NCC General Assembly 2002

NCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY November 14-16, 2002 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Tampa, Florida
Theme: “For the Common Good: Seeking Justice, Working for Peace” General Assembly brings the NCC family together for worship, fellowship, and business. The NCC is an open-meeting organization, which means that visitors may observe its Assembly. Events throughout the Assembly provide an excellent orientation to the life of the NCC. Caucus meetings are held in conjunction with the Assembly. As a service to the various caucuses, their gatherings are listed in the Daily Schedule for information.
Special Features . . . Thursday celebration of the 100^th Anniversary of the Mission Education Movement in North America “Celebrating Who We Are” Friday dinner - learning about the traditions of member communions Saturday dinner celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible Awards presentations by the NCC President and General Secretary Eight Friday forums Daily Bible study and worship Dialogue about the ecumenical landscape Prayer chapel Bookstore and Exhibits Speakers . . . Thursday, November 14- Dr. Dana L. Robert, Truman Collins Professor of World Missions, Boston University, “Education for Mission and the Rise of World Christianity” Friday, November 15 – Dr. Tarek Mitri, Programme Executive for Christian-Muslim Relations and Dialogue, World Council of Churches Interreligious Relations and Dialogue Team, “Christian-Muslim Relations: Historical Realities and Today’s Relationships” Business Items . . . First reading of revised constitution, adoption of revised bylaws plus other important resolutions and reports More program features to come!	How to Register . . . 1. You may download the official registration form and instructions (a Microsoft Word document) by clicking here. Print and fill out the form, then fax it to us at (212) 870-3112 if paying by credit card, or mail it with your check to: 2002 General Assembly, National Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, 8^th Floor, New York, NY 10115-0050. 2. Or call (212) 870-2386 or e-mail ga2002@ncccusa.org and we'll mail or e-mail you a copy of the registration form. Hotel Reservations . . . Contact the Hyatt Regency Tampa by calling 1-800- 233-1234 and ask for the National Council of Churches group rate, which must be secured by a major credit card. Single or double occupancy, $89 per night; triple, $109 per night; quadruple, $129 per night. Deadline was October 13; at the discretion of the Hyatt Regency, subsequent reservations may be possible at the special rate or be charged at the prevailing standard rate (which is substantially higher). These rates are not available on the Hyatt website. Airfare Discounts . . . The NCC has selected Delta Airlines as the official airline for the 2002 General Assembly in Tampa. To take advantage of the special fare arranged with Delta, call Delta Meeting Network Reservations at 1-800-241- 6760, Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. Or, have your travel agent call Delta's toll-free number to obtain these same advantages for you. Refer to file #189327A. This fare is not available on the Delta website.
Daily Schedule -- a working draft in process
Wednesday, November 13
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Nominations Committee meeting 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Officers’ dinner meeting 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm Set up for bookstore and exhibits
Thursday, November 14
7:00 am - 10:30 pm Prayer chapel available for delegates and guests 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Registration Press room and Assembly office open Exhibits and bookstore open 7:00 am - 8:30 am Officers’ breakfast 8:30 am – 11:30 am Executive Board meeting 11:30 am - 1:00 pm 100^th Anniversary of Mission Education lunch. 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm General Assembly Opening Plenary § Worship in celebration of 100^th anniversary of mission education; led by Corey Nelson, Worldwide Ministries Division, Presbyterian Church (USA) and featuring Thuma Mina Mission Theatre Company § President’s welcome and opening statement - Elenie K. Huszagh, Esq. § Florida Council of Churches’ welcome - the Rev. Fred Morris, executive director § Greet one another; introductions § Bible Study: “For the Common Good” – Acts 2:44, “All who believed were together and had all things in common” (NRSV); led by a pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church § Nominations’ Committee report (General Assembly Standing Committee); seating of voting delegates § Approval of minutes of 2001 General Assembly § President's report - Elenie K. Huszagh § General Secretary's report - the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar 3:00 pm - 3:15 pm Break 3:15 pm - 6:15 pm General Assembly Plenary § Speaker: Dr. Dana L. Robert, Truman Collins Professor of World Missions, Boston University, “Education for Mission and the Rise of World Christianity” § Conversation groups led by the Substantive Reflection Task Group: The Changing Landscape of the Ecumenical Movement 6:30pm - 8:00 pm Member communion dinners § American Baptist Churches in the USA § Black Church Liaison/Historic Black Churches § Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)/United Church of Christ § Church of the Brethren § Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches § Episcopal Church § Evangelical Lutheran Church in America § International Council of Community Churches § Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) § Reformed Church in America § The United Methodist Church 9:00 pm - 10:00pm Women’s Caucus* 10:00-11:00 p.m. Young Adult Caucus* 10:00 pm - Open conversation with the General Secretary
Friday, November 15
7:00 am – 10:30 pm Prayer chapel open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Exhibits and Bookstore open 8:00 am – 10:30 pm Press room, Assembly office open 7:00 am – 8:30 am Racial/Ethnic Caucus breakfast Care and Assessment Committee breakfast meeting Ecumenical officers’ meeting and breakfast 9:00 am – 12:00 pm General Assembly plenary § Worship; led by the Rev. Dr. Major L. Jemison, newly elected president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. § Bible study: “Seeking Justice” – Deuteronomy 16:20 “Justice, and only justice, shall you pursue” (NRSV); led by Robert H. Roberts, American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. § Greetings from the Middle East Council of Churches -- Dr. Tarek Mitri § Executive Board report § Officers’ report § Constitution and Bylaws Committee report (General Assembly Standing Committee) Resolution #1: Acceptance of the presentation of the revised constitution for a first reading with action for adoption to occur in the 2003 General Assembly Resolution #2: Adoption of revised NCC bylaws § Church World Service report 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Buffet lunch for Assembly delegates Women’s Caucus lunch* 1:30 pm – 3:45 pm General Assembly plenary § Speaker, Dr. Tarek Mitri, Programme Executive for Christian-Muslim Relations and Dialogue, World Council of Churches Interreligious Relations and Dialogue Team, “Christian-Muslim Relations: Historical Realities and Today’s Relationships” § Report from the delegation to the Middle East § Faith, Justice, Education Program Ministriest report § Administration and Finance Committee report (Executive Board Standing Committee) Resolution #4: Acceptance of FY 2001-2002 audit 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm Break 4:00 pm – 5:45 pm Forums: Seeking Peace, Working for Justice - Ministerial ethics and accountability - The church and public education - Feminist theology and justice for women in the church - Healthcare as a justice issue - Making peace in the Middle East - Christian-Muslim relations - Resourcing the church on issues of diversity - Church World Service focus on Africa 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm All-Assembly dinner: “Celebrating Who We Are”– an opportunity to meet other delegates and learn more about our colleague member communions 10:00 pm Open conversation with the General Secretary
Saturday, November 16
7:00 am – 10:30 pm Prayer chapel open 8:00 am – 10:30 pm Press room, Assembly office open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Exhibits and bookstore open 7:00 am – 8:30 am Heads of Communion breakfast meeting 9:00 am – 10:30 am General Assembly plenary § Worship; led by the Rev. Bertrice Wood, United Church of Christ, executive director of Churches Uniting in Christ § Bible study: “Working for Peace” – Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (NRSV); led by Church of the Brethren delegation § Report from Bible Translation and Utilization § CWS financial report 10:45 am – 12:15 pm Conversation groups led by the Substantive Reflection Task Group 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Buffet lunch for Assembly Delegates 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm General Assembly plenary § Vote on resolutions Resolution #5: A Call to the State of Israel to Recognize the Canonically Elected Patriarch of Jerusalem (action on this resolution is needed only if this recognition has not yet occurred) Additional resolutions as may be presented § Reports from NCC/CWS delegations to: West Africa, Cuba, Armenia, South Africa, Guatemala § Report on progress of Mobilization to Overcome Poverty § Commission reports: Faith and Order, Interfaith Relations, Communication § Open dialogue and question session 6:00-6:45 pm All-Assembly Reception 6:45-9:00 pm All-Assembly Dinner § Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible § General Secretary's Award honoring Dr. Jack B. McConnell, M.D., Founder, Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, Hilton Head, N.C. § President's Award honoring Her Excellency the Honorable Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, Ambassador from Cyprus to the United States § Closing prayer
Sunday, November 17
All delegates are encouraged to attend worship in the Tampa area. It would be great to have all Heads of Communion and/or Ecumenical Officers preach in local churches, thus advancing the presence of the ecumenical movement. * Please note that Caucus meetings are not official gatherings of the General Assembly, but are held in conjunction with the Assembly. As a service to the various caucuses, their gatherings are listed in the daily schedule for information.

Theme: “For the Common Good: Seeking Justice, Working for Peace”

Theme: “For the Common Good:
Seeking Justice, Working for Peace”