wfn.org | Reformed church Christians propose sacramental union

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

>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>News Release
>2 June 2009

Reformed church Christians propose sacramental union

Representatives of Reformed, United and Presbyterian churches
from diverse traditions have voted to form a union which is
unprecedented in its inclusiveness and overcomes longstanding
divisions among some churches.

The executive committees of the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC),
meeting jointly for the first time last week in Geneva, approved
a draft constitution for a new organization to be called the
World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). 

Use of the word “communion” implies that member denominations of
the new organization will accept the ordination of each others’
clergy and respect the rites of each tradition.  The draft
constitution for the new organization says “no individual or
church may claim precedence or dominance over another.”

The move signals a significant step towards unity among Reformed
churches which have splintered into separate denominations over
the years since the Protestant Reformation was launched in 16th
century Europe. 

“The decision is in line with John Calvin’s commitment to
Christian unity,” says Setri Nyomi, WARC’s General Secretary
referring to the early church reformer.  “It signals that
Reformed churches today are ready to do their part.”

The draft constitution will be presented for approval by
delegates of the two organizations at the Uniting General Council
to be held in Grand Rapids, United States in June 2010.

REC’s president, Peter Borgdorff, who led the process of
drafting the constitution, declared it an important signal that
Reformed churches are “seeking to overcome their divisions and
come together as one body in the tradition of Biblical teachings
which describe the Christian church as one body made of many
parts.”  

Other decisions made by the joint executive committees on the
final day of meetings, Friday 30 May, included approval of a
proposed new programme and staff structure, elimination of the
current budget deficit by 2011, and a draft budget for the new
organization, subject to approval at the June 2010 general
assembly.  

“Our objective was to create a sustainable model for our
combined organizations”, says WARC President Clifton Kirkpatrick.
 “To achieve this we had to make some difficult decisions such as
reducing the size of the staff.  But we are confident that we
have a good basis now on which to build for the future.”

The joint executive committees also decided that the new
organization would be established in Geneva where the WARC
offices are currently located. The report on a proposal for
relocation accepted by the governing bodies says the decision
could be revisited three years after WCRC is created. For now,
says the report, “It was deemed wisest to focus on planning for
the WCRC and our world assembly.”  

>***
>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 62 43 / +41 79 508 20 43
>fax: +41.22 791 65 05
>web: www.warc.ch ( http://www.warc.ch/ ) 
>e-mail: kgr@warc.ch