Jingqin Gu, chief of the Overseas Relations Department of the China Christian Council, has been elected as a member of the second Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches.
During its semi-annual meeting held from 18 to 24 June in Johannesburg, South Africa, the current central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) elected the second executive committee of 20 members, along with a five-person leadership.
The current central committee was formed during the 11th WCC Assembly in 2022, with both Manhong Lin and Jingqin Gu from the China Christian Council serving as members. Lin served on the previous executive committee elected in 2022, while Gu has been selected as a member of the new executive committee.
Serving as the WCC's chief governing body between assemblies, the central committee convenes every two years. It is responsible for implementing policies adopted by the Assembly, overseeing programmes, and supervising the Council's budget.
The recent meeting in Johannesburg was the second gathering of the current central committee. It included a midterm review of the Council's strategies and governance structures, and initiated preparations for the next WCC Assembly scheduled for 2030, inviting churches to host the next assembly. The committee also elected members for the executive committee, assembly planning groups, and midterm evaluators.
According to the WCC constitution and rules, "The executive committee shall be entrusted with and made accountable for specific governance authority and responsibility of the World Council of Churches as delegated by the central committee, with authority to establish limits and guidelines within which management and staff of the Council shall implement the policies and programs of the Council." The executive committee is accountable to the central committee and must report on its work at each of the committee's meetings.
The executive committee is tasked with appointing programme staff, monitoring ongoing activities, and overseeing the Council's budget as approved by the central committee. It meets twice a year.
