Reports 1995-1998 Edited by Dwain C. Epps

Appeal to the Government of France

Letter to H.E. Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, 15 June 1995, cf. p 81.

Call to fast and pray for a halt to nuclear testing

Letter to members of Central Committee, member churches, national councils of churches and regional ecumenical organizations, 18 August 1995, cf. p 83.

Appeal for the release of archives relating to the impact on public health of nuclear weapons testing in French Polynesia

Letter to H.E. Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, sent from Harare, Zimbabwe, 14 December 1998, cf p 237.

1. 
   INTRODUCTION
   

2. 
   MEANINGS WITHIN THESE BY-LAWS
   
   1. 
      The Board means the Board for International Affairs (CCIA).
      
   2. 
      The Commission means the Commission of Unit III “Justice, Peace & Creation”.
      
   3. 
      The Staff means the staff of Unit III assigned to work on international affairs.
      
3. 
   AIMS
   
   1. 
      It shall be the task of the Board to witness to the Lordship of Christ over human beings and history by serving people in the field of international relations and promoting reconciliation and oneness of human beings by creation; to God’s gracious and redemptive action in history; and to the assurance of the coming kingdom of God in Jesus Christ. This service is demanded by the continuing ministry of Christ in the world of priestly intercession, prophetic judgement, the arousing of hope and conscience and pastoral care. This task necessitates engagement in immediate and concrete issues as well as the formulation of general Christian aims and purposes.
      
   2. 
      In seeking to fulfil this task the Board shall serve the Council, its Units, the member churches, the national and regional ecumenical organizations and Christian world communions with which the Council is related and such other international Christian bodies as may be agreed by the Council (see 3.4 below), as a source of information and guidance in their approach to international problems, as a medium of counsel and action and as an organ in formulating the Christian mind on world issues and bringing that mind effectively to bear upon such issues.
      
   3. 
      The Board will call the attention of churches and councils to problems which are especially claimant upon the Christian conscience at any particular time and to suggest ways in which Christians may act effectively upon those problems in their respective countries and internationally and to respond to issues raised by churches and national and regional ecumenical organizations.
      
   4. 
      Special relations may be negotiated from time to time by the Council with the Christian World Communions, other international Christian bodies and with regional and national councils of churches and the Board shall assist them in their approach to international affairs and be assisted by them.
      
   5. 
      The Board shall encourage:
      
      1. 
         the promotion of peace with justice and freedom;
         
      2. 
         the development of international law and of effective international institutions;
         
      3. 
         the respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, special attention being given to the problem of religious liberty;
         
      4. 
         efforts for disarmament;
         
      5. 
         the furtherance of economic and social justice;
         
      6. 
         acceptance by all nations of the obligation to promote to the utmost the welfare of all peoples and the development of free political institutions;
         
      7. 
         the promotion of the right of self-determination of peoples under alien or colonial domination;
         
      8. 
         the international promotion of social, cultural, educational and humanitarian enterprises.
         
4. 
   FUNCTIONS
   
   1. 
      To initiate and carry out appropriate actions for the furtherance of the aims.
      
   2. 
      To advise and assist in the formulation of the Council’s policies on international affairs.
      
   3. 
      To assist churches and national and regional ecumenical organizations in the formulation of their policies on international affairs and to consult them.
      
   4. 
      To share with the churches information and analysis on critical political issues as part of the educational task.
      
   5. 
      To monitor national and international political developments and to analyze and interpret them, especially as they affect the life and witness of the churches.
      
   6. 
      To arrange for or promote research on selected problems of international justice, world order and peace and to utilise the results in the furtherance of the work of the Board.
      
   7. 
      To support the efforts of the churches and related groups in their activities in conformity with the aims listed in by-law 3 above.
      
   8. 
      To follow up and support at the international level initiatives taken by churches and ecumenical organizations in the areas of concern of the Board.
      
   9. 
      To be a forum for exchange of information and experience among churches and groups in international affairs, especially related to conflict resolution and the promotion of peace and human rights.
      
   10. 
       To make representations to governments in accordance with the policies of the Council in matters of concern to the Council or to any of its member churches.
       
   11. 
       To develop relationships in study and action with non-member churches and organizations including those of other faiths, sharing aims similar to those listed in by-law 3 above.
       
   12. 
       To maintain and provide for the maintenance of contacts with international bodies such as the United Nations and its agencies, including regional bodies, which will assist in the attainment of the aims described in by-law 3.5 above.
       
   13. 
       To represent the Council or to provide for its representation and the coordination thereof before these international bodies, as may be specifically arranged. The Board may also represent, facilitate and help coordinate the representation of member churches, related international Christian organizations and non-member churches before such international bodies.
       
5. 
   MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD AND STAFF
   
   1. 
      The Board shall be composed of 15 members and, ex officio, the Executive Director of Unit III and the Coordinator of International Affairs (CCIA) staff of the Unit.
      
   2. 
      The Central Committee shall appoint the Moderator and members of the Board on the recommendation of the Commission and Unit Committee.
      
   3. 
      Christian knowledge and commitment and technical competence in international affairs and related subjects shall be the chief qualifications sought in all members. There will be an emphasis on laymen and lay women as members of the Board and a proper balance of the membership in respect of geography, age, race, culture and confession shall be sought.
      
   4. 
      The task of a Board member shall be:
      
      1. 
         to attend meetings of the Board and to participate in its work;
         
      2. 
         to correspond with the Officers, drawing their attention to matters which, in his or her view, should occupy their attention and advising them of the relevant data;
         
      3. 
         to cooperate with recognised councils and church agencies and committees in educating public opinion.
         
   5. 
      There shall be a Coordinator of the Unit Staff assigned to the work of International Affairs (CCIA) who, for purposes of the external relations of the Council, shall be designated Executive Secretary of CCIA.
      
   6. 
      The Board shall elect a Vice-Moderator from its membership.
      
   7. 
      The staff assigned by the Unit to work on international affairs will be appointed and employed according to the normal procedures of the Council, though the Moderator and Vice-Moderator will be consulted regarding the appointment of executive staff.
      
   8. 
      The staff will be responsible to the Board and the Executive Director of the Unit for carrying out the work on international affairs.
      
6. 
   PANELS OR ADVISORY GROUPS
   

7. 
   MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
   
   1. 
      The Board shall normally meet every eighteen months at a place and time determined by the Coordinator in consultation with the Moderator and the Executive Director of the Unit.
      
   2. 
      Any eight members of the Board or the General Secretary of the Council may require a meeting to be convened for any purpose within the aims of the Board and the Moderator shall forthwith convene a meeting giving due notice of its purpose.
      
   3. 
      In the case of members who give sufficient notice that they are unable to attend a meeting of the Board, the Moderator and Coordinator may invite a substitute, who shall have the right to speak and to vote.
      
   4. 
      Consultants may be invited by the Moderator and the Coordinator to attend meetings of the Board based on their having special competence on major matters under consideration. They shall have the right to speak, but not to vote.
      
   5. 
      The quorum for meetings of the Board shall be one third of the members.
      
   6. 
      The Board shall determine the general policies to be followed by the Moderator, Vice-Moderator and staff in fulfillment of the aims of the Board. The Board may also approve statements proposed for general publication in the name of the Board, but in this case such statements are subject to the relevant rules of the Council.
      
8. 
   FINANCE
   
   1. 
      The financing of the work of international affairs will be undertaken in the normal way as part of the work of Unit III. The staff will therefore be responsible for working with the Executive Director and Finance Officer of the Unit in preparing a budget for the activities of the Board, which will then be submitted as part of the Unit budget to the Finance Committee and the Central Committee.
      
   2. 
      The Board will receive reports on the budget and funding of the work and will provide oversight of the detailed planning and policy in relation to the funding of programmatic activities and projects relating to its work within the overall policies and budget of the Unit approved by the Central Committee.
      
   3. 
      The Board should assist in developing the financial resources available for the work of international affairs.
      
9. 
   CONTACTS WITH GOVERNMENTS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL BODIES
   
   1. 
      General principles of contact.
      

2. 
   In making representation to national governments or other national entities to advance a Christian view on any problem in accordance with its aims, the Board shall do so ordinarily in consultation with member churches, national councils and the Board members in the country or countries. However, in exceptional circumstances the Board may make such representations without such consultation and even when national or regional bodies do not concur.
   

1. 
   the Board, when meeting, may propose representations in keeping with Council policy;
   
2. 
   the Moderator and Vice-Moderator, in their official capacities, may make such proposals, provided that it is also in agreement with the decisions of the Board and after consultation with the General Secretary of the Council and the Moderator of the Central Committee and with their concurrence;
   
3. 
   a member of the Board may not act in the name of the Board unless specific authorization has been given;
   
4. 
   the Board may, in addition, prepare and recommend statements to the Council for its consideration and to any appropriate assemblies or conferences meeting under the auspices of the Council and to such bodies with which relationships have been agreed under the provisions of by-law 3.4.
   

2. 
   Procedures for contact with the United Nations
   

1. 
   Consultative status with the United Nations, its specialized agencies and other intergovernmental bodies;
   
2. 
   Such contacts with other organs and specialized agencies as may be necessary to accomplish the Board’s aims and the programmes of the Unit;
   
3. 
   The Board shall, with the approval of the General Secretary of the Council, be responsible for facilitating and arranging such direct contact with organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations as may be requested by other Units of the Council and by bodies with which special relations have been agreed under the provisions of by-law 3.4.
   

10. 
    AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
    
    1. 
       These by-laws may be amended by the Central Committee on the recommendation of, or in consultation with, the Board and the Unit Commission.
       
    2. 
       Three months’ notice shall be given to members of the Board in respect of any proposal to consider an amendment to the by-laws at a meeting of the Board or of the Commission.
       

Dr. Janice Love, Moderator United Methodist Church, USA

Dr. Feliciano Carino, United Church of the Philippines

Vice-Moderator

Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o Anglican Church of Kenya

Rev. Dick Avi United Church in Papua New Guinea

Dr. Peta-Anne Baker The United Church of Jamaica

Dra. Rosemarie Bornand Methodist Church of Chile

Pr. Vsevolod Chaplin Russian Orthodox Church

Rev. Dr. Raymond Cuthbert Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Canada

Rev. Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel Evangelical Church in Germany

Rev. Ka Mana Kangudie Evangelical Church, Dem. Rep. of Congo

Ms Nora Kort Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Ms Alice Mogwe Anglican Church of Botswana

Rev. Dr. Park Jong-Wha Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea

Rev. Carlos Sanchez Baptist Church of El Salvador

Rev. Bertalan Tamas Reformed Church in Hungary

ccia MEETINGS^*