GA Theme

The 34th WSCF General Assembly theme is “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28). The theme from the prophet Joel is quoted in the story of Pentecost found in the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2. The text emphasises the role of youth in the dreams of the early church and the sense of optimism experienced at Pentecost. This theme connects WSCF with the prophetic tradition and expresses a sense of optimism, vision, strength and purpose for this General Assembly and the coming quadrennium. The theme coincides with the WSCF global theme of study and action for 2008, which is “Students in the 21st Century”. WSCF annual themes for this quadrennium have included Women (2005), Empire (2006) and Migration (2007).

GA Introduction

The purpose of the General Assembly is to review the last four years, plan the next quadrennium of WSCF’s life and renew the Federation’s leadership. As well as these core tasks, the 34th General Assembly aims to raise up leaders for the ecumenical movement, church and society for the coming decades. For more information on the purpose, structure and history of WSCF General Assemblies, please go to What is the GA?

GA Programme Overview

The WSCF 34th General Assembly begins on August 1, 2008 and runs till August 9, 2008. Immediately prior to the General Assembly are the Men’s and Women’s Pre-Assemblies from July 31 - August 1. The WSCF global Executive Committee will meet before and after the Assembly from July 29-30 and on August 10.

The General Assembly programme is made up of keynote speeches, Bible studies, vision sessions, commissions for capacity training & strategic planning, worship and business sessions.

Gender Pre-Assemblies

An integral part of the General Assembly programme are the Women’s and Men’s Pre-Assemblies scheduled for the two days preceding the Assembly.

Women’s Pre-Assembly

“Your young women shall see visions"

Dates: July 30 - August 1
Venues: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf/Ottawa Senate Chamber/Parliament Hill
The Women’s Pre-Assembly will focus on empowering women’s leadership and proactive participation in the decision making, vision sessions and planning of the Assembly. The women’s leadership training includes a full-day programme on Canadian women’s leadership and political history in the Senate Chamber in Ottawa on August 1st. Canadian Senator Nancy Ruth will address the women about women’s experiences in the Canadian political system and dialogue on women’s leadership strategies with the women delegates. Women’s Pre-Assembly delegates will tour the sculptures on Parliament Hill and hear the stories of political history behind them. The programme will conclude with a prayer service at the statue of the Famous Five (five Canadian women who won the “Persons Case” in 1929. This court ruling legally declared women as persons under the British North America Act and made them eligible for appointment to the Canadian Senate).
Organisers: Ms. Sheilagh McGlynn, Ms. Christine Housel
Resource persons: Senator Nancy Ruth, Ms. Fulata Mbano-Moyo.

Men’s Pre-Assembly

“Your young men shall dream dreams"

Dates: July 30- August 1
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
The aims of the Men’s Pre-Assembly are to build community with men at the General Assembly, to start a process of personal reflection (micro) and political analysis (macro) on the position of men in SCM/WSCF, the church, personal relationships and society and to contribute to a WSCF vision of masculinity and gender relations. The Bible study theme will be men and masculinity in the Bible.
A thematic focus will be on men and violence. Small group discussion topics include: men and violence, men and sexuality, men and sexual violence, men and family, men and work, boys and violence, violence against women, models of power, gender and power, gender and church (including Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Pentecostal approaches to men and church) and ‘How gender sensitive is WSCF?’
Organisers: Mr. Michael Wallace, Mr. Luciano Kovacs

Keynote addresses

Keynote Sermon - Revd Dr James A. Forbes Jr.

Time:Friday 1 August,during Assembly Opening Worship 4.30-6pm.
Venue:Grand Salle/Ancienne Chapelle, Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, 3200 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal.
Renowned African American preacher, theologian and leader of the US "Let Justice Roll" living wage campaign, Revd Dr James A. Forbes Jr. will preach during the WSCF 34th General Assembly Opening Liturgy. Open to the public.

Keynote Address I- Dr Rubem Alves

Time: Saturday 2 August, 9.30-10.30 am.
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Ancienne Chapelle/Grand Salle
Visitor’s All-Day GA Pass: C$22.00/C$15.00 students, seniors.
A keynote address will be given to the Assembly by renowned theologian, educator, psychoanalyst and author in theology and theopoetics, Dr Rubem Alves of Brazil. Dr Alves will speak on the Assembly’s theme of prophecy and on the experience of his generation since the prophetic and revolutionary student experiences of 1968. For more information on Dr Alves’ speech, please see the General Assembly Latest News section on this site. For more information on Rubem Alves go to the Wikipedia article and related links.

Keynote Biblical address - Rev’d. Dr. Patricia Kirkpatrick

Time: Saturday 2 August, 11.30 am - 12.30pm
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Ancienne Chapelle/Grand Salle
Visitor’s All-Day GA Pass: C$22.00/C$15.00 students, seniors.

A keynote Biblical address entitled "Prophecy Past and Present" will be offered by the Rev’d. Dr. Patricia Kirkpatrick, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Hebrew Bible scholar from McGill University, Montreal. Dr Kirkpatrick’s fields of interest are the Hebrew Bible, Old Testament Studies, Oral Narrative Composition and Transmission, Folklore and Ancient Historiography. She currently teaches Biblical studies papers on the literature of ancient Israel, ancient historiography, the archaeology of ancient Israel and women and the Christian Tradition.

Keynote Address II- Senator Nancy Ruth

Time: Monday 4 August, 9.30-10.30 am.
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Ancienne Chapelle/Grand Salle
Visitor’s All-Day GA Pass: C$22.00/C$15.00 students, seniors.
An address will be given on the theme “Empowering Visions: Student Christian Movements, Human Rights and Social Change” by Canadian Senator Nancy Ruth. Nancy Ruth is a senior friend of SCM Canada/WSCF and has been active in various religious, professional, political, educational and non-profit organisations in Canada, Britain and the United States of America. She is an advocate of women's social change in Canada and has co-founded many organisations to this end, including the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund, the Canadian Women's Foundation, Toronto's The Linden School, the Women's Future Fund and the Charter of Rights Coalition. Nancy Ruth has been described as a “Red Tory” and names her passions as working on issues in women's rights, poverty, politics and economics. For more information on Nancy Ruth, please visit the Nancy Ruth website.

Keynote address III- Dr Gregory Baum

Time: Thursday 7 August, 9.30 - 10.30am
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Ancienne Chapelle/Grand Salle
Visitor’s All-Day GA Pass: C$22.00/C$15.00 students, seniors.
Dr Gregory Baum is an influential Canadian Roman Catholic theologian and ecumenist. Formerly Professor of theology and sociology at the University of Toronto and then Professor of Theological Ethics at Montreal’s McGill University, Gregory Baum has been a guide and inspiration to generations of students of many different faiths and backgrounds. A brilliant scholar, he also lives his commitment to ecumenism and social justice and his writings continue to bring an ethical dimension to important contemporary political and economic issues. During Vatican II he was a peritus, or theological advisor, at the Ecumenical Secretariat, the commission responsible for three conciliar documents - On Religious Liberty, On Ecumenism and On the Church's Relation to Non-Christian Religions. From 1962 to 2004, he was the editor of The Ecumenist, a review of theology, culture and society. He is currently on the editorial board of a social justice review published by Justice et foi (a Jesuit Centre for social, economic and political analysis) in Montreal.

Assembly Commissions

Dates/times: 2.30-4.00pm, (Orientation to Commissions), 4.30-6.00pm, August 3
11.00am-1pm/ 2.30-6.00pm, August 4
2.30 -6.00 pm, August 5
2.30 -6.00pm, August 6
2.30 -6.00pm, August 7 (with Senior Friends)
9:30-10:30am, August 8
Venues: Third floor meeting rooms, main building, Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf.
Organisers: Ms. Christine Housel, Mr. Michael Wallace
Facilitators: WSCF regional & global staff and global Executive Committee members

The four commissions of the GA are designed to address areas that are at the heart of WSCF’s identity and life: ecumenical leadership, advocacy and solidarity, Biblical and theological formation and capacity building. The purpose of the commissions is to give each group of delegates the opportunity to explore one area in depth and then bring their learnings and recommendations to the plenary. Each commission will be assigned relevant areas of the WSCF global work to evaluate as one part of the larger theme of the commission. All of the commissions will consider the impact of gender justice and women’s empowerment issues as an integral part of their commission’s work. Every delegate will be part of a GA Commission and guests will be invited to participate in commission sessions.

Commission 1: Raising Prophets: Ecumenical Leadership Formation Commission

This commission will look at our current context and examine the question of ecumenical leadership formation. The commission will also explore the relationship between ecumenism and interfaith partnerships; in addition to working together with others from different Christian traditions, WSCF recognises that current ecumenical leaders need to be prepared to dialogue and work with people from other religions. This commission will look at the theological imperative for ecumenical and interfaith work and will discuss how to be involved in interfaith partnerships while fully embracing our own traditions. The commission will strategise about how WSCF may best take initiative in the area of interfaith partnership, which is of growing importance in the world.

Commission One Resource People

Mr. Patrice Claude Brodeur (Canada), World Conference on Religion for Peace,
Ms. Natalie Maxson (Canada), World Council of Churches Programme Executive for Youth and Young Adults
Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhama (Sri Lanka), WCC Director of Inter-Religious Dialogue and Co-operation

Commission 2: Prophecy in Action: Advocacy and Solidarity Commission

From its founding in 1895 until now, WSCF has been engaged with the needs of the world and actively partnering with others who also wish to make a positive difference in the world. This partnering happens through projects on local levels, by standing in solidarity with others who are protesting against injustice (as in, for example, recent statements issued by WSCF in solidarity with the people in Burma/Myanmar and Zimbabwe) and through global advocacy work at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, United Nations Human Rights Council and UNESCO - in many cases working together with other NGOs, ecumenical and youth organisations. This commission will look at case studies of past local and global initiatives, learn from experts in the field and work to set priorities for WSCF’s advocacy and solidarity agenda. We will discuss how to improve our internal WSCF communications between the global and grassroots levels and how to continue building up our external partnerships so as to advocate most effectively. We will also look at the Biblical and theological framework that undergirds our advocacy and solidarity work.

Commission Two Resource people

Rev’d Chris Ferguson (Canada), WCC Representative to the UN in New York, Ms. Christine Housel (USA),
Mr. Luciano Kovacs, WSCF North America Regional Secretary (Italy)
Ms. Necta Montes, WSCF Asia-Pacific Regional Secretary (Philippines)

Commission 3: Radical Renewal: Biblical and Theological Commission

Bible study and the study of theology have always played an important role in the life of the Student Christian Movement. In SCMs, students are challenged to view the Bible afresh with the same thoroughness and depth they bring to their chosen fields of study and are exposed to a variety of approaches to Biblical scholarship. Theological questioning underpins the whole life and work of SCM. Students are invited to continuously ask theological questions, “Where is God in this situation?” “How do we understand what God is saying to us in our context?” “How do our answers to these questions challenge us to action in the world around us?” WSCF recognises the study of the Bible and theology as a core activity, as an inspiration for personal and communal life and for action in our societies. This commission will seek to understand why this is not so for many young people today and to discuss how we may continue to strengthen our efforts in a way that speaks into today’s context effectively.

Commission Three Resource people

Dr. Douglas John Hall (Canada), McGill University (to be confirmed)
Mr. Demetrius Semien (USA), Berea College
Ms. Fulata Mbano-Moyo (Malawi), WCC Women’s Desk
Rev’d Dr Thomas Wieser WSCF historian and Biblical scholar (Switzerland)

Commission 4: Making the Vision Real: Capacity Building Commission

This commission focuses on the need for skills development for Student Christian Movements so that they will continue to be sustained and supported by good technical and strategic leadership and organisational best practices. Throughout its programmes and activities, WSCF aims to both model best practice and to directly provide leadership and movement building skills to students, so that they may develop their own leadership and pass on good practices to others in their SCMs and communities. This commission will work to define the movement development needs of the Federation and of our SCMs, articulate a vision of what we want to be achieving at every level of WSCF (locally, nationally, regionally and globally) and offer practical training in relevant aspects of movement building skills. Training areas will include funding applications, monitoring and evaluation of projects, reporting, budgeting, communications, networking, peer support and management and administration. The commission aims to provide students with additional skills that they may use immediately in their own contexts, as well as to make recommendations for the global strategic plan on how to build capacity throughout the Federation.

Commission Four Resource people

Ms. Cathy Williams (UK) Specialist in policy, research and project management on sustainable development, TWWP
Rev’d Rothang Chhangte, Church World Service (TBC)
Ms. Marsha Lougheed Paige, Centennial Fund Development Officer (Trinidad and Tobago)

Bible Studies

Date/time: 8.30 - 9.30am, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 August.
Venues: Third floor meeting rooms, main building, Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Participants will engage in Bible study every morning guided by a broad range of Canadian hermeneutics and perspectives. The six daily Bible study sessions will be resourced by group facilitators who will use a book of Bible Studies edited for the General Assembly by former WSCF global Executive Committee member and theological scholar, Dr Mario DeGiglio-Bellemare, entitled “Your Sons and Daughters Shall Prophesy: Bible Studies and Theological Reflections on Prophetic Hope”. Each chapter contains a Bible Study by a Canadian Biblical writer that will engage participants with Biblical texts through the following perspectives:

The Pentecost of social movements - Lee Cormie
Critique of neoliberal capitalism - Michel Beaudin
Indigenous people’s perspectives - Denise Nadeau
Feminism and women's histories - Sylvie Paquette Lessard
A Haitian perspective on prayer - Yves-Engene Joseph
Empire - Mario DeGiglio-Bellemare
Ecological theology - Gwenda Wells
Organiser: Dr Mario DeGiglio Bellemare

Assembly worship

Each day of the GA will be framed by innovative ecumenical worship lead by a skilled global worship team. We will worship God, creating space for the Holy Spirit to speak and move, acknowledging our common belief in Christ and confessing our need for God’s presence and action in our community. Our times of worship will also serve as exposure to the many churches, cultures and traditions that we represent. Our goal in worship is to express and experience the unity that we have in Christ and to open the riches of different regions and denominations to the Assembly’s participants.

Worship animation team

Worship animator - Rev’d DeLynn Celec (Canada), Rev’d Dora Arce-Valentin (Cuba), Rev’d Michael Wallace, Ms. Jooa Vuorinen

Opening Worship

Time: Friday 1 August, 4.30 -6.00pm
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Ancienne Chapelle/Grand Salle

Morning worship

Time: 8.00-8.30am August 2, August 4-9.
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Ancienne Chapelle/Grand Salle
At morning worship each day, students from different WSCF regions (North America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Latin America and Caribbean, Europe) will lead us in prayer, sharing the music, languages, and liturgical traditions of their many countries and cultures. For more detail on which morning’s worship will be led by which region, please see the GA Timetable.

Midday worship

Time: 1.00-1.30pm, August 2, August 4-9.
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Ancienne Chapelle/Grand Salle
For midday worship each day, we will share in a Eucharist or other service led by clergy from different church traditions in greater Montréal. Services will be offered from each of the United Church of Canada, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Anglican and Presbyterian traditions. For more detail on which afternoon’s worship will be led by which churches, please see the GA Timetable.

Evening prayer

Time: 9.00 - 9.20pm, August 2, August 4 - 8.
In the evening, we will have worship services that are created and led by a worship animation team and student worship leaders from around the globe.

Closing Worship

Time: 7.00 - 8.00 pm, August 9.
Venue: Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Ancienne Chapelle/Grand Salle

Assembly Chaplains

Two local clergy from Montreal will support the Assembly as chaplains to the Assembly with pastoral care, group facilitation and worship animation.

Chaplains

Rev’d Gwenda Wells, McGill University Chaplain.
Rev’d Sharon Moon, United Church of Canada minister.

Experiential Learning/Exposures

Date/time: Monday 4 August, 2.30 - 6.00pm
Venues: Hosted by organisations around and near Montreal

The General Assembly contains a programme of experiential learning which will take delegates to engage with and learn from communities and ministries engaged in social justice work in Montreal. Montréal has much to offer as a living case study of the many and various complexities, gifts and problems found in contemporary North American society. WSCF has relationships with people and communities who work through initiatives in environmental justice, indigenous issues, urban poverty and immigrant/ refugee issues. There is nothing that teaches so well as exposure to living realities, so GA delegates will supplement conversation and analysis with visits to local people and projects. These programmes will include visits to the local groups and organisations listed below.

First Nations/Indigenous People

Kanesatake: Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine/Local community
Kanewake: Quebec Native Women (community, history)

Urban Solidarity Programmes

Tour of Queer - GLBT Montreal (community, history)
Montreal City Mission (refugees, homelessness)
Refugees: Action Refugiés
Homelessness- Mission Bon Acceuil
Justice Tour of Chinatown – Immigrant History
Justice Tours with l’Autre Montréal
-Montréal au Féminin (Women's history of Montreal)
-Vraiment égaux ? : trois cents ans de lutte au racisme (Really Equal? :three hundred years of fighting racism)
Cadet-Roussel Organic Farm: Ecology and Urban Food Program

Exposure visits resource people

Pastor Richard Paré (Mission Bon Acceuil), Michael MacEachen (GLBT Montreal), Jen de Combe (Montreal City Mission), Tom Dear (Kahnawake: History and Culture), George Rider
(Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine), Harvey Gabriel (Kanehsatake: History and Culture), Anne Roussel, Anne Roussel (Cadet-Roussel Organic Farm), Trevor Fraser (Justice Tour of Chinatown), Katherine Browne (History of Women in Montréal), Fannie Brunet
(Montreal history of struggles against racism tour).

Local Church Visits

Date: Sunday morning 3 August, 8.00 am - 1pm.
Venues: Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches around Montreal city
GA Delegates, staff and leaders will join in worship and meet with local church communities around the city of Montreal on the second morning of the General Assembly. Churches will host between 10 and twenty delegates in their regular morning services and welcome delegates to learn about their communities and their ministries.

Business Sessions

Times: (General business) 11am-1pm, 6 August
(ExCo & Officer elections) 11.00am-1pm, Friday 8 August
(General Secretary elections) 2.30pm -4pm, Friday 8 August

The assembly’s business sessions will deal with the constitutional requirements of the WSCF General Assembly such as affiliations of new member movements, oversight of policy and procedure for the WSCF global Personnel and Finance Committees and the election of new staff and officers for the global Federation.

WSCF Executive Committee

The outgoing 2004-2008 quadrennium WSCF global Executive Committee will meet before the General Assembly from July 29-30, at the GA venue, Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Room 3.04. The incoming global 2008-2012 Executive Committee will meet after the Assembly on August 10, at the General Assembly venue, Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. Click here to view the ExCo Timetable.

Stewards' Programme

The General Assembly Stewards' Programme is an opportunity for youth who are committed to working for justice and peace from a place of spiritual
seeking, to connect with other youth with a similar vision through the WSCF General Assembly. The programme will offer North American students (new to the ecumenical movement) a chance to learn about international ecumenical life, while supporting the administration and functioning of the Assembly.

Stewards will assist the Assembly staff in administration and media tasks
and take part in a stewards' training, networking and community development programme.
Organiser: Ms. Emily Carr