A gathering of 30 pastors from 16 countries met in Geneva in April to forge connections, reignite relationships and discuss the role of large, influential congregations in today's Reformed churches. Rev. Dr. Richard Topping, minister at St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal, lecturer at The Presbyterian College, and co-author of Together in Ministry: The Theology and Practice of Ministry, attended the meetings on behalf of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Organized by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, of which the PCC is a member, the meeting focused on using Reformed tradition as a way to equip the church for the challenges of the 21st century.
“I hope this is a time of spiritual renewal and new energy for you,” said WARC president Clifton Kirkpatrick, who received the E.H. Johnson award for cutting-edge mission at the PCC's 2004 General Assembly. “It is clear to us we need to be re-weaving our relationships in the Reformed movement. We are trying in many ways to reconnect with our networks in the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.”
In a press relese, the WARC president said the larger, influential congregations have much to offer the Reformed family while the Alliance has resources that could be better utilized by these congregations.
