The central committee of the Conference of European Churches (KEK) met in Prague from 27 September to 3 October. The committee, which is the KEK governing body, is made up of 40 members and is presided by Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, of the French Reform Church, and by two vice-presidents, S.B. Anastasios, Orthodox archbishop of Tirana and of all Albania, and Rev. Margarethe Isberg, Lutheran dean of the Swedish Church. One of the themes on the agenda was a discussion on the European Ecumenical Council, which is scheduled for 2007. In the opening session, president de Clermont made reference to the difficult international situation and highlighted two requirements: the first, he said, “is that of finding a space for inter-religious dialogue with a view to openness towards those ideas that seek to create conditions for the development of peace, justice and rights”. The second requirement is that of “strengthening co-operation with the regional councils of Churches on other continents in particular with the Churches of the United States, of Africa and of the Middle East in order “to show our ecumenical solidarity visibly and effectively”. A report on the state of the ecumenical movement in Europe was delivered by the secretary general of the KEK, Keith Clements, who highlighted the need to address the people and institutions of Europe with “as united a voice as possible”.
