From: Aaron Barnhart <barnhart@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Date: 01 Sep 92 18:50 PDT
Subject: IPS:DEVELOPMENT: Changes and conti
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1471700097:000:3534
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!barnhart    Sep  1 18:50:00 1992


Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: DEVELOPMENT: Changes and continuity in the World Church Council


geneva, aug 29 (ips/victor ego ducrot) -- the world church council
(wcc) has introduced various changes in its central leadership,
but its goals remain the same. it remains a beacon for the defence
of justice, and for the development of the poor.

this was stated by the retiring secretary general of the wcc,
the uruguayan priest emilio castro, in an interview with ips as
the curtain came down on the 44th meeting of the organisation's
central committee on friday.

''i do not want to go into details of the enormous task faced
by my successor konrad kaiser, but i believe that a new time has
come, characterised by a desperate struggle against violence,
racial intolerance and in favour of the environment,'' castro
said.

the uruguayan priest has been secretary general of the wcc
since 1984. during the 44th meeting of the central committee he
was replaced by the german konrad kaiser, minister in the german
evangelical church and theology professor at the rhur university
in bochum, germany.

the wcc unites the majority of the world's evangelical churches,
represented by regional councils, in africa, the caribbean and
asia. the european, middle east and pacific church councils are
also members of the wcc.

in his last press conference as the wcc leader, castro said: ''we
are experiencing a difficult transition, in a shaken world in
which violence continues to rule, and social challenges have not
yet been overcome.''

he made references to the ideological and political changes that
followed the disintegration of the eastern block, the increasing
gap between the rich and the poor, the marginalisation of the
third world and the upsurge of violence and war in europe.

such issues also came up during this week's session which
focused on: inter-confessional relations, particularly between
catholics, jews and muslims, the crises in former yugoslavia and
africa; and the increasing marginalisation of the third world
countries.

castro deemed the situation in former yugoslavia ''part of the
more complex issue of violence and intolerance''.

''from a christian point of view violence being countered by
violence -- an idea which seems to be supported by an important
part of the international community. (more/ips)

development: changes and continuity in the world church council(2-e)

development: changes (2)

''the multitude of these problems make us appeal to the world's
rationality. this call also goes for the suffering of the people
in africa and the third world, in which poverty is on the
increase. we also appeal to humankind to protect it's
environment,'' the former wcc head added.

an official document released by the wcc called the situation
in yugoslavia ''a good example of the lack of competence of those
in power to promote world peace''.

the document also states that europe is obliged to solve this
problem because it knows well the consequences of war, hatred and
violence.

as far as inter-confessional relations are concerned, castro
stressed that ''dialogue and cooperation between churches is a
must in these times, in order to establish peace and justice.

''at this time the conditions are right for such dialogue and
cooperation, its just a matter of faith, hope, and dedication to
the cause of justice,'' the priest added.
(end/ips/cr/trd/ved/ica/mv/cpg/92).