Video

Vice-Chairperson:

Pavlina Manavska

EUROPE

Profile

Vice-Chairperson: Pavlina Manavska

• Europe (Based in the US until May 2022), female, thirty-one years old
• Member of the United Methodist Church
• Currently a German teacher and MA student in Translation
• Member of the Methodist Youth in Macedonia (organisation relating to the WSCF-Europe)
• Co-opted Member of the European Regional Committee from 2015 to 2019
• International Project Manager (volunteer) for WSCF Europe, 2015 to 2017
• Campaigns Coordinator for WSCF Europe (volunteer), 2017 to 2019

Pavlina Manavska, Quote from Application:

The last 4 years, I was on the Regional Committee of WSCF-Europe and there were few things that were in my heart. Reaching out to young people and building relationships that can move mountains no matter the distance. It was a personal challenge for me to be an advocate and spread the work of WSCF with as many young people as possible. I wanted people to experience at least half of what I have found in WSCF, and not to be afraid to join no matter their religious background.

Pavlina Manavska, Quote from the Interview:

…I believe that God is interacting with us and we don’t understand at first. I believe that if we want to change something, we first have to understand who we are. The newly elected team should have a good sense and knowledge of themselves and we discover a lot about ourselves by listening to others. My idea of the team that will work together for the Federation will be a group who will learn about each other by listening, to be comfortable with each other and together come up with solutions that work … My job as campaigns coordinator in WSCF Europe was to be connect and establish relationships with SCMs. Being in constant dialogue with them, I realized that dialogue can already accomplish a lot.

Rationale

RATIONALE for the Search Committee’s decision to present
Pavlina Manavska’s candidature for the position of Vice-Chairperson

What stood out clearly during the Search Committee’s interview with Pavlina was the way in which she thinks holistically. Faith and one’s membership in a church is not something that is divorced from everyday life. Christianity is a way of life and it is to be lived out on a daily basis in relationship to oneself and in relationship to the community of which one is a part. To be a member of the SCM or the WSCF is to understand oneself much more deeply by listening to others, by working together and being in constant dialogue. Pavlina approached issues, such as the value of interfaith dialogue, using as a starting point her life and her experience of the issue and sifts out from her experience the lessons she learned about them.

Pavlina, although coming from a minority church in Macedonia, is well-immersed in her knowledge of the SCMs in Europe through her work as a volunteer project manager and campaigns coordinator. Her first experience of a WSCF Europe meeting in Finland was her first encounter with ecumenism and it was life-changing. For her, the Federation stands for “living out the faith together for justice” and “building relationships of mutual respect and accountability with people in need and being in solidarity with them are at the heart of the Federation’s ethos.”

The Search Committee believes that Pavlina’s personal qualities as well as her experience in WSCF-Europe will be a positive influence in the Executive Committee. Her ability to communicate in several languages means that her capacity for understanding is broad. Being part of a minority church in Macedonia, she knows what it means to be in that situation. Pavlina’s faith runs deep and it is her faith that is the starting point for her involvement in ecumenism through the WSCF.

Video

Vice-Chairperson:

Ramy Farouk Mahrous Sarofim Hanna

MIDDLE EAST

Profile

Ramy Farouk Mahrous Sarofim Hanna

• Middle East (studying in Germany), male, PhD student, thirty-six years old
• Member of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt
• Member of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt (SCM) since 2004
• Currently studying for a Masters’ Degree in Intercultural Theology (Göttingen University)
• WCC Commissioner, ECHOS Commission on Youth, 2014 to 2021
• Member of the 2022 WCC Assembly Planning Committee
• Alumnus at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute’s Advanced Studies Programme in Ecumenism

Ramy Farouk Hanna, Quote from his application:

The uniqueness of the Federation is in its role of preparing future leaders who shall move ecumenism forward and keep building bridges between churches…” Their vision shall be cantered on promoting the importance of dialogue and restoring faith in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to unconditionally love one another, and to fulfil His prayer ‘that all shall be one’ (Jn 17:21) …

Ramy Farouk Hanna, Quote from his interview with the Search Committee:

In 2012, I was a steward at the WCC Central Committee meeting in Crete. At a certain moment during the meeting, the WSCF asked those gathered in the room who among them had the chance to be part of the SCM or the WSCF. I was surprised to find out that many of the Central Committee members were once SCMers or were involved strongly in the life of the WSCF. The WSCF needs to restore this glory; it needs to remind people that the only ecumenical platform that offered real life ecumenical formation was the WSCF. We need to restore this glory, and to be fully focused on the fact that the platform the WSCF offers is that it is the place where ecumenical leaders are formed.

Rationale

RATIONALE for the Search Committee’s decision to present
Ramy Farouk Hanna’s candidature for the position of Vice-Chairperson

Ramy’s passion for ecumenism went beyond active membership to the SCM in his country. Ecumenism became his vocation. Abandoning a potentially lucrative career in mechanical engineer, he chose the risky path of ecumenical theology. Although he was “blacklisted” in his church for his ecumenical involvement, Ramy remains faithful to his church. His doctoral studies involve analysing the correspondences between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the WCC between 1938 and 1982.

Ramy speaks of ecumenism and of the WSCF with a passionate conviction about its role in developing leaders for the Church and ecumenical movement. He talks about restoring this historical role of the WSCF by offering to young people a space where they can feel safe to talk about the issues that are most important for them, learn about ecumenism and the history of WSCF. He said, “The history of the WSCF is full of stories of young people who changed the world.”

The Search Committee believes that Ramy’s passion for the WSCF goes beyond pure idealism. He showed awareness of the challenges that confront the WSCF, yet he believes that these challenges can be overcome and that the unique role of the WSCF in training committed and effective leaders for the church and ecumenical movement is a vision worth living for.

Election Rules

Elections Rules

The WSCF Search Committee appointed by the EXCO with the purpose of searching for the most suitable candidates for the officer's positions will present a final list of candidates. The report will be sent to all National Movements and their delegates and will be uploaded on the WSCF V-GA Platform on July 23, 2021. A virtual forum will be open from July 23 to 27, 2021, for posting questions and issues for the WSCF Search Committee about the report. The Search Committee, during this time, will take note of the questions and will post their response on the forum on July 27, 2021, at the latest. The Committee’s report, along with questions from the forum and their response will also be delivered on the first day of the V-GA through a live session during the opening plenary of the V-GA.

The required number of votes in order to be elected is by a simple majority, based on the 50% + 1 of the voting members. (Official Representatives + ExCo members + Officers).

Given the case that one or more candidates to any of the positions do not reach the votes needed, which are depending on the quorum, the Moderator of the assembly can consult with the advisory group to see the follow up of the situation and to propose a solution to the plenary of the V-GA. It might be possible to have a vacant position if the V-GA does not reach a resolution.

Online Voting

Online Voting

The online ballot will be available when the voting opens at 14 GMT, July 29. Voters will receive an invitation through their registered email address.

► SAMPLE BALLOT
► CHECK IF YOUR NAME IS LISTED and that your information is correct.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

Voting is by secret balloting. Responses are anonymous and confidential. Individual responses will not be released, shared, or published. The results will be analysed and reported in aggregate data sets – producing an automatic system-generated consolidated report showing no user information.

HOW TO VOTE

• When voting opens, each delegate will receive an invitation to vote sent to their registered email address (check your spam/junk folder; make sure no filters are applied that may block our email).
• You will be instructed to follow the link which will bring you to our online ballot (form).
• Select YES, NO or ABSTAIN for each candidate.
• You must have one choice for each (no skipping).
• Please review your selections carefully before posting your ballot.
• Click FINISH to submit your ballot.
• You will receive a confirmation page.
• You will also receive a confirmation receipt sent to your registered email address.

IMPORTANT

• YOU MAY ONLY VOTE ONCE.
• You will not be allowed to change your votes once you have hit the FINISH button.
• Voting will close at 8am GMT, July 31.

Election Results

Election Results

The election process will be supervised and audited by the Credentials Committee. The report will be published here after the canvassing and verification of the ballots received. The number of ballots received should not exceed the number of invitations to vote sent to delegates and officers with voting rights.