WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES TO ADDRESS ECUMENICAL CHALLENGES AT US SYMPOSIUM
Christian Today, UK
Oct 13 2005
A symposium jointly sponsored by the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA,
and the World Council of Churches (WCC), will be held on 22 October
at the Interchurch Centre in New York.
Photo: WCC moderator Catholicos Aram I speaks during the 24-27 August
2004 WCC executive committee meeting in Seoul, South Korea, while
WCC general secretary Kobia looks on. (WCC/Alexander Belopopsky)
A symposium jointly sponsored by the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA,
and the World Council of Churches (WCC), will be held on 22 October
at the Interchurch Centre in New York with the theme, “Challenges
facing the ecumenical movement in the 21st Century.”
The symposium has been planned in honour of Catholicos Aram I, head
of the Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Cilicia) and moderator of
the WCC central committee, who will be visiting the United States in
last October.
WCC general secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia will be featured as keynote
speaker and Amam I will be offering closing reflections.
A pontifical divine liturgy will be celebrated by Aram I at St
Bartholomew’s Church on Sunday, 23 October at 13:30pm. A banquet will
be followed at the Pierre Hotel to commemorate the 75th anniversary
of the Armenian Apostolic seminary in Antelias, Lebanon.
Aram I was one of the founding members of the Middle East Council of
Churches in 1974. He attended the WCC assemblies in Nairobi, Vancouver,
Canberra, and Harare as a delegate and was elected to the WCC’s Faith
and Order Commission in 1975.
Soon after, he was elected as a member of the central committee. Then
at the 1991 Assembly in Canberra, he was elected moderator of the WCC.
Other speakers will include Rev. Dr Wesley Granberg-Michaelson,
general secretary of the Reformed Church of America; Rev. Dr Diane
Kessler, executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches;
Bishop Thomas Hoyt, president of the National Council of the Churches
of Christ in the USA; Rev. Dr Robert Edgar, general secretary of the
National Council of Churches, Dr Anthony Kireopoulos, deputy general
secretary of the National Council of Churches, Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky,
moderator of the US Conference for the WCC and ecumenical officer,
Orthodox Church in America, Rev. Deborah DeWinter, programme executive
for the United States office of the WCC; and a representative from
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Archbishop Oshagan, prelate for the Eastern United States of America
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, will deliver the welcome
speech.