WCRC Creates a 'New Thing' for God's People

By Chris Meehan, News editor

In a spirit of unity and cooperation, the newly formed World Communion of Reformed Churches made several decisions, "heard the Gospel of reconciling love," and prepared itself to respond "in joyful hope" to a range of issues in churches and the world, the WCRC said in a final message statement issued Saturday (26 June 2010).

Final message statement

From start to finish, the focus of the gathering was on the importance of valuing diversity while establishing unity. The unity was seen in discussions, but also in the times of worship, says Setri Nyomi, general secretary of WCRC, in an interview at the end of its 10-day meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the Upper Midwest of the United States.

Formed from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC), WCRC represents 230 churches and 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide.

Now that the meeting is finished, the WCRC will establish a strategic planning committee to help "unpack" all that was discussed and acted on this week.

Responding to "God's Word," the new communion made a number of statements on Friday and Saturday on such topics as the need to focus on human rights in countries including Somalia, Sudan, Burma[Myanmar], North Korea and Cuba.

It also overwhelmingly issued a strong statement protesting the denial of more than 70 visas for delegates and others from around the world who wanted to attend the meeting.

A major statement was issued, asking that the WCRC join in "prophetic solidarity" with Indigenous peoples around the world and "rely on God's grace and join hands together for all in a world in need of healing."

"This is a serious step and churches... will need address and accept this," said Clifton Kirkpatrick, former president of WARC who was moderating the discussion on Saturday morning.

The WCRC also discussed issues ranging from how to better include youth and women in member churches and ways to address how the current, market-based economy hurts people worldwide.

A special message was issued to children which said: "We will work together for everyone in our church family and for all other families, too!"

In all, the new ecumenical body spoke to the bulk of important issues and situations that impact the world today, such as the loss of Christians in countries in the Middle East and the dissension between churches in South Africa.

"We were moved by the Word of God which came to us in many ways as we explored our theme: 'making every effort to maintain the unity of Spirit in the bond of peace'," WCRC officials wrote in the final message.

"We recognized that this communion is for the sake of the world's transformation. We heard that our identity as God's people commits us to the work of God's justice."

"Certainly last Sunday's worship service (in Van Noord Arena with members of the West Michigan community) was where unity was celebrated, especially in how it was oriented to young people and children" said Nyomi.

"We had a wonderful time of celebrating today as the old was handed over to the new. Our emphasis on Native American and Indigenous people is part of the new. This is a point toward which the new organization will continue to follow issues of social justice."

Whether in addressing social justice or in new ways of worship, unity derives from one main source Ð Christ Ð and that was emphasized over and over again.

"We need to be where Jesus chose to be, namely among the poor and oppressed," said Jerry Pillay, a South African church official who was elected as the first president of the WCRC, in a sermon during the final worship service.

"God's presence in the world tells us that business as usual is no longer acceptable."

7. Vollversammlung 20.-25. September 2012 in Florenz – gemeinsame Position der GEKE-Kirchen zur Sterbehilfe in Vorbereitung – Studienprozess für junge Ökumeniker beginnt 16.-18. Oktober 2009 – Konsultation zur Zukunft der Kirchengemeinschaft 15.-19. September 2010.
Geneva (ENI 10/06/2009). The Rev. Fred Kaan, a prolific 20th century English-language hymnologist, once described himself as the "world's most surprised hymn writer". Kaan, who has died aged 80, was unable to read music but wrote the words of more than 200 hymns in English, even though he started to learn the language only at the age of 16. He was born in the Netherlands in 1929 of Dutch parents, and moved in the 1950s to England, where he died on 4 October. Kaan was a retired minister of Britain's Untied Reformed Church. 1970-1978 Kaan was executive secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Barbara Schenck

GEKE: Ökumenisches Gipfeltreffen

Wipf: ''Wir sind eine Kirche. Wir müssen es aber auch leben.'' - Bukowski: Konfessionelle Weltbünde müssen zusammenarbeiten
In einem Gespräch mit den Spitzenvertretern der in Genf ansässigen ökumenischen Organisationen stellte die GEKE kritische Rückfragen an das Nebeneinander und Miteinander der konfessionellen Ökumene in Europa.

Pressemitteilung 21/2009 / GEKE, 3. Oktober 2009

RB/ERK: Setri Nyomi in Emden

Generalsekretär des Reformierten Weltbundes bei gemeinsamer Tagung von Evangelisch-reformierter Kirche und südafrikanischer URCSA
Der Generalsekretär der Reformierten Weltbundes, Setri Nyomi aus Ghana, hat die gemeinsame Globalisierungstagung der Evangelisch-reformierten Kirche und der Uniting Church of Southern Africa besucht. Vom 28. bis zum 29. September war der Ghanaische Pfarrer in der Emder Johannes a Lasco Bibliothek. 25 Theologen und andere Wissenschaftler vornehmlich aus Südafrika und Deutschland tagen seit dem 27. September dort zu Fragen der Globalisierung.

Ulf Preuß, Pressesprecher der ERK

Church of Scotland: ''Climate Change: Managing Your Carbon Footprint''

Kirk welcomes carbon footprint measures for congregations
The Church of Scotland has welcomed guidance detailing how every congregation can measure its own carbon footprint, and then take steps to reduce it.

Barbara Schenck

Internationaler Kongress: Das Menschenbild im Strafrecht

Körtner: ''Kein Rechtssystem kann letzte Gerechtigkeit schaffen''
In Wien fand ein internationaler Kongress statt zum Thema ''Das Menschenbild im Strafrecht'' – Bischof Bünker: Gegen Rachefantasien im Rechtsdenken

Hewlett-Packard: Vorzeigeunternehmen bei Arbeitsrechten

Ein Erfolg der Kampagne «High Tech - No Rights?»
RNA (24.9.09). Chinesische Nichtregierungsorganisationen (NGO) konnten in Zulieferbetrieben des Computerunternehmens Hewlett-Packard erstmals ein Bildungsprogramm zu Arbeitsrechten durchführen. Das Programm war eine direkte Folge der Kampagne «High Tech - No Rights?» der beiden Hilfswerke Brot für alle und Fastenopfer.

Pressemitteilung: RNA, 24. September 2009
Die Baptist Union of Great Britain, die Metodist Church und die United Reformed Church fordern gemeinsam ihre Gemeinden auf, den 20. September 2009 als Peacemaking Sunday zu feiern. Dazu wurde eine gemeinsame Liturgie erstellt (auch als PDF zum Download).

Barbara Schenck

WARC/Global Dialogue on the Accra Confession

Strong emphasis on need for action by Christians against economic and ecological injustice
Setri Nyomi: ''We cannot ignore the millions of victims of injustice and the consequences of human devastation upon the Earth.''

Barbara Schenck

Niederlande: Balkenende: ''The church is a haven. You can recharge there''

Premierminister Balkenende würdigt neue Möglichkeit, den Glauben mit der Zeitschrift ''glossy'' zu zeigen
Friday afternoon (11. September 2009) Prime Minister Balkende received the ‘glossy’ newspaper “We believe” from the hands of Dr. A.J. Plaisier, secretary general of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands.

Barbara Schenck
<< < 261 - 268 (268)