wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Kobia in the Caribbean: first official visit

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World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 28/07/2005

KOBIA TO PAY FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE CARIBBEAN

The US presence and policies, human rights, democratization, international
aid, as well as ecumenism in the region, and the forthcoming 9th Assembly
of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will be the main topics on the
agenda during the first official visit by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr
Samuel Kobia to churches in Cuba and Haiti from 31 July - 7 August 2005.

On 28 July, Kobia will also meet the leadership of the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) at its headquarters in Trinidad.

WCC president from North America, Dr Bernice Powell-Jackson of the United
Church of Christ (USA), and WCC central committee member Bishop Rolf Koppe
of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) will join the delegation in
Cuba. Central committee member Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi of the
Episcopal Church of Burundi will accompany the group in Haiti.

Caribbean Conference of Churches general secretary Mr Gerald Granado and
WCC central committee member Ms Donnalie Edwards-Cabey of the Church in
the Province of the West Indies (Bahamas) will participate in the 28 July
meeting at CCC headquarters in Trinidad.

WCC staff members Ms Marta Palma, programme executive for Latin America
and the Caribbean, and Mr Guillermo Kerber, programme executive for
impunity, justice & reconciliation, will be travelling with the WCC
general secretary.

The WCC has two member churches in Cuba, the Methodist Church and the
First Presbyterian Reformed Church; the Protestant Federation of Haiti is
an associate council of the WCC. Former WCC general secretary Rev. Dr
Konrad Raiser paid a pastoral visit to both countries in October 1999.

> Visit programme highlights

TRINIDAD

Thursday 28 July:
- Meeting with Caribbean Conference of Churches leadership

CUBA

Sunday 31 July:
- Morning worship in the First Presbyterian Church of Havana; Kobia to
preach
- Evening worship in the Methodist Church of Havana; Kobia to preach

Monday 1 August:
- Meeting with leaders of Cuban churches, hosted by the Council of
Churches of Cuba
- Meeting with the Roman Catholic archbishop of Havana, Jaime Cardinal
Ortega y Alamino
- Public conference at Africa Friendship House; Kobia to speak on "The
African contribution to solidarity among peoples"

Tuesday 2 August:
- Visit to Evangelical theological seminary of Matanzas
- Meeting with church leaders in Matanzas

Wednesday 3 August:
- Meeting with government officials
- Press conference: venue and date to be confirmed

HAITI

Friday 5 August:
- Meeting with Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Archbishop
François-Wolff Ligondé
- Meeting with government officials
- Press conference: venue and date to be confirmed
- Conference about the Decade to Overcome Violence / dinner with church
leaders and civil society representatives

Saturday 6 August:
- Visit to a church-related social project in Port-au-Prince
- Informal encounter with church leaders and civil society representatives
(politicians and women's groups) to discuss the WCC, the 9th Assembly, and
ecumenical solidarity with Haiti

Sunday 7 August:
- Ecumenical service in the Methodist Church of Port-au-Prince; Archbishop
Bernard Ntahoturi to preach, Kobia to offer a message

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org
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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 347, in
more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly,
which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally
inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.