Wolfowitz’s decision to resign was forced by his handling of a high-paying promotion for his girlfriend that prompted an uprising among staff and bank member countries, some of them long-standing critics, as well as condemnation from outsiders including the WCC, a grouping of churches representing over 560 million Christians in at least 110 countries.
"The nature of the current leadership change at the World Bank is a timely reminder of the need for reform in how international financial institutions are governed," WCC acting General Secretary William Temu said in a statement to BosNewsLife.
He said the troubles at the World Bank also underscored that the "democratic deficit in the selection of key leaders must be redressed." Future leaders, he said, "should be chosen not with out-dated procedures but with rules that more closely reflect the international common good."
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Temu stressed it was crucial that "reforms ensure a greater representation and more effective voice for the developing countries" where many people, including millions of Christians, are struggling. He argued that these reforms "must be set in place now."
Temu said "accountability and transparency" have already been "raised in discussions between the World Council of Churches, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in recent years."
Yet, supporters of Wolfowitz say he was a moral voice for developing countries and claim the pressure on him to resign had more to do with international resentment for his support for the US-led war in Iraq during his previous role as United States Deputy Secretary of Defense.
The WCC has suggested however it hopes the leadership changes underway within the World Bank will increase support for impoverished nations.
CHRISTIANS RALLY
The appeal by the WCC came as news emerged Friday, May 18, that leaders of Christian groups are calling on Christians to gather in London to support ‘The World Can’t Wait’ rally aimed at world leaders ahead of the Group of Eight (G8) summit, an international forum for the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States..
The rally, to be held on June 2, comes the weekend before the G8 leaders meet in Germany to discuss issues including the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals agreed in 2000 to alleviate global poverty and its consequences, BosNewsLife learned.
Events include a ‘Blow the Whistle’ Worship Service at Methodist Central Hall where guests include representatives of some of the world’s poorest nations and Christian aid groups such as Tearfund and World Vision, said ‘Micah Challenge’, a coalition of British Christians, churches and organizations fighting global poverty. (With BosNewsLife reporting and BosNewsLife Research).
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