From transition to transformation

We have moved, says WCRC president. Now we need to change.


President Jerry Pillay; Foto: World Communion of Reformed Churches

At the end of 2013, the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) transferred its international office from Switzerland to Germany.

“I am personally impressed with the smooth move and relocation,” President Jerry Pillay said today in his address to the WCRC Executive Committee. He urged the committee not to continue business as usual after the move but to look “at the life, work and witness of the WCRC through new lenses. How can we help transform a world of sin, suffering and struggle?”
 
The WCRC is the most diverse of the world Christian confessional families, bringing together in one communion Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, United, Uniting and Waldensian churches. “It is a joy and a privilege to have such a wide connection and fellowship,” Pillay said, but diversity also brings its challenges.
 
Straddling six continents “reveals to us the vast discrepancies and inequalities that prevail in our world” that we must confront as we build our fellowship.
 
Theological diversity and ethical disagreements also put communion under strain. “We are witnessing splits in denominations, severance of long-standing denominational partnerships, and a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach justifying separation and disunity,” Pillay said. The WCRC should take more seriously its role as “a platform and a facility” to help its member churches embrace diversity and difference.
 
Communion needs to be built from the bottom up “if it is to be meaningful and true,” Pillay stressed. The WCRC needs to revisit its plan to empower the regions and make it work more effectively. “We need to encourage a ‘culture of sharing’ resources, people and experiences. We need to facilitate opportunities for people to share their stories and life experiences across the globe.” We need to empower our member churches at the ground level “so that they are actively involved in ministry together, as a visible Christian witness to our unity.”
 
This was the 10th anniversary of the Accra Confession, Pillay reminded the committee – “perhaps the WCRC’s clearest statement on justice in the world.” A decade on, we need to assess what we have done to implement the confession. “We are an organization in transition and in need of transformation as we seek to transform the world to reflect the glory of God,” he concluded.
 
The Executive Committee will take up key aspects of Pillay’s report later in the week, under the meeting’s theme of “Behold, I make all things new.”
 
The Executive Committee, the governing board of the WCRC, is holding its annual meeting in Hannover, Germany, 11-18 May. It is composed of 30 members from around the world.

Get more information on the Executive Committee meeting: wcrc.ch/executive-committee-2014

Follow activities from the meeting through posts on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/worldcommunion

See pictures from the meeting on our Flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/reformedcommunio/

The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) represents 80 million Christians in over 105 countries. Through WCRC, member churches engage in ecumenical dialogue, promotion of church unity, theological study and worldwide initiatives supporting climate, economic and gender justice and church mission.
 
Media Contacts:
Philip Tanis
Office of Communications
World Communion of Reformed Churches
Email: pta@wcrc.eu
Tel: +49 511 8973 1682
Web: www.wcrc.ch


News Release: 12 May 2014

die reformierten.upd@te 09.1

Das reformierte Quartalsmagazin / März 2009
Jetzt auch online als PDF: Das Magazin des Reformierten Bundes. Die Themen: Friedensarbeit, Calvinismus-Ausstellung in Berlin, reformierte Ekklesiologie, Texte aus dem Reformierten Weltbund, eine Predigt zu Johannes 19, 16-30 von Jochen Denker

die reformierten.upd@te 09.1.pdf >>>
Jörg Schmidt, Generalsekretär des Reformierten Bundes
Eine neue Internetseite informiert über die Aktivitäten der im Entstehen begriffenen World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), dem Zusammenschluss von Reformiertem Weltbund (WARC) und Reformiertem Ökumenischen Rat (REC).

Barbara Schenck

Größeres Risiko von Gewalt gegen Frauen in der ökonomischen Krise

Der Reformierte Weltbund zum Internationalen Frauentag am 8. März
Geneva (ENI). Women are at higher risk of violence during the current economic crisis, yet the world is paying less attention to their needs, says the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. In a statement to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Reformed churches alliance expresses concern that violent crimes against women, particularly rape and domestic violence, are on the rise at the same time that support for programmes to protect women is under threat. "The world seems to have become almost immunised to the stench of violence against women," said Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, WARC's spokesperson on gender issues, in the 5 March statement.

Barbara Schenck

Churches told to confront ''moral crisis'' in the world economy

''Where are the prophetic voices of the churches?''
The multiple crises confronting the world are fundamentally a moral crisis says the president of the United Nations General Assembly. In remarks recorded for a public hearing on reconciliation in Geneva, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann asks, ''But where are the prophetic voices of the churches today?''

Setri Nyomi zum Internationalen Jahr der Versöhnung 2009

Generalsekretär des Reformierten Weltbundes warnt vor dem Ausschluss von Immigranten und Minderheiten
Geneva (ENI). Immigrants and minorities in affluent countries are becoming targets of exclusion at a time when the global economic system is facing strains, a global Protestant leader has warned at a gathering in the Swiss city of Geneva. "There has been a resurgence of hate crimes against minorities in a number of nations," said the Rev. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, at a 19 February meeting to mark the International Year of Reconciliation proclaimed by the United Nations for 2009.

Barbara Schenck

WARC welcomes statements made at the World Social Forum in Brazil

Reformierter Weltbund begrüßt die Stellungnahmen des Weltsozialforums
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) has issued a statement of support in response to a declaration by a representative of the World Council of Churches (WCC) that the global economic crisis offers an opportunity to create a more just financial system.

Quelle: Reformierter Weltbund, 2. Februar 2009

RWB Kommunikation: neue Chefin

Kristine Greenaway: moderne Kommunikationstechniken verbinden
Der Reformierte Weltbund (RWB) hat den leitenden Posten in der Abteilung Kommunikation neu besetzt: Frau Kristine Greenaway von der Vereinigten Kirche von Kanada hat am 5. Januar die Arbeit in der Genfer Zentrale aufgenommen. Sie ersetzt somit John Asling, der die Stelle bis Ende Dezember 2008 innehatte.

Quelle: Internetseite Reformierter Weltbund (RWB)

End the Violence in Gaza

''The rockets from Gaza aimed at Israeli communities are destructive and the suicide bombing incidents cannot be condoned ... We strongly condemn the air and ground assaults from the Israeli Defense Forces leading to senseless deaths ...'' (Reformierter Weltbund)

Pressemitteilung des Reformierten Weltbundes (WARC), 7. Januar 2009

Die Schweiz und die Einigung Europas

SEK für Ausdehnung der Personenfreizügigkeit
Der Schweizerische Evangelische Kirchenbund (SEK) spricht sich für die Weiterführung und die Ausdehnung des Freizügigkeitsabkommens zwischen der Schweiz und der Europäischen Gemeinschaft auf Rumänien und Bulgarien aus.

Medienmitteilung der SEK, Simon Weber, 8. Januar 2009

Gemeinsame Grundsätze zur Pfarrerausbildung

Die theologischen Fortbildung von Pfarrerinnen und Pfarrern soll auch intensiviert werden
Mit einer Konsultation vom 20.-23. November 2008 in Berlin hat die Gemeinschaft Evangelischer Kirchen in Europa (GEKE) einen Prozess zur Verständigung über gemeinsame Grundsätze zur Pfarrerausbildung begonnen.

24.11.2008 Thomas Flügge, GEKE
<< < 301 - 301 (301)