace transforms our world, the earth, our societies, lives, churches and our witness. The Assembly had an inclusive agenda and the consensus model of decision-making was used to enable each and every person to participate freely without being pressurised by the need to vote.
The daily schedule was divided into plenaries - addressed, business and thematic presentations. Provision was also made for Ecumenical conversations in which participants engaged on various topics, namely Changing Religious and Cultural Context, Changing Ecclesial and Ecumenical Context, Changing International and Political Context and Changing Social and Economic Context.
Another aspect to the Assembly was the 'Mutirao' - a market place of workshops, which provided a unique opportunity at the Assembly for various Christians to share their rich cultural experience in witnessing to the Gospel. The Mutirao ranged from drama to workshops dealing with issues of Human Rights and economic Justice.
Accompanying the Assembly were Exhibitions from developed counties to indigenous people of the developing nations. I had the privilege of attending all the programmes of the Assembly and to participate in everything that was of benefit to my work of mission and ministry. I learnt a lot from the plenary sessions and from Mutirao. I participated in the following Mutirao because of my interest and work in the area of Ethical Investment, "A Call for Moral Responsible Investment, AGAPE: Alternative to Economic Globalisation, Enough for Everyone:Mobilization for an Ethical Lifestyle and Fair Trade, Faith Consistent Investing, Decent Work and Poverty Eradication and HIV and AIDS and Fair Workplace Policies: A new Beginning for Churches.
There were many new comers and young persons at the WCC Assembly, which showed transformation. Opening the Assembly, both the Moderator and the General Secretary emphasised the importance of including the youth in the affairs of the Church particularly the WCC. There were three conferences organised for the indigenous people, Women and youth before the Assembly.
At the opening service the preacher, head of the Orthodox Church in Albania called on the faithful to "wait expectantly for God's ultimate surprise - the transformation of the world". He went on to say, "The Transformative journey of our church communities cannot occur on the basis of criteria occasionally proposed by fashion and vogue, but the guidance of Gospel of the Gospel of grace. We have in practice often ascertained the substitution of many of God's commandments by the mentality of the world, by a demonic reversal of the evangelical principle. Instead of the primacy of service, we have craved the primacy of authority; instead of the power of love, the love of the power of this world, instead of respect for others, we have demanded their submission.
"He also said, As to what form the transformation of the world in the future remains a secret of the God of surprises. The Moderator of the Central Committee in his opening speech warned the Assembly that the "A divided voice cannot offer a credible witness in a broken and violent world and cannot stand against the disintegration forces of globalisation." He went on to call the Church to, "learn to speak with one voice and rediscover the church's prophetic vocation".
The General Secretary, Dr Sam Kobia, delivering his first report to the 9th Assembly called the people of the Christian faith to 'A festa da vida' - 'the feast of life'. He spelled out his vision for both an ecumenical movement and other Christian organisations that is not limited to the membership of the WCC. Dr Kobia said the question of faith and the presence of Christ in the 'other' was a central question of our time. He spoke of his vision as "an ecumenical movement that is grounded in the spirituality, takes ecumenical formation and youth seriously, dares to work for transformative justice, puts relationship at the centre and takes risks to develop new creative ways of working".
He also called on the churches to speak with one voice on life threatening issues such as globalisation, debt and poverty, violence, HIV & AIDS, and climate change. Other important visiting speakers included the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva and our very own, the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev'd Rowan Williams.
There was enough for everybody to hear, see and do. I was very privileged and I thank God for those who made it possible for me to attend the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches. This was my third participation at an Assembly and I learnt a lot that enriched me in my work and which I will use to equip others for the sake of the Gospel which has the power to Transform the world and the Church.
