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."

Südafrika begrüßt Entscheidung der Reformed Church of America Rassismus als Sünde zu bekennen und das Belhar Bekenntnis anzuerkennen

A South African church leader is hailing a move by an American church to require members to confess racism as a sin.
Representatives of the Reformed Church of America (RCA) voted at meetings in the city of Holland (8. Juni 2009) in the northeastern United States to accept the Belhar Confession as one of four foundational statements of belief which define the terms of church membership.

WARC, 9. Juni 2009

Neue Reformierte Bewegung will Ortsgemeinden für weltweite Verbindungen öffnen

RWB-Vizepräsident Locher erwägt gegenseitige Fürbitte für die Anliegen der Mitgliedskirchen
Vertreter von Mitgliedskirchen des Reformierten Weltbundes (RWB) und des Reformierten Ökumenischen Rates (REC) kamen überein, den Zusammenschluss der beiden Organisationen zu einer weltweiten Gemeinschaft oder ‘communio’ zu empfehlen, - ein Schritt, der ihrer Ansicht nach direkte und positive Auswirkungen auf ihre Ortsgemeinden in der ganzen Welt haben dürfte.

WARC, 4. Juni 2009

Rechtsradikale im Europaparlament schaden den Menschen in Europa

Christlicher Glaube geht nicht mit fremdenfeindlichen und rassistischen Parolen zusammen
Der Generalsekretär der Gemeinschaft Evangelischer Kirchen in Europa (GEKE), Bischof Dr. Michael Bünker: ''Das Europaparlament darf nicht zur Schaubühne für extremistische Kräfte werden.''

Pressemitteilung der GEKE, Thomas Flügge, Wien/Bern, 9. Juni 2009

Reformierter Weltbund: Barmer Theologische Erklärung weltweit maßgebendes Beispiel

Eine Erklärung der deutschen Kirchen von 1934 bleibt für Reformierte Kirchen heute maßgebend
Das Vorgehen einer Gruppe deutscher Kirchenmitglieder im Jahr 1934, die sich dem nazifreundlichen Reichskirchenregiment widersetzten, ist noch heute ein maßgebendes Beispiel für uns, sagt der Generalsekretär des Reformierten Weltbundes (RWB), Setri Nyomi.

Pressemitteilung des Reformierten Weltbundes

Reformierte Christen weltweit prägen Genfs Stadtbild anlässlich der Calvinfeiern

Clifton Kirkpatrick, der Präsident des RWB: ''Gelegenheit zur Begegnung unter Angehörigen der Reformierten Kirchenfamilie''
Christen und Christinnen aus aller Welt strömen nach Genf in der Schweiz anlässlich der Geburtstagsfeiern des Vorkämpfers der Kirchenreformation, Johannes Calvin.

Pressemitteilung des Reformierten Weltbundes (RWB)

Reformed church Christians propose sacramental union

Setri Nyomi: ''The decision is in line with John Calvin’s commitment to Christian unity''
Representatives of Reformed, United and Presbyterian churches from diverse traditions have voted to form a union which is unprecedented in its inclusiveness and overcomes longstanding divisions among some churches.

Pressemitteilung des Reformierten Weltbundes (RWB) / WARC

Korean students prepare for ministry via ''travelling theology''

Gyoung Ho Jeong: ''process of learning from life settings''
A Korean professor who has taken theology students to live with nomadic herders in Mongolia and with the urban poor in Viet Nam believes he may be creating a new branch of theology, one which he has dubbed « Travelling Theology ».

Pressemitteilung des Reformierten Weltbundes (RWB) / WARC, 27. Mai 2009

Calvin-Feier und Tagung zum Zusammenschluss von WARC und REC

21. – 31. Mai Tagung von Reformiertem Weltbund und Reformiertem Ökumenischen Rat im John Knox Zentrum, Genf
Leitende Reformierte Kirchenvertreter feiern Calvin und planen den Zusammenschluss ihrer Organisationen, der rund 75 Millionen Reformierte Christen in aller Welt umfassen wird.

Pressemiteilung WARC, 13. Mai 2009

Gründung der Ungarischen Reformierten Kirche (Hungarin Reformed Church)

22. Mai 2009, konstituierende Synode der Ungarischen Reformierten Kirche in Debrecen, Ungarn
Reformierte Kirchen aus Ungarn, Rumänien, Transkarpatien (Ukraine), Slovakien, Serbien, Kroatien und Slovenien schließen sich zu einer synodalen Gemeinschaft zusammen, der Ungarischen Reformierten Kirche (Hungarin Reformed Chruch).

Barbara Schenck

Theologischer Exekutivsekretär des Reformierten Weltbundes in Baden

Douwe Visser besuchte die Evangelische Landeskirche in Baden
Der Exekutivsekretär für Theologie des Reformierten Weltbundes, Dr. Douwe Visser, besuchte Mitte Mai die Evangelische Landeskirche in Baden. Zunächst trat er als Referent bei einer Tagung der Evangelischen Akademie Baden auf, die sich dem Reformator Johannes Calvin (1509-1564) widmete. Danach nahm Dr. Visser an einer Sitzung der Kirchenleitung in Karlsruhe teil und stellte die Arbeit des Reformierten Weltbundes vor.

Pfr. Hans Georg Ulrichs
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