GOVERNANCE
The General Assembly – the highest decision-making body of the WSCF – is the most representative expression of the WSCF’s life where the different members and representatives from all corners of the world have the chance to come together to talk about issues important to their activities and to direct the work of the Federation for the next four years. The mandate of the General Assembly will be fulfilled by the elected Executive Committee. The Federation is governed by its Constitution and Bye-Laws ratified and amended as needed by the General Assembly.
The Credential Committee verified and validated the election process that elects the new WSCF leadership for the next quadrennium. The simple majority based on the 50% + 1 of the voting members (official Representatives + ExCo members + Officers) who attended the voting process was reached at 38 votes as 75 voting members attended the V-GA.
We welcome our new Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons, and Honorary Treasurer.
The Extraordinary Virtual General Assembly also welcomes the ExCo appointment of Marcelo Leites as WSCF General Secretary for the next quadrennium and receives the new ExCo representatives.
ELECTED
| Elected WSCF Officers for the quadrennium, 2021 to 2025 | |
| Chairperson | Geevarghese Mor Coorilos |
| Co-Vice-Chairpersons | Ramy Farouk Mahrous Sarofim Hanna Pavlina Manavska |
| Honorary Treasurer | Ebere Ubesie |
Geevarghese Mor Coorilos
(Bishop George)Asia-Pacific
Ramy Farouk Mahrous
Sarofim HannaMiddle East
Pavlina ManavskaEurope
Ebere UbesieAfrica
Vote Count
| Candidate Votes | Yes | No | Abstain | |
| Chairperson | Geevarghese Mor Coorilos | 59 | 3 | 5 |
| Vice-Chairperson | Ramy Farouk Mahrous Sarofim Hanna | 50 | 9 | 8 |
| Vice-Chairperson | Pavlina Manavska | 53 | 10 | 4 |
| Honorary Treasurer | Ebere Ubesie | 62 | 0 | 5 |
WSCF Election of Officers 2021 - Votes Received
Canvassing
| Polling Statistics | |
| Registered voters | 81 |
| Confirmed voters | 75 |
| Unconfirmed voters | 06 |
| Invitations sent | 81 |
| Ballots received | 67 |
| Ballot 01 received | 7/29/2021 14:16 |
| Ballot 67 received | 7/31/2021 08:33 |
More than one-half of the elected members shall constitute a quorum of which at least one half shall be registered students at the time of their election.
Voting members take note:
- Check if your name is listed and that your information is correct.
- Click here to make sure your registered email address is correct.
- When voting opens, you will be notified by email with the link to the online ballot.
- Select members who are representing two bodies will receive two invitations to vote.
List Registered Voters as of 27 July 2021:
Click on each candidate for their video, profile, and the Search Committee's rationale for endorsing them.
George CoorilosAsia-Pacific
Ramy HannaMiddle East
Pavlina ManavskaEurope
Ebere UbesieAfrica
Profile
Ebere Ubesie
- Africa (based in Nigeria), female, forty-six years old
- Member of the Anglican Church
- Chartered Accountant by profession and education
- Started membership in the SCM of Nigeria while in secondary school
- Held different functions in the SCM, including that of National Treasurer and National President
- WSCF delegate to the UN Commission of the Status of Women
Ebere Ubesie, Quote from her application:
As I apply for election as the Honorary Treasurer of WSCF Global, my contribution will be, firstly, to protect the integrity of the Federation’s accounts, ensure the sustainability of its finances, and be an effective link between the last team and the future one.
Ebere Ubesie, Quote from her interview:
My experience in supervisory roles in the corporate setting and in auditing will be a strength to aid in collaborating with staff persons in drawing up financial reports and draft budgets.
Rationale
RATIONALE for the Search Committee’s decision to present
Ebere Ubesie’s candidature for Honorary Treasurer
Ebere joined the Student Christian Movement in Nigeria during secondary school where her leadership skills were recognised. She rose through the ranks and served in several leadership positions, among them, National Finance Secretary, Coordinator of the National Women’s and Children’s Affairs and National Treasurer. Among her achievements as National Treasurer was to “modernise” the financial system of the SCM of Nigeria.
In order to face global challenges, Ebere believes that the WSCF should “evolve with the times” and “keep up with the changes” especially with regards to developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning which (currently writing a PHD thesis on this topic at University of Johannesburg), pushes her to “trust God that in the Federation we can use Machine learning to build sustainable, effective and efficient systems.”
Ebere affirms the role of Senior Friends in ensuring financial sustainability. Her vision for the Federation will include their “full inclusion” in the life of the WSCF as well as “increasing their sense of duty” towards the Federation.
The Search Committee, in its choice of presenting Ebere’s candidature, underscores her professional skills as a chartered accountant under the Nigerian and UK professional accounting bodies, which will strongly contribute to the way in which financial reports are presented and analysed, ensuring that they are both effective and efficient. She will be a good support to the Executive Committee as they grapple with the financial challenges facing the Federation, building capacity and ensuring the knowledge that is essential in understanding how the Federation’s financial system works.
Click on each candidate for their video, profile, and the Search Committee's rationale for endorsing them.
George CoorilosAsia-Pacific
Ramy HannaMiddle East
Pavlina ManavskaEurope
Ebere UbesieAfrica
Profile
Geevarghese Coorilos (Bishop George)
- Asia-Pacific, male, Senior Friend, fifty-six years old
- Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, India
- Moderator of the World Council of Churches’ Commission on World Mission and Evangelism
- Member of the WCC Reference Group on Human Sexuality
- Working Group Member of the Global Christian Forum
- Former Chairperson, Student Christian Movement of India
- Doctor of Theology and Ethics
Bishop George, A Personal Vision for the Federation in the Twenty-First Century,
Quote from his application:
The ecumenical movement today is facing a deep crisis, a crisis brought about by certain bankruptcies; a bankruptcy of prophetic vision has taken the ‘movement’ away from the global ecclesial fellowship; a bankruptcy of fresh intellectual vision and ideas; and a bankruptcy of moral leadership which suffers from patriarchal, business-oriented ethos that lacks a sense of prophetic commitment, dynamism and integrity. The language of the ecumenical movement has become stale and repetitive and is not in harmony with the anguish and aspirations of people in their struggles for justice. WSCF, in this context, I believe, is faced with a new challenge: to be an “ecumenical movement ahead of the ecumenical movement.” Differently put, the fresh challenge for the Federation is to offer an alternative vision and praxis for the global ecumenical movement.
Quote from the interview with Bishop George, conducted on 14 June 2021:
In the context of the pandemic and other challenges, we need to reorient ourselves. … We cannot go back to the normal ways of doing things. New utopias need to be created which include new ways of forging solidarity. We need less structure, less institution, and more movement.
Rationale
RATIONALE for the Search Committee’s decision to present
Bishop George’s candidature for Chairperson of the WSCF
Bishop George has very strong roots in the SCM in India since his student days. This experience is deeply theological and profoundly political at the same time. It is based on that classic SCM tradition of reading the signs of the times with “the newspaper on one hand and the Bible on the other.” Though an authority in his church, Bishop George is not afraid to challenge and provoke if it means bringing the Church closer to the poor. His belief in the power of young people and students to effect change is genuine.
Bishop George holds various positions of authority in the World Council of Churches and is respected by church and ecumenical leaders in ecumenical circles and international church bodies. His position as Chairperson of the WSCF will help bring a certain prestige to the WSCF as well as the attention and respect of the ecumenical movement, churches and others within the global ecumenical network.
Bishop George’s understanding of the SCM’s role in ecumenical formation is unequivocal. He states, “It would be important for the Federation to invest on youth leadership that is prophetically progressive and socially committed. To this end, the Federation needs to concentrate on ‘formation’ of ecumenically minded and socially sensitive leaders. “Schools of ecumenical formation” where students and young people would be trained with a vision and an organic curriculum of transformative ecumenism would be a priority, in my vision for the Federation.”
Bishop George believes that dialogue within the Federation, between regions and within the Executive Committee and with Senior Friends is crucial. His position of authority combined with a pastoral approach in dealing with conflict and differences of opinion could address the rigidity and intransigence that often blocks the Federation from moving forward. When asked about his achievement as a leader, he said that his “inclination to work as a team combined with a pastoral touch” have helped him negotiate conflicts and made him an effective leader in the many organisations he has been involved with.
In the preceding paragraphs, the Search Committee highlighted some of the most important facets of Bishop George’s beliefs, character and experience. Taken together, the Search Committee believes that Bishop George is the best candidate to take up the position of Chairperson of the Federation.
