June 4, 2009

The World Council of Churches (WCC) officers who are meeting in Geneva this week have expressed concern and regret over the release of a short list of candidates reportedly being considered for WCC general secretary.

The list was made public in a 28 May article released by Ecumenical News International (ENI), an independent ecumenical news agency based in Geneva and supported by the WCC and other ecumenical bodies.

The article listed six candidates reportedly being considered by a WCC search committee for the highest staff position of the WCC. The current general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, will complete his term at the end of 2009.

While the WCC confirms there is a short list of candidates being considered, the WCC has not officially released any names of candidates and does not confirm the accuracy of the ENI list.

The WCC officers are the moderator of the WCC Central Committee Rev. Dr Walter Altmann, its two vice-moderators Rev. Dr Margaretha M. Hendriks-Ririmasse and Metropolitan Prof. Dr Gennadios of Sassima, and the WCC general secretary.

"The officers have been supporting the search committee in their efforts to select final candidates for general secretary position," Altmann said. "This work is to be done in a spirit of Christian fellowship and ecumenical commitment and in confidentiality; thus, we deeply regret that these names were made public."

During June and after interviewing a short list of candidates the search committee will develop a proposal for the Central Committee with the name or names of the final candidates to stand for election which will take place during the WCC Central Committee meeting to take place in Geneva from 25 August to 2 September 2009.

World Council of Churches