How are the countries and themes chosen?

Every four years an international meeting is held. Each national committee is given the opportunity to submit a theme, along with suitable Bible passages, and may offer to write a service. During the meeting a small group considers the various suggestions for themes and the offers to write the service and chooses themes and countries for the next four years. A writing country does not choose its own theme; this is given to them by the International Executive Committee. The decision is then announced to the delegates at the International Meeting.

Who chooses the hymns?

The national committee of each country is asked to choose hymns that fit the theme of the service. In our countries, the initial selection is made during the November residential meeting. Every effort is made to use one or two hymns submitted by the writing country. The committee chooses a mixture of old and newer hymns with something to suit varying tastes.

How are National Committee members chosen?

When a vacancy arises on the committee, the head of the relevant denomination is approached with a request that they will elect a suitable candidate.

How do I organise a WDP service in my local area for the first time?

If you are registering a service for the first time (and therefore do not have a WDP Branch Code) please contact the office for a “New Branch Information Pack” which sets out all you need to do. Our administrator Mary Judd, at the WDP office, will be happy to send you one on request:
office@wwdp.org.uk

How do I apply for a grant?

A number of grants are awarded, for one year only, every September, towards projects run by Christian charities throughout the world.

Project grants are made to charities that support only one project and they would not be expected to re-apply for at least three years. Larger organisations, which fund many projects or which operate in different countries, may apply and be awarded grants in consecutive years so long as each grant is for a different project or country.

Priority will normally be given to project proposals from UK based charities – which may operate from anywhere in the world – for work with women and children, or projects in the country that has written the service for the current year (i.e. in 2017 – The Philippines; 2018 Suriname).

Grant application forms can be obtained from the WDP office: office@wwdp.org.uk

Why can’t we photocopy the order of service if we haven’t ordered enough copies?

The words of the order of service itself may be copied, but many of the hymns are copyright. World Day of Prayer pays the necessary fee for the use of the words of these hymns. The fee only covers the number of service booklets printed and so to make extra copies of the order of service would be in breach of copyright.