The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) convened its 64^th meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on July 2.

Delegate of the U.S. Eastern Diocese, Head of the Inter-Church Relations Department, His Eminence, Archbishop Vigen Aykazian and Director of the Office for Internet Services of the Mother See, Mrs. Paula Der-Matoian are representing the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the WCC Central Committee with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Among the participants from the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia are His Eminence, Bishop Nareg Alemezian and Mrs. Teni Perri Simonian.

The meeting began with a prayer during which the gathered prayed for the souls of the late Archbishop Aghan Paliozian, as well as the souls of those who have been involved in the ecumenical movement to rest in peace.

One of the first items on the agenda of the seven-day meeting was the election of leaders of the standing committees of the Central Committee and the appointment of members of those committees for the next eight years. Taking into consideration Archbishop Vigen’s longstanding experience and active participation in the ecumenical movement, the archbishop was elected chairman of the Committee on Fiscal Policies, which is one of the most significant committees of the WCC. His Holiness Vigen will officially serve as a member of the WCC Executive Committee as well. Mrs. Paula Der-Matoian was elected member of the Committee on Management and Nominations for Candidates.

The topics on the agenda for the Central Committee’s meeting are mainly related to the Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace. The discussions will be held on the unity of Churches, climate change, economic justice and the distribution of resources. In its declaration adopted in November 2013, the WCC had called on all the Churches to “make more efforts for justice, peace and creation and confront the current social, economic and moral challenges together”.

The 64^th meeting of the WCC Central Committee will end on July 9^th.