World Alliance of Reformed Churches News Release 20 September 2007
The Accra Confession: a call to courage to change the world
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches' (WARC) Accra Confession is "a call to courage" to bring change, a gathering of Presbyterians from the United States was told on 18 September in Louisville, Kentucky.
Argentine pastor Roberto Jordan, one of the drafters of the Accra Confession and a consultant for WARC's Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth Project, was speaking at the 2007 Witherspoon Conference of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
"The people of the South need you to stand up to the powers of the time and say 'no' when the world is presented as an enemy simply to support privileges gained at the expense of the rest of the world.
"Be suspicious of the power structure today but don't withdraw - participate, learn, get involved, commit to change even if it means less comfort for some. And vote when you have elections. Be informed of the issues that are left out of the political debates and do your best to include them.
"The part of the world which insisted on the need for a statement such as the Accra Confession expects from the churches and the Christian women and men of the North to choose to be part of a new way of being church and being Christian," Jordan said.
The Accra Confession, adopted by WARC's 24th General Council in 2004, declared that working to create a more just economy is essential to the integrity of Christian faith.
Jordan, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of WARC, said living out the Accra Confession should mean a change in lifestyle for Reformed Christians. That is why some continue to challenge its declarations.
"The Accra Confession upsets people because it is a call to work together and not in a paternalistic or patronizing manner. It means learning from others, and due to the colonization of minds, so often the others have been seen as inferior."
WARC president Clifton Kirkpatrick told the gathering that the Accra Confession is a clear sign that Reformed churches worldwide have heard the cries of anguish of the poor of the South and the prophetic witness of the churches there.
In his presentation, Setri Nyomi, WARC's general secretary, added: "This (Accra Confession) is not a convenient set of nice words to recite on Sunday to soothe our consciences. It places demands on us.
"It is humbling and we too, churches and church structures, individuals and groups in churches, need to acknowledge that we stand in judgement under the claims of faith inherent in this confession. Therefore a commitment on our part is called for."
The Witherspoon Conference also served as the introduction of new study guide on the Accra Confession geared towards North American churches, prepared by Covenanting for Justice consultant Gretel Van Wieren and staff from several WARC member churches in North America.
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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: John P. Asling 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
More about the Accra Confession:
http://www.warc.ch/documents/ACCRA_Pamphlet.pdf More about WARC: http://www.warc.ch/newsreleases/visibility.doc
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