wfn.org | WARC - Bible study on church unity set for publication

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> World Alliance of Reformed Churches
> News Release
> 25 January 2010

Bible study on church unity set for publication

A bible study guide on the theme of church unity from the perspective
of the Reformed church movement is set to be published online in
February and available in print in March.

The guide takes its title, Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace,
from the text in Ephesians 4.3 that is the theme of the Uniting
General Council (UGC) which is to be held in June in the American city
of Grand Rapids. The event will mark the merger of the World Alliance
of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC)
to form the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).

The five bible study sessions in the guide were written by an
international group of theologians and edited by WARCâ??s Executive
Secretary for Theology and Ecumenical Engagement, Douwe Visser.

â??The booklet is designed to assist study groups to develop a
biblical perspective on the call of the WCRC to be a communion of
churches committed to justiceâ??, says Visser.

Delegates to the UGC will use the bible study guide for their morning
study sessions in small groups that are intended to build fellowship
among the more than 400 registered delegates. As well, in the months
leading up to the UGC, delegates are invited to prepare for their role
in the historic council by engaging in bible study with their local
congregations.

Visser notes that the booklet is designed to serve as an ongoing
resource and includes guidelines for its use in congregational bible
study groups. The Dutch theologian encourages congregations to engage
in the study in the months following the UGC as they prepare for
active participation in the WCRC.

Illustrations for the booklet were made by children in Geneva,
Switzerland who attend the Church of Scotland or the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Geneva. Both congregations have members from all
parts of the world.

Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace will be available in PDF
format 19 February at www.reformedchurches.org The print edition will
be distributed by post to WARC and REC member churches in the third
week of March.

> ***

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

> email: kgr@warc.ch

> web: www.warc.ch

>