Moderator der Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) für Abgabe eines ökumenischen Zehnten

Spende der PCK an den Reformierten Weltbund als Johannes Calvin Geburtstagsgeschenk

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) has told members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) that he believes churches should be motivated to engage in a movement for ''ecumenical tithing''.

Referring to the Christian tradition of church members giving ten percent of their earnings to the church, Sam Hwan Kim says, “It’s a matter of putting one’s money where one’s faith is.”

Kim issued his call for member churches to express a “spirit of ecumenical tithing” in their giving during an address delivered in Geneva on 30 May at a WARC-sponsored seminar on the impact today of the early Reformation leader, John Calvin.

“Churches should be encouraged not to merely give what is left over after having cared for their own priority first, but to respect the significance and meaning of the ecumenism and first commit their resources to the ecumenical movement,” Kim says.

The Korean pastor and church leader was speaking to WARC’s Executive Committee and a group of 73 Reformed church Christians from more than 20 countries. They were in Geneva to participate in celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin.

Kim was accompanied in Geneva by the general secretary of PCK, Seong Gi Cho, and a group of church pastors and elders.

He leads the largest Presbyterian church in Korea, is committed to faithfully carrying out God’s mission in Korea and beyond and making a difference in society. He believes his church is financially strong because of its practice of tithing.

“It is not because Korea as a nation is economically strong,” says Kim.

In a gesture affirming PCK’s commitment to ecumenism, Kim presented WARC with a financial contribution in the form of a “John Calvin Birthday Gift” on behalf of Myung Sung Presbyterian Church of Seoul, Korea where he is the senior pastor.

WARC’s general secretary, Setri Nyomi, in acknowledging the gift and the large presence of Koreans at the seminar said, “WARC is grateful for the active participation of the PCK and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK). The energy, commitment and ideas of Korean churches in support of God’s mission in the world and ecumenism give fresh hope and impetus both to WARC and the broader ecumenical movement.”

Twenty-five percent of Koreans are Christian. Of these 60% belong to Presbyterian churches. PCK and PROK who participated in the Calvin jubilee celebrations in Geneva, are two of four WARC member churches in Korea.

WARC represents 75 million Christians through its 213 member churches in 107 countries. Two-thirds of its members are in the Global South. The organization is known for its advocacy for economic and social justice and environmental protection. In June 2010 it will merge with the Reformed Ecumenical Council to form the World Communion of Reformed Churches.


Pressemitteilung des Reformierten Weltbundes, 5. Juni 2009

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