Worship Service
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary
of the World Council of Churches
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 11, 1998
First United Methodist Church, Evanston, Ill.
Senior Pastor: The Rev. Dean Francis
Preaching at the Service: The Rev. Dr. Emilio Castro, former General Secretary, World Council of Churches
In addition to the NCC General Assembly members, we expect approximately 20 representatives of judicatories in Northern Illinois to vest and process with us. The banners of both the NCC and World Council of Churches will be in the procession. The primary liturgist for the service will be Bishop Vinton Anderson, African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first President of the World Council of Churches from an historic Black church. Bishop Craig Anderson, NCC President, and the Rev. Dr. Joan B. Campbell, NCC General Secretary, will serve as liturgists as will Bishop C. Joseph Spragg of the Northern Illinois Conference, United Methodist Church, and United Methodist Bishop James Mathrews (retired).
The festive service will include liturgical elements from resources prepared for the WCC's 50th Anniversary Assembly (Dec. 3-14, 1998, Harare, Zimbabwe), and testimonies to the WCC's witness to unity.