About 3,000 Reformed Christians gathered at Calvin College June 20 for a worship service celebrating the birth of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, which unites 80 million believers in 108 countries.
The service included prayers and scripture readings, anthems and hymns sung in at least a dozen languages, the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and a special exchange with children. WCRC leaders told them: "We are coming together not just for ourselves but also for future generations."
One child, Christina Lobulo, responded: "This is our family! We are one! To God be the glory!"
WCRC leaders …
The general secretaries of the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) gave their final reports June 19 as the day-old World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) took flight.
Richard van Houten, who is retiring after 21 years as REC general secretary, and Setri Nyomi, WARC’s general secretary who will continue as the head of WCRC, mixed accounts of their organizations' progress since their last meeting with an optimistic look to the future of WCRC, which unites 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide.
The historic emphases REC brings to the union are biblical and …
More than 80 million Reformed Christians in 108 countries around the world formally united Friday when the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) approved articles of union and a constitution bringing them together as the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).
The merger of the two organizations took place at the Uniting General Council, which is meeting through June 28 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Although the long-awaited merger went through, afternoon discussion on passage of a constitution and bylaws grew lively and took longer than planned over the issue …
A respected American Indian religious educator and cultural consultant is to be a featured speaker at an international gathering of Reformed churches in the United States in June.
Richard Twiss, a member of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux Tribe, will address the founding meeting of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) in Grand Rapids, MI, on June 22. He is co-founder and president of Wiconi International, an organization supporting Christian ministry in indigenous communities throughout the United States and the Americas.
Twiss replaces the originally-scheduled keynote speaker, Wilma Mankiller, following her death in early April.
The June 18-28 …
With an expected 150 registered delegates, the Women’s Pre-Council is gathering both women and a few men from the entire world here this week.
The gathering was prepared by women from the North American member churches of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC).
The Pre-Council, being held at Calvin College, precedes the Uniting General Council (UGC) that opens Friday (June 17), marking the merger of WARC and REC into the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
The Pre-Council began Monday under the theme, “Come With Jesus to the Streets.” It offers …