Press Release No: 16/15
13 June 2016
Brussels
From 8 to 10 June the CEC Governing Board held its biannual meeting in Brussels. The agenda addressed both issues relating to governance and programmatic work, especially leading toward the CEC Assembly in 2018.
Preparations for the 2018 Assembly included developing a process for choosing the Assembly location and nominating the Assembly Planning Committee. The Board also discussed potential themes, especially in light of the current crises facing Europe. As part of these discussions, the board received and approved the publication of an open letter on the European project addressed to its membership and partners. The letter and further information will be distributed this week.
Regular business included approval of the November 2015 minutes, reports from CEC President Rt Rev. Christopher Hill KCVO, DD and CEC General Secretary Fr Heikki Huttunen. The general secretary’s report included update from executive staff on programmatic work. The board also reviewed and approved audited financial statements for 2015. The communications coordinator presented the 2015 Annual Report; it will be delivered to CEC constituency in the coming weeks. Rev. Dr Sorin Selaru of the Romanian Orthodox Church was approved as a proxy member for His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph of Western and Southern Europe, also of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Ms Marianne Skaiaa will join the TRG on Peacebuilding and Reconciliation and the board approved the nomination of Ms. Pirkko Mäkinen from the Orthodox Church of Finland to the TRG on Human Rights. Ms Arja Stenroos from the Church of Sweden was nominated to the Budget Committee.
The Board was also informed of the general secretary's decision to hire Ms Katerina Pekridou as Dialogue Secretary. Ms Pekridou will join the Brussels office, hopefully by the end of 2016.
The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe delivered a report and prepared a public issues statement on the current refugee and migration crisis. The public statement calling on European states and EU Institutions to contribute to the UN high-level meeting to address large movements of refugees and migrants. To read the full text of the statement, please click here.
Throughout the meetings the board members offered prayer from their different respective traditions. The next regular meeting of the CEC Governing Board will take place in November 2016.
For more information or an interview, please contact:
Erin Green
Communication Coordinator
Tel: +32 2 234 68 42
Email: eeg@cec-kek.be
Website: www.ceceurope.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceceurope
Twitter: @ceceurope