In a move that “shows the churches coming together,” the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council have agreed to unite. The October decision means the new global body will represent more than 80 million Reformed Christians in more than 100 million countries.
“This is a historic moment,” said WARC general secretary Setri Nyomi in a press release. “The Reformed family has demonstrated that we have the ability to engage together in a united fellowship and overcome divisions — and for this we are thankful to God.”
WARC has proposed that the new group be named the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The WARC Executive Committee defines “communion” as, “an expression of our being together in the body of Christ as we move towards that oneness which is the gift and calling of God, fully expressed in the Trinity.”
The key callings of the new Reformed body will be:
- to foster Reformed confessional identity and communion among Reformed churches, and unity in the whole church;
- to promote justice, and to work for peace and reconciliation in the world;
- to encourage the renewal of Reformed worship and spiritual life;
- to strengthen leadership development and the nurturing of the covenant community;
- to promote the full participation of women and youth in all aspects of the church's life;
- to renew a passion among Reformed Christians for God's mission in a spirit of partnership and unity;
- to interpret Reformed theology for contemporary witness and for the unity of the church.
Rev. Stephen Kendall, principal clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, is a member of the merger implementation task force, as well as the chair of WARC's finance committee. He attended WARC's executive council in Trinidad where the union decision was made. The task force will be responsible for a constitution, budget, staffing and structure details, the Uniting General Council in 2010 in Grand Rapids, MI, as well as fundraising and communication plans.
“This will be an expression of the unity within the Reformed church,” Kendall told the Record. “Often Reformed churches point out their divisions,” he said, noting that REC member churches traditionally come from a more conservative background than those in WARC, “but this shows the churches coming together.”
The Presbyterian Church in Canada has been a part of WARC since its inception in 1970, and Kendall said he hopes the PCC can have some involvement in hosting the 2010 General Council in Michigan. –AM with files from WARC
