The World Council of Churches Central Committee adopts a new method of decision-making

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches completed on February 22 in Geneva its meeting, the last before the assembly of this major international Christian organization, planned for February 2006.

The Russian Orthodox Church was represented at the meeting by Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria, Representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the European international organizations; Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, Archpriest Mikhail Gundyaev, Secretary of the Russian Orthodox Church Representation at the WCC; Rev. Igor Vyzhanov, acting DECR Secretary for Inter-Christian Relations; and Ms. Margarita Nelyubova, DECR Secretariat for Inter-Christian Relations.

On the last day of its work, the Central Committee adopted amendments to the WCC Constitution and Rules, which introduce a new mechanism of decision-making. From now on, decisions will be made not by majority vote as before, but mainly by consensus or general agreement. The amendments will be submitted to the WCC assembly for action.

These amendments are a result of the work of the Special Commission for Orthodox Participation in the WCC. They enable representatives of Orthodox Churches to prevent decisions contrary to the Orthodox view from being taken by majority vote. To enforce the new rules the Central Committee has established a Standing Committee for Consensus and Cooperation made up of an equal number of Orthodox and Protestant participants.

In most cases (except for elections to various offices and dealing with financial and administrative matters) decisions at WCC proceedings will be made by consensus. If there is a dissenting minority, the new rules provide for the following actions: the decision is put off; time is given for prayer and silent reflection, the decision is taken but the minority registers its differing view; the final document states the existence of differing opinions; the minority distances itself from the decision but agrees to its implementation; no decision is made; a voting procedure takes place provided at least 85 per cent of those present agree to vote. The voting is impossible in any way on issues concerning the ecclesiology of WCC member churches.

The mechanisms of consensus decision-making were tested tentatively during the Central Committee meeting, which has just completed its work.

See also:

• World Council of Churches Central Committee adopts statements on public issues