Announcement of the election of the WCC general secretary by His Holiness Aram I, moderator of the WCC Central Committee
28 August, 2003

Dear members of the Central Committee, dear staff of the WCC, dear friends, dear family members.

This was an important point in the history of the World Council of Churches.

This was a moment for all of us of reflection. In this fellowship, we give a clear priority to reflection. We reflected in the last - more than a year - when we elected a committee to reflect for us for the future of the World Council.

Yesterday and today the Search Committee shared with us the results of their reflection.

Yesterday and today in the election process we reminded ourselves constantly that we are a fellowship of churches. That spirituality is at the heart of the fellowship. Whatever we do and whatever we say in terms of reflection and action and decision must be sustained by this profound sense of spirituality – spirituality is the presence of God among us.

The Central Committee, with this profound sense of responsibility, deliberated yesterday and today. And I am happy to announce that this was a very smooth process, a very responsible and serious process. And a process where, personally I found a profound sense of responsibility. At the end of the process we gave thanks to our common Lord that he led us in this important decision for the future of the World Council of Churches. Therefore, I am very happy to announce that the Central Committee elected Dr Sam Kobia as the next general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

I am sure, Dr Kobia, that you will accept this call. Indeed this is a call, I believe, that comes from God to serve the ecumenical cause. And I am sure that, as you did in the last decades, you will continue to serve with a sense of responsibility and accountability to the ecumenical movement.

We pray to almighty God to sustain your ministry to WCC, to our churches and to the ecumenical movement at large. In our deliberations we reminded ourselves that we were not taking a political action. And this was not indeed a political action. This was not a choice in the strict sense of the word.

Dr Bakkevig, everyone knows you and appreciates very much your service to your church, to your region, to the WCC and the ecumenical movement as a whole. Personally, I appreciate that you have the courage to stand up before the Central Committee to say that you are ready to serve. Service in the profound sense of the world transcends all kinds of structures and positions. I am sure that you would say the same thing, that you will continue to serve the ecumenical cause. Therefore, once again, I appreciate you and wish you all the best in your future service in the ecumenical movement and in the World Council of Churches.

May God bless the World Council of Churches.