Grand Rapids, Michigan/USA, 17.06.2010 / APD
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) are coming together in a new union with 227 member churches representing more than 80 million Reformed Christians in 108 countries - the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). The new organization will be established in Geneva where the WARC offices are currently located.
The Uniting General Council (UGC) that launches this new Reformed organization will be held from 18 to 26 June in Grand Rapids, Michigan - a community in the United States where WARC and REC churches have a tradition of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and reaching out in healing mission together.
“The term ‘communion’ in the new organization’s name points to a new form of working relationship,” says the Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi, WARC general secretary. “As a communion, we recognize our common baptism and our togetherness at the Lord's table - making us better witnesses and more effective in making a difference in the world.”
"This is an opportunity to celebrate unity and understanding among Reformed churches worldwide," says REC president Peter Borgdorff.
WARC president Clifton Kirkpatrick agrees, "We are blessed to be gathering at this time and place to reflect and learn together."
"The coming into being of the World Communion of Reformed Churches will be a historic moment for the churches of the Reformed family and for the church of Christ everywhere", said the World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who will attend the uniting event.
The UGC theme is "Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace" (Ephesians 4.3). Under this theme delegates will consider God's call to both Communion (church unity) and justice as they gather and study around nine sub-themes: Reformed identity, theology and communion; Christian unity and ecumenical engagement; Justice in the economy and the earth; Worship and spiritual renewal; Leadership development and nurture; Gender justice; Youth empowerment; Mission initiatives and Peace and reconciliation.
More than 1,000 delegates, guests, visitors, volunteers and staff will gather at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. Women and youth will hold separate events just prior to the Council.
The agenda of the Uniting General Council will focus on a wide range of theological, mission and social justice concerns. Among them will be discussion of the faith and social issues affecting the lives of American Indians and Canadian First Nations peoples.
"It is important we hear the voices of the people who first inhabited this land long before Europeans arrived," says event organizer, Lori Ransom, a Canadian First Nations woman. "The arrival of the Christian faith had a big impact on Aboriginal beliefs and culture."
Also attend the uniting event will Rev. Dr John Graz, representing the world-wide Seventh-day Adventist Church. Graz is also acting as general secretary of the Secretariates of the Christian World Communions (CWC). The Seventh-day Adventist Church, a world communion in the tradition of Reformed theology, has over the years been involved in inter-confessional dialogues with WARC and REC, the world’s two largest networks of Protestant churches in the Reformed tradition.
More information about the UGC agenda and plans for the WCRC is available at http://www.reformedchurches.org/
Impressum
Adventist Press Service (APD)
P.O. Box 136
CH-4003 Basel/Switzerland
E-Mail: APD(at)stanet.ch
Web: http://www.stanet.ch/APD/
Christian B. Schäffler (Editor-in-chief APD)
Journalist BR/SFJ
Tel: 0041-61-261 61 15
Fax: 0041-61-261 61 18
.
The Uniting General Council (UGC) that launches this new Reformed organization will be held from 18 to 26 June in Grand Rapids, Michigan - a community in the United States where WARC and REC churches have a tradition of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and reaching out in healing mission together.
“The term ‘communion’ in the new organization’s name points to a new form of working relationship,” says the Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi, WARC general secretary. “As a communion, we recognize our common baptism and our togetherness at the Lord's table - making us better witnesses and more effective in making a difference in the world.”
"This is an opportunity to celebrate unity and understanding among Reformed churches worldwide," says REC president Peter Borgdorff.
WARC president Clifton Kirkpatrick agrees, "We are blessed to be gathering at this time and place to reflect and learn together."
"The coming into being of the World Communion of Reformed Churches will be a historic moment for the churches of the Reformed family and for the church of Christ everywhere", said the World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who will attend the uniting event.
The UGC theme is "Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace" (Ephesians 4.3). Under this theme delegates will consider God's call to both Communion (church unity) and justice as they gather and study around nine sub-themes: Reformed identity, theology and communion; Christian unity and ecumenical engagement; Justice in the economy and the earth; Worship and spiritual renewal; Leadership development and nurture; Gender justice; Youth empowerment; Mission initiatives and Peace and reconciliation.
More than 1,000 delegates, guests, visitors, volunteers and staff will gather at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. Women and youth will hold separate events just prior to the Council.
The agenda of the Uniting General Council will focus on a wide range of theological, mission and social justice concerns. Among them will be discussion of the faith and social issues affecting the lives of American Indians and Canadian First Nations peoples.
"It is important we hear the voices of the people who first inhabited this land long before Europeans arrived," says event organizer, Lori Ransom, a Canadian First Nations woman. "The arrival of the Christian faith had a big impact on Aboriginal beliefs and culture."
Also attend the uniting event will Rev. Dr John Graz, representing the world-wide Seventh-day Adventist Church. Graz is also acting as general secretary of the Secretariates of the Christian World Communions (CWC). The Seventh-day Adventist Church, a world communion in the tradition of Reformed theology, has over the years been involved in inter-confessional dialogues with WARC and REC, the world’s two largest networks of Protestant churches in the Reformed tradition.
More information about the UGC agenda and plans for the WCRC is available at http://www.reformedchurches.org/
Impressum
Adventist Press Service (APD)
P.O. Box 136
CH-4003 Basel/Switzerland
E-Mail: APD(at)stanet.ch
Web: http://www.stanet.ch/APD/
Christian B. Schäffler (Editor-in-chief APD)
Journalist BR/SFJ
Tel: 0041-61-261 61 15
Fax: 0041-61-261 61 18
.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment