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

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
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