At its first meeting, following its nomination in February, the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), meeting recently at Bossey (Geneva), approved a programme of activities for the years 2007-2013. Six areas of activity were defined for the seven-year period: WCC and the ecumenical movement in the 21st century; unity, mission and spirituality; witness; justice and charity; religious and ecumenical formation; interfaith dialogue and cooperation. As soon as possible programmes, budgets and detailed plans will be submitted to the Central Committee for the approval, planned for September. Commenting on the decision, Samuel Kobia, WCC general secretary, declared that it “prepares the field for an integrated work within the WCC to better tackle the challenges of the 21st century”. In this period of work particular attention will be paid to communication and participation of the young, for whom the establishment of a permanent representation within the Council is being considered. At Bossey the Executive Committee also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Iranian nuclear proliferation programme and the crisis in Sudan.
