Cardinal Koch receives congratulations from World Communion of Reformed Churches

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

World Communion of Reformed Churches 
News release
November 25, 2010
 
Cardinal Koch receives congratulations from World Communion of
Reformed Churches
 
The general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed
Churches (WCRC) has sent a letter of congratulations to Cardinal
Koch on the occasion of his elevation to the office of Cardinal.

 
In his letter, Setri Nyomi, writes that it is of significance
that the news of Koch’s elevation comes in the period prior to
Christmas, known as Advent, recognized by Christians as a time of
expectation and promise leading to the birth of Jesus. 

“The coming of Christ to this world confirms forever God’s work
of bringing justice and peace and the call for us all to be part
of that mission. This call that we Christians share brings us
together in our desire for unity. We hope and pray that your time
of leadership will further the cause of Christian unity,” Nyomi
writes.
 
In July, Koch was named President of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity following the retirement of his
predecessor, Cardinal Kasper. Koch brings to the role his
experience of ecumenical dialogue as bishop of Basel in
Switzerland.
 
Douwe Visser, responsible for WCRC’s Office of Theology and
Communion, is working with the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity on plans for a series of dialogue encounters
between representatives of the Reformed church movement and the
Roman Catholic Church that is scheduled to begin in April 2011.
The objective, says Visser, is to build on past dialogues and
seek ways the Christian community canwork together to bring about
a just world.
 
“We hope that the coming dialogue between the Roman Catholic
Church and the World Communion of Reformed Churches will help us
to be obedient to God’s call to bring peace and justice to the
world where we as Christians have first of all united,” says
Visser.
 
The full text of Nyomi’s letter follows.
 
WCRC was created in June 2010 through a merger of the World
Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical
Council (REC). Its 230 member churches representing 80 million
Christians are active worldwide in initiatives supporting
economic, climate and gender justice, mission, and cooperation
among Christians of different traditions. 
 
Media Contact:
Kristine Greenaway
Executive Secretary, Communications
World Communion of Reformed Churches
150 route de Ferney, PO Box 2100
1211 Geneva 2 
Switzerland
tel. +41 22 791 6243
fax +41 22 791 6505
dma@wcrc.ch
www.wcrc.ch ( http://www.wcrc.ch/ ) 
 
Congratulatory message from Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, General
Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches to Cardinal
Koch.
 
Your Eminence,
The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) wants to
congratulate you on your elevation to the office of Cardinal.
 
It is of great meaning that the Consistory is meeting in these
days before Advent. The coming of Christ to this world confirms
forever God’s work of bringing justice and peace and the call for
us all to be part of that mission. This call that we Christians
share brings us together in our desire for unity. We hope and
pray that your leadership will further the cause of Christian
unity.
 
Over the years, the Reformed community has been in dialogue with
the Roman Catholic Church. We were made aware of this history in
the symposium Harvesting the Fruits honouring the work of your
predecessor, Cardinal Kasper. We trust that under your leadership
we can, and will, continue this dialogue. As you know, we have
our first meeting planned for April next year.
 
We look forward to meeting you in the coming time and send you
our best wishes.