wfn.org | Reformed Women Gather in Grand Rapids

["Daphne Martin_Gnanadason" <Daphne.Martin_Gnanadason@warc.ch>]

>Uniting General Council 2010
>News Release
>15 June 2010

>Reformed Women Gather in Grand Rapids

By Esther R. Suter, correspondent for Uniting General Council

With an expected 150 registered delegates, the Women’s
Pre-Council is gathering both women and a few men from the entire
world in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this week.

It was prepared by women from the North American member churches
of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the
Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC). The Pre-Council, being held at
Calvin College, precedes the Uniting General Council (UGC) that
opens Friday, 17 June, marking the merger of WARC and REC into
the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

The Pre-Council began Monday under the theme, “Come With Jesus
to the Streets.” It offers women from Reformed churches and
traditions for the first time an opportunity for a global
discussion, addressing themes of particular interest to women in
their various churches as well as in their social and cultural
contexts. 

They will examine ongoing differences about the ministerial
ordination of women and the appointment of women to positions of
leadership and decision-making in churches. And they will explore
the question, to what extent could the recognition of the gifts
and capacities of women have a transformative impact on common
worldwide problems such as the implications of the economic
crisis, environmental destruction orrespect for human dignity and
rights? 

The churches of WARC can point to decisive progress on the part
of women in all areas of church leadership.  They see it as
significant to expand such progress to all spheres of life. 
Their concern is to strengthen their communion on the basis of
the Reformed tradition and in light of the contemporary
challenges confronting Christians.

In Grand Rapids Tuesday, the women’s planned visit on a “Jesus
bus” to the central city will highlightgreat internal problems so
deeply revealing for a rich nation: poverty, drugs, psychic
burdens, unemployment, homelessness, trafficking in women and
prostitution.  Rev. Charlotte Ellision, pastor of Heartside
Ministry, looked forward to the encounter.

“We know that women in different contexts have to cope with
diverse challenges,” Rev. Ellison said.  “Women are connected by
a shared heart for the situation of other people through the
gospel.”  

She hoped to gain much from an encounter in which women would be
able to learn from each other and share their experiences. Rev.
Ellison expected delegates from the United States would be
confronted in a profound way, and get involved with all the tasks
awaiting them in their own context.  May the encounter and
engagement of women from around the world encourage them to do
this. 

The Uniting General Council 2010 in Grand Rapids, United States
(June 18-28) marks the merger of the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council to form the World
Communion of Reformed Churches.

>Contact:
>Kristine Greenaway
>Executive Secretary, Communications
>World Communion of Reformed Churches

UGC News Room – Calvin College - Hoogenboom Center Room HC 204
Cell phone: 1-616-826-5540 or 1-616-826-8636
email: kgr@warc.ch 
web: www.reformedchurches.org