WGRK: Botschaft zum Reformationstag 2012

von Setri Nyomi, Generalsekretär

"The question for this Reformation day is: As members of a communion committed to justice, to what extent are we and people who belong to congregations of our member churches agents of renewal and transformation?"

Reformation Day Message.pdf

495 years. We pause to give thanks to God for Reformation Day 2012. We thank God for the renewal movement that begun with the nailing of 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.

On this Reformation day, it is my hope that member churches of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and our partners would renew our commitment to being God’s instruments of transformation in the world today. Our vision includes participating in God’s mission, that all may experience the fullness of life in Jesus Christ. We live in a world in which fullness of life eludes millions of people. We cannot remain complacent. We have to engage in transformative actions that gives more people the opportunity to experience fullness of life.

The seeds of the renewal movement sown by Martin Luther on October 31 1517 also brought along those seeds sown by Huldrich Zwingli, Bullinger and John Calvin whose legacy have shaped the Reformed family. We are reminded of the vision of John Calvin’s preparedness to cross ten seas for the sake of Christian unity. May this vision inspire us to be relentless in doing everything possible to overcome forces of disunity and work towards Christian unity.

The Reformed renewal movement beckons us to link our justification with justice and societal transformation. It is important for us to listen again to the words of prophets such as Micah telling us that the things the Lord requires of us are “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6: 8). The world is in need of expressions of doing justice more than ever before. Christians need to be at the forefront of fostering communities in which the gifts of women and men are appreciated, and all are committed to building just communities in which no one suffers because of race, economic status or any other factor – communities which respect and nurture the natural gifts of the earth without plundering them towards selfish or greedy ends. Doing justice includes concerted efforts to expose all forms of injustice in the world today.

The question for this Reformation day is: As members of a communion committed to justice, to what extent are we and people who belong to congregations of our member churches agents of renewal and transformation? May we pray for God’s renewal of the church in our times. May we in that prayer express our readiness to be used by God for the work of renewal and transformation. May we have a meaningful Reformation Day.

Setri Nyomi (Rev. Dr.)
General Secretary World Communion of Reformed Churches

 


Oktober 2012

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
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