February 19, 2009
by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE – The World Council of Churches (WCC) is accepting applications now for its 2009 Stewards Program, Aug. 19- Sept. 4 in Geneva, Switzerland in conjunction with the meeting of the WCC's Central Committee.

English-speaking young adults aged 18-30 from WCC member churches are eligible to apply. Deadline for applications is March 31. Twenty-five young adults will be accepted.

The 150-member WCC Central Committee meets every 18 months to monitor and set directions for the council's work. The 2009 meeting – Aug. 27-Sept. 4 – will feature the election of a new general secretary to succeed the Rev. Samuel Kobia, a Kenyan Methodist who announced one year ago that he would not seek a second four-year term.

The Stewards Program will be composed of 3 phases:

• an Ecumenical Learning Program;

• staffing the Central Committee meeting;

• Ecumenical Project planning to be done when the stewards return home.

The main areas of stewards' work during the Central Committee meeting are assisting in worship, the conference room where many Central Committee-related events take place, documentation, the press office, the sound/translation booths, and other tasks such as general administration, sorting mail and delivering messages.

Prior to the week of work at the Central Committee meeting, stewards will participate in a week-long Ecumenical Learning Program which will expose them to the key issues of concern for the ecumenical movement world-wide.

The WCC will be responsible for lodging and meal expenses during the time of the program and will provide some pocket money. Travel costs to and from Geneva are to be borne by the stewards and/or their church.

For more information about the 2009 WCC Stewards Program, go to http://tinyurl.com/bjwhn6/.

Presbyterian News Service