Plans for global Reformed church movement focus discussion

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

>World Communion of Reformed Churches
>News Release
>26 April 2012

Plans for global Reformed church movement focus discussion

Plans for the future of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) are  
the focus of a meeting of the organization’s executive committee schedul ed for 
Indonesia in May.

Thirty committee members and advisors are to gather in North Sumatra, 10-17  
May, to discuss programme priorities, the location of the office, and how  to 
ensure stable financial support for WCRC’ s core operational costs.

The Executive Committee will be asked to consider whether the offices of th e 
organization should remain in Geneva or move to the Euro zone as a cost-s aving 
measure. The senior decision-making group will also consider plans fo r a major 
fundraising campaign to be launched later this year.

Much of WCRC’s donor income comes from European countries where the unsta ble 
Euro is affecting currency conversion rates.

« It is a time of both challenge and opportunity,» says General Secreta ry, 
Setri Nyomi.  «Like many organizations in the ecumenical movement, we  are 
feeling the impact of the financial crisis. »

However, Nyomi points out that despite budget challenges, WCRC is benefitin g 
from planning that led to approval of a seven-year strategic plan for the  
organization in 2011.

« The prospects for 2013 and beyond are promising, » says the Ghanaian  
theologian.  « We have member churches and programme partners who are com 
mitted to WCRC’s mission of creating stronger links among churches and ad 
vocating for justice. »

Nyomi’s term as general secretary ends in April 2014. During the meeting  of 
the Executive Committee, a committee will be named to search for his suc cessor.

Reports from programme staff highlight initiatives for 2012-2013 that inclu de 
training for young ecumenical leaders, developing a clearer identity for  the 
Reformed church movement at the regional level, and an ongoing commitm ent to 
economic justice.

The meeting in Berastagi, North Sumatra is hosted by the Batak Karo Protest ant 
Church (GBKP), one of WCRC’s 28 Indonesian member churches.  The agen da for 
the six-day meeting includes worship with local congregations and an  evening 
of orientation to the local historical and cultural context.

A conference of Indonesian churches to be held in Indonesia’s capital, Ja 
karta, prior to the Executive Committee meeting will address mission opport 
unities in the country. Delegates will also be asked to consider forming a  
regional association of WCRC member churches.

In June, the Global Institute of Theology will convene at Duta Wacana Chris 
tian University in the historic Indonesian city, Yogyakarta. Fifty-three yo ung 
theologians and newly ordained clergy will engage in a three-week progr amme of 
ecumenical and interfaith studies designed to prepare them for chur ch 
leadership in a globalized world.

For updates on WCRC’s Executive Committee meeting, visit www.wcrc.ch<http 
://www.wcrc.ch

WCRC was created in June 2010 through a merger of the World Alliance of Ref 
ormed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC). Its 230 me 
mber churches representing 80 million Christians are active worldwide in in 
itiatives supporting economic, climate and gender justice, mission, and coo 
peration among Christians of different traditions.

>Media Contacts:
>Kristine Greenaway
>Office of Communications
>Email: kgr@wcrc.ch<mailto:kgr@wcrc.ch
>tel: +41 (0)22 791 62 43; fax: +41 (0)22 791 65 05
>www.wcrc.ch<http://www.wcrc.ch/