wfn.org | WARC - Theologians draft manifesto for church unity and justice

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

> World Alliance of Reformed Churches
> News Release
> 9 March 2010

Theologians draft manifesto for church unity and justice

An international panel of pastors and theologians is drafting a
"manifesto" on church unity and social justice for a new global
organization of Reformed churches. The text is to be presented in June
to the Uniting General Council (UGC) of the World Communion of
Reformed Churches (WCRC) in Grand Rapids, United States.

At the conclusion yesterday of a four-day consultation in Cartigny,
Switzerland, the group representing churches in eight world regions
approved a text calling for a clear commitment to church unity as the
basis for joint action on economic and ecological justice concerns.

"What we are preparing is in effect a theological manifesto," says
Ofelia Ortega  of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba who chaired
the consultation. "Our intent is for UGC delegates to discuss and
accept the theological foundations for joint church action in this new
communion.This 'manifesto' will be a key element to those discussions."

The UGC will mark the merger of the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC), two
branches of the Reformed church family which have traditionally
represented differing theological perspectives on the role of churches
in society.

"It is clear that in order for churches to work together, they must
understand and respect each other's theology," says Douwe Visser
of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) which organised the
consultation.

"At the same time, in order to act responsibly on justice concerns,
we must have a solid understanding of theology," Visser adds.

The Cartigny consultation focused on a review of the results of a
series of regional consultations held with the support of the
Swiss-based Fondation pour lâ aide au protestantisme réformé
(Foundation for Reformed Protestantism) which supports projects of
Reformed churches worldwide.

Throughout 2009 and in early 2010, groups of theologians and pastors
met in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America/Caribbean, Latin America,
the Pacific and the Middle East to review the theological basis for
unity among Presbyterian, Reformed, Waldensian, Congregational,
Uniting and United churches.

"Each regional group identified a clear link between church union -
or 'communion' as we call it - and action on issues such as gender
equality, protection of the environment and a more just economic
system," says Visser. "We believe this understanding must be
foundational to WCRC."

Visser, a former REC world president, says that despite the diversity
of theological perspectives among participants in the regional
consultatons, it was clear how much the two branches of the Reformed
church movement have in common. "This is a strong impulse for moving
forward," he says,

The new organization will have two principal objectives: a focus on
continuing to  develop the theological basis for inter-church
cooperation (referred to in church circles as "building
communion") and a focus on encouraging joint church initiatives in
support of the economic rights of vulnerable peoples and the
sustainable use of natural resources.

Participants in the Cartigny consultation were: Ofelia Ortega (Cuba),
Clifton Kirkpatrick (United States), Setri Nyomi (Switzerland), Serge
Fornerod (Switzerland), Rimas Mikalauskas (Lithuania), Raffi
Messerlian (Lebanon), Carola Trón (Uruguay), Mery Kolimon
(Indonesia), Bridget Ben Naimah (Ghana), Yvette Noble-Bloomfield
(Jamaica), Marie Ropeti (New Zealand), and Kim Kyung-In (Korea).

For information about the Uniting General Council, visit
www.reformedchurches.org

> ***

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