wfn.org | Website points way to event marking launch of new global Reformed church movement

["Franziska Surber" <Franziska.Surber@warc.ch>]

>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>News Release
>1 April 2009

Website points way to event marking launch of new global
Reformed church movement

The Uniting General Council of the World Communion of Reformed
Churches has put up a new website that focuses on the activities
that will occur before, during and after the creation of the new
Reformed Church body that will represent some 75 million
Christians around the world.
The website - www.reformedchurches.org (
http://www.reformedchurches.org/ ) - will permit churches and
interested individuals to access information about the historic
gathering which will take place on 18-28 June 2010 at Calvin
College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. 
Coming together at that time will be the World Alliance of
Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council
(REC), both of which have worked for several years to unite the
two ecumenical organisations.
"The highlight of the Uniting General Council (UGC) meeting will
be the connecting of the 1,000 delegates and visitors with local
congregations and we will do everything we can to make that
happen," says the Rev Peter Borgdorff, president of the Reformed
Ecumenical Council, which is based in Grand Rapids. 
He is also chair of the North American Arrangements Committee
for the 2010 gathering. "Direct communication with congregations
in hosting denominations will follow."
The website is intended to provide complete information on all
activities related to the meeting in 2010. "It will also be the
place to volunteer, contribute, announce schedules and update as
we enter the implementation phase of plans 15 months from now,"
says Borgdorff.
Entitled 'Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace', the 2010
gathering will formalize the merger as well as address a range of
issues, including Reformed identity, theology and communion,
Christian community and ecumenical engagement, justice in the
economy and on earth, worship and spiritual renewal, leadership
development, gender justice, and empowerment of youth.
More than 1,000 delegates, guests, visitors, volunteers and
staff will gather for this event. Women and young people will
hold additional events just prior to the meeting of the Uniting
General Council. This historic gathering also promises inspiring
worship, community Bible study, testimonies from churches across
the globe, a look at contemporary Reformed theology, and a review
of various mission experiences worldwide.  In addition, the new
organization will make a firm commitment to justice for all
people around the world.
"The WCRC has invited the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) to
serve as the official host (in cooperation with other WARC-member
denominations in North America) for this world gathering," says
Borgdorff, executive director emeritus of the CRC. 
He adds: "The hope and intention of the WCRC is to link each of
its delegates with a local, congregational expression of Reformed
faith and practice, mostly within the Great Lakes region.”
Cliff Kirkpatrick, WARC president, welcomes this initiative to
call attention to the Uniting General Council. “The launch of the
WCRC will be a very significant witness to the reconciliation we
find in Christ,” he says.  “By merging into a worldwide
communion, Reformed churches are setting an example of the
strength to be found in common action at a time when the world so
needs positive models in seeking how to respond to the multiple
challenges which daily confront individuals and institutions.”  
***

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together
75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries -
united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled
world. The WARC general secretary is Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi of the
Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. WARC's secretariat is
based in Geneva, Switzerland.

>Contact:

>Kristine Greenaway 
>Executive Secretary, Communications
>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>150 Route de Ferney
>P.O. Box 2100
>1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
>tel.  +41.22 791 6243
>fax: +41.22 791 6505

>web: www.warc.ch ( http://www.warc.ch/ ) 
>e-mail: kgr@warc.ch