World Council of Churches has elected new presidents: including two Orthodox

04
November 2013

The 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches
elected eight new presidents today during a closed session at its proceedings
in Busan, Republic of Korea.

According
to the WCC constitution the role of the WCC presidents is to promote ecumenism
and interpret the work of the WCC, especially in their respective regions. The
presidents are ex-officio members of Central Committee.

The
Central Committee will also be elected during the assembly, but after the
presidents are elected.

The eight WCC presidents are:

Africa
Rev. Dr Mary Anne Plaatjies van Huffel, Uniting
Reformed Church in Southern Africa

Asia: Rev.
Prof. Dr Sang Chan, Presbyterian Church in
the Republic of Korea

Europe:
Archbishop Anders Wejryd, Church of Sweden

Latin America and Caribbean:  Rev. Gloria Nohemy Ulloa Alvarado, Presbyterian
Church in Colombia

North America:
Bishop Mark MacDonald, Anglican Church of Canada

Pacific: Rev.
Dr Mele’ana Puloka, Free Wesleyan Church of
Tonga

Eastern Orthodox:  H.B. John X Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox
Church of Antioch and All the East

Oriental Orthodox: H.H. Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians