World Communion of Reformed Churches | |
---|---|
Type | Communion |
Classification | Protestant |
Orientation | Reformed |
Scripture | Bible |
Theology | Reformed Christianity |
Polity | Presbyterian |
President | Najla Kassab |
Interim General Secretary | Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi |
Headquarters |
|
Origin | 2010 |
Members | 80 million |
Official website | wcrc |
The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) is the largest association of Reformed (Calvinist) churches in the world. It has 230 member denominations in 108 countries, together claiming an estimated 80 million people, [1] thus being the fourth-largest Christian communion in the world after the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. [2] This ecumenical Christian body was formed in June 2010 by the union of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC). [3]
Among the biggest denominations in the WCRC are the Church of South India, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Presbyterian Church of Korea, Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Protestant Church in Indonesia, Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Church of Cameroon, Borneo Evangelical (SIB Malaysia) and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. Its member denominations on the whole could be considered more liberal than the member denominations of the International Conference of Reformed Churches or the World Reformed Fellowship, which are also large ecumenical Calvinist organizations.
The WCRC traces its origins to 1875, with several unifying Reformed organizations emerging in London, England.
After a two-day meeting ending on 1 February 2006, Douwe Visser, president of the Reformed Ecumenical Council, and Clifton Kirkpatrick, president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, said in a joint letter to their constituencies, "We rejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit which we believe has led us to recommend that the time has come to bring together the work of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council into one body that will strengthen the unity and witness of Calvinist Christians."
After first calling the potential body "World Reformed Communion", this was modified into "World Communion of Reformed Churches".
A Uniting General Council of the WCRC, bringing the organization into existence, took place from 18–26 June 2010 at Calvin College, located at Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The council focused on the "Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace" mentioned in Ephesians as its main theme, setting a tone of true mutual understanding and acceptance amongst member churches and associates, laying aside differences and other issues as they embark on this shared journey with one another as each seeks to discern the will of God and continue their struggle for justice and peace in the world. The World Communion of Reformed Churches has not taken a position on the issue of homosexuality but includes denominations that affirm same sex marriage. [4]
The 2010 Uniting General Council stated that the WCRC should be "called to communion and committed to justice." Its two main program offices are thus focused on these aspects, with theological work included with communion. The Theology and Communion office serves as coordinator for official dialogues with other religious organizations, organizes a bi-annual Global Institute of Theology, and brings Calvinist theological scholars together for various discussions. The Justice office promotes economic, ecological and human rights, basing much of its work on the Accra Confession, a statement adopted at the 2004 General Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and re-endorsed at the 2010 Uniting General Council.
The WCRC also has a General Secretariat which includes the general secretary's office, the communications office and other organizational responsibilities. Through the General Secretariat, the WCRC promotes dialogue between churches, advocates for causes on a global scale and supports the activities of its member churches.
The global headquarters of the WCRC are located in Hanover, Germany, with a North American non-profit subsidiary based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Originally based in Geneva, Switzerland, which played host to John Calvin and earned a reputation as the "Protestant Rome", the group's Executive Committee announced on 8 November 2012, that they would relocate the headquarters to Hanover, Germany, by December 2013, due to overbearing financial strains caused by the high value of the Swiss franc. [5]
In 2017, WCRC published the Declaration of Faith Concerning Women's Ordination, in which it supports the practice of women's ordination and encourages its 42 member denominations that do not ordain women to change their position. [6] [7] [8] The National Presbyterian Church in Mexico and National Union of Independent Reformed Evangelical Churches of France protested against the declaration, while the Presbyterian Church of Chile abstained. [9]
In the same year, WCRC became the 5th signatory of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, after the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (of the Roman Catholic Church), Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council and Anglican Communion. [10]
The WCRC has no official position on human sexuality. However, many of its member denominations promote same-sex marriage or bless same-sex unions, such as the Remonstrant Church, Spanish Evangelical Church, United Church of Canada, Uniting Church in Australia, Uniting Church in Sweden, United Church of Christ, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Evangelical Church of the River Plate, Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, United Protestant Church in Belgium, United Protestant Church of France, Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine, Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg, Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK), Reformed Church in Austria, Reformed Church in America, Swiss Reformed Church, Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, Reformed Alliance, Church of Lippe, Evangelical Reformed Church in Germany, United Reformed Church, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Presbyterian Church (USA), Church of Scotland, Presbyterian Church of Wales, Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, Waldensian Evangelical Church and Waldensian Evangelical Church of the River Plate. [9]
Council year | City and country | Theme |
---|---|---|
2010 | Grand Rapids, U.S. | Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace |
2017 | Leipzig, Germany | Living God, Renew and Transform Us [11] |
2025 | Chiang Mai, Thailand | Persevere in Your Witness [12] |
WCRC presidents are ordinarily elected for a term of seven years at every General Council:
Year | Name | Church affiliation |
---|---|---|
2010–2017 | Jerry Pillay | Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa |
2017–2025 | Najla Kassab | National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon |
WCRC general secretaries are elected for seven years at every General Council (held septennially):
Year | Name | Church affiliation |
---|---|---|
2010–2014 | Setri Nyomi | Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana |
2014–2021 | Chris Ferguson | United Church of Canada |
2021–2023 | "Collegial General Secretariat" | (see below) |
2023–2025 | Setri Nyomi | Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana |
Setri Nyomi's term was a continuation of his term as general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Upon the conclusion of Chris Ferguson's term as general secretary in August 2021, the WCRC Executive Committee appointed a "Collegial General Secretariat" originally composed of the three executive secretaries: Hanns Lessing (Secretary of Communion and Witness, Evangelical Church of Westphalia), Philip Vinod Peacock (Secretary of Justice and Witness, Church of North India), and Phil Tanis (Secretary of Communications and Operations, Reformed Church in America). [13] They were joined in the Collegium by Muna Nassar (Secretary of Mission and Advocacy) in December 2022. [14] In 2023, Setri Nyomi was installed as interim general secretary, to serve until the 2025 General Council. [15]
This is a list of members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches as of February 2016: [16]
On June 22, 2023, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church approved a resolution by which it withdrew from the World Communion of Reformed Churches. [18]
A united church, also called a uniting church, is a denomination formed from the merger or other form of church union of two or more different Protestant Christian denominations, a number of which come from separate and distinct denominational orientations or traditions. Multi-denominationalism, or a multi-denominational church or organization, is a congregation or organization that is affiliated with two or more Christian denominations, whether they be part of the same tradition or from separate and distinct traditions.
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) was a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of John Calvin. Its headquarters was in Geneva, Switzerland. They merged with the Reformed Ecumenical Council in 2010 to form the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
The Lusitanian Catholic Apostolic Evangelical Church is a Christian denomination in Portugal. The denomination is a member church of the Anglican Communion.
The Church of Christ in the Congo or CCC is a union of 62 Protestant denominations, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Reformed Church of France was the main Protestant denomination in France with a Calvinist orientation that could be traced back directly to John Calvin. In 2013, the Church merged with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in France to form the United Protestant Church of France.
The Protestant Church of Algeria is a federation of Protestant churches from the Reformed and Methodist traditions established in 1972 in Algeria. It is officially recognised by the government of Algeria as the Association of the Protestant Church of Algeria.
The Protestant Federation of France is a religious organisation created on 25 October 1905, which united the main Protestant Christian groupings in France. In 2023, the current president is Christian Krieger, who took over from previous president François Clavairoly in 2022.
The Presbyterian Church of Brazil is an Evangelical Protestant Christian denomination in Brazil. It is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country, having an estimate 702,949 members, 4,915 ordained ministers and 5,420 churches and parishes. It is also the only Presbyterian denomination in Brazil present in all 26 States and the Federal District.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea is a minority church in Equatorial Guinea. It is reformed by its theology and presbyterian by its form of government, as stated in its constitution. The principal religion in Equatorial Guinea is Christianity, with approximately 85-93% of the population as followers. Most Christians belong to the Roman Catholic Church (80-87%) while a minority are Protestants (5-7%). Another 5% of the population follow indigenous beliefs, 2% are Muslims, followers of Baha'i and other beliefs.
The Presbyterian Reformed Church of Mexico is a Protestant Christian church that formed after the Independent Presbyterian Church of Mexico split in the 1980s. The church has a relationship with the U.S.-based Christian Reformed Church in North America, which sends missionaries to the Mexico City area and other states. It is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
The Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola is a Reformed Christian denomination in Angola.
The National Union of Protestant Reformed Evangelical Churches of France, better known as the Evangelical Reformed Churches of France, is a Calvinist denomination in France. It has currently around 10,600 members spread over 68 churches, predominant in the Paris area, the southwest, and the southeast of France.
The Costa Rican Evangelical Presbyterian Church was formed in 1985 as the Fraternity of Evangelical Costa Rican Churches. Its original constituent members were five churches in metropolitan San José that separated from the Association of Biblical Churches in Costa Rica (AIBC). The denomination had 1000 members, 12 congregations and three house fellowships in 2004. Now, the denomination includes 24 worship communities. The denomination adopted its current name in 2005.
The Evangelical Church of the River Plate is a United, Protestant denomination with congregations in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It is named after the Río de la Plata Basin, where the majority of its congregations are located. The IERP was affiliated with the Evangelical Church in Germany from 1934–1965, when it became independent. The church ordains women as ministers and supported civil unions and same-sex marriage. It has approximately 27,500 members.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Portugal is a result of evangelistic effort in Madeira between 1838 and 1846 by Robert Kalley, a Scottish minister, the mission continued in the continent in 1966. The first Presbyterian church was founded by Rev. Antonio de Matos, who arrived in Portugal in 1870. Matos was converted by Kalley, and studied in Scotland. Throughout the 19th and 20th century churches were planted in Madeira, Azores, Portugal. In 1926 a Presbytery was formed. In 1944 the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Portugal was formed. In 1946 a Theological Seminary was formed in Carcavelos, but moved to Lisbon in 1970. The denomination is the oldest non-Catholic church in Portugal. It is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the Conference of European Churches and the World Council of Churches.
The Maohi Protestant Church is a Reformed church in French Polynesia.
The United Evangelical Church of Christ ; commonly the Unida Church, Unida Christian Church or Unida Evangelical Church) is an evangelical Protestant denomination in the Philippines founded in 1932.
The Caribbean Conference of Churches is a regional ecumenical body with 33 member churches in 34 territories across the Dutch, English, French and Spanish speaking territories of the Caribbean. It was founded in 1973 and is based in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) have merged to form a new body representing more than 80 million Calvinist Christians worldwide.