The World Council of Churches will hold its first meeting its first meeting in Shanghai and Nanjing later this month with a focus on the unique situation of Chinese churches and ecumenical relations in the region.

The June 9 to 16 meeting is being organized by the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, the global ecumenical church body said in a statement.

The CCIA is a body within the Council that gives advice on public policy and advocacy while also analyzing systemic issues that underlie injustice and social transformation. The CCIA's work also involves promoting a peaceful and reconciling role of religion in conflicts and on inter-religious dialogue.

The meeting is being hosted by the Chinese government's China Christian Council and the National Committee of the Three Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China.

The WCC notes that the CC, with 23 million members is the largest member constituency of the WCC in Asia.

WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit will also attend, marking his first visit to China since he took office in 2010.

Main deliberations, taking place in Nanjing, will include a seminar on "Understanding China." The issues covered will include "diverse perspectives on market reforms and the development in socialist systems, poverty eradication and environmental sustainability, China's religions and religious policies, churches in China and other themes."

"This is the fifty first meeting of the CCIA. The meeting will be a historic event as it is the first time since the inception of the WCC that an international ecumenical gathering will take place in China, and will be hosted by a WCC member church in China," said Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, director of the CCIA.

The WCC said the schedule of events includes meetings in Shanghai followed by Sunday worship services in local Chinese congregations. Participants will also make visits to "experience urban and rural models of life in the context of modern China."
T
In addition, he CCIA will also discuss its future program directions and significance of international affairs in the ecumenical movement. Discussions will also include priorities for public policy and global advocacy initiatives in the emerging geo-political situation.