World Reformed Fellowship

Last updated
World Reformed Fellowship
World Reformed Fellowship logo.png
Type Fellowship
Classification Protestant
Orientation Confessionally Reformed
Origin2000;24 years ago (2000)
Members7,281,267
Official website www.wrf.global

The World Reformed Fellowship (WRF) is an ecumenical, Christian fellowship that advances partnerships among confessional Reformed churches around the world. [1]

Contents

History

The World Fellowship of Reformed Churches was formed in 1994 by the Presbyterian Church in America, the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico, and the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, as well as member churches mainly from Latin American countries and from India, East Africa and the United States. [2] The International Reformed Fellowship (IRF) was formed also in 1994 with Calvinist churches in Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, and from all part of Asia.

The World Fellowship of Reformed Churches and the International Reformed Fellowship united on October 24, 2000 to form the World Reformed Fellowship. The WRF is now an international body represented in seventy-nine countries. [3]

Work

The WRF operates commissions that serve its global membership, focusing on evangelism and missions, theological education, and theology. These commissions facilitate dialogue for better partnership between member denominations and organizations, produce and provide resources for the church, operate as theological and ministerial forums between WRF members, and serve as platforms of engagement from the WRF towards other organizations. The theological commission has produced several documents, such as the WRF’s Statement of Faith, a narrative statement on Reformed identity, and a statement on ecclesiology, all designed to facilitate greater theological partnership across cultural and intra-Reformed theological differences. [4] The commissions of the WRF sometimes facilitate larger forums, such as partnering with the Lausanne Movement to host a consultation on theological education in 2014 in Sao Paulo [5] [6] and a theological consultation on Christian ministry among Muslims in 2011 in Istanbul. [7] [8] The WRF partners with both the World Evangelical Alliance, of which the WRF is an affiliate member, [9] and New Growth Press for book publishing. [10] [11]

The WRF hosts a global general assembly approximately every four years. These assemblies review and direct the work of the WRF’s commissions, are a time of networking and fellowship for the membership of the WRF, and are where the WRF’s membership hears about major issues facing the global church in order to consider and address them.

WRF membership is also divided up into regional boards for planning and implementing fellowship for ministries within their own larger, geographic area. [13] These boards are more contextualized than the general assembly, both in composition and in the nature of their work.

Governance

Governance of the WRF is held by its membership voting at general assemblies. Oversight and operations are carried out by a board of directors and an international director (CEO).

Chairmen of the Board,

International Directors,

Membership

The WRF is similar in theology to the International Conference of Reformed Churches and more conservative than the World Communion of Reformed Churches, though several member churches of the WRF are also members of either the ICRC or the WCRC. The WRF primarily differs from these other groups in that it is a fellowship, not a council, and so includes in its membership not only denominations, but individual congregations, pastors and theologians, and non-ecclesial organizations (e.g. theological seminaries). It conceives of its existence as facilitating dialogue and sharing of resources between the different global branches of Reformed Christians. [16] Unlike the WCRC, which officially supports the ordination of women, [17] [18] and the ICRC, which prohibits denominational members that ordain women as pastors, [19] [20] the WRF as a confessional fellowship recognizes the diversity of positions among its members regarding the ordination women. [21] There are a total of 82 denominational members of the WRF and 155 organizational members, as of July 08, 2023. [22] [23] The majority (75 of 82, as of September 15, 2023) of WRF member denominations prohibit women from being ordained as pastors, elders, or deacons.

The WRF has a Reformed, confessional basis for membership. Members have to agree with:

The largest churches as of 2023 are (membership of 100,000 or more):

  1. National Presbyterian Church in Mexico (2,800,000) [25]
  2. Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) 2,351,896) [26]
  3. Presbyterian Church of Brazil (702,949) [27]
  4. Presbyterian Church in America (393,528) [28]
  5. United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (250,000)
  6. Christian Reformed Church in North America (189,753) [29]
  7. ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (127,000) [30]
  8. Evangelical Presbyterian Church (125,870) [31]

Denominational members

Countries with member denominations and former members of the World Reformed Fellowship Paises com denominacoes membros e ex-membros da Fraternidade Reformada Mundial.png
Countries with member denominations and former members of the World Reformed Fellowship

As of February 2024, there are 83 member denominations: [32] [33] [34]

CountryDenominationNumber of congregationsNumber of membersYear
South Africa Christian Reformed Church in South Africa 192,5001984 [35]
South Africa Reformed Churches in South Africa 38276,8122022 [36]
Angola Presbyterian Church of Angola 10060,0002023 [37]
ArgentinaOrthodox Episcopal Anglican Church (Buenos Aires)---
Argentina ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (Argentina) ^ ---
Australia Presbyterian Church of Australia 54654,0002006
Australia Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia ---
Australia Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia 167192016 [36]
Bangladesh Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh 26-2011 [38]
BangladeshBangladesh Presbyterian Church13-2017 [39]
BangladeshGrace Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh---
BangladeshSmyrna House of Prayer Church---
Bangladesh Isa-e Church 1256,0002015 [40]
BangladeshThyatira Church Trust Bangladesh---
BangladeshEvangelical Reformed Church of Bangladesh---
BangladeshBangladesh Evangelical Reformed Church of Bandarban, Tripura---
Brazil Presbyterian Church of Brazil 5,420702,9472021 [27]
BrazilChristian Church Nations For Christ---
BurundiChristian Reformed Church in Burundi---
BurundiHoly Spirit Revival Church---
Canada Reformed Church of Quebec 5 [41] 400 [36] [42] 2018 [36]
ColombiaUnited Church of Christ in Colombia---
CongoUnited Presbyterian Churches of Congo---
Democratic Republic of the CongoKivu Presbyterian Church---
Democratic Republic of the CongoReformed Community of Katanga---
EgyptGospel Peace Church of Egypt---
EthiopiaRaisin Power Baptist Church of Ethiopia---
HaitiUnion of Churches of the Christian Community of Haiti---
Hungary Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe 253702022 [36]
IndiaCouncil of Reformed Churches of India---
IndiaTelugu Baptist Church Council---
IndiaCelitic Cross Ministry Dioceses of India---
India Christian Reformed Fellowship of India 300-2019 [43]
IndiaMalankara Evangelical Church---
IndiaReformed Church of India---
India Presbyterian Reformed Church in India 10-(2022) [44]
IndiaIndia Christian Mission Church---
India Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed) 5010,0002015 [45]
India Reformed Presbyterian Church of India 103,0002004 [46]
IndiaReformed Presbyterian Church India---
India Reformed Presbyterian Church North East India 10511,3762021 [36]
India Evangelical Reformed Church of India 84--
IndiaUnited Church of India---
Indonesia Indonesian Reformed Evangelical Church 747,0002011 [47]
Italy Evangelical Reformed Baptist Churches in Italy 145002020 [48]
Kenya Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church 10022,0002020 [49]
LiberiaEmmanuel Temple (Sinkor, Monrovia)---
Lithuania Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania 147,0002008 [50]
MadagascarProtestant Church of Ambohimalaza-Firaisiana---
Malawi Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi and Mozambique 9015,0002016 [51]
Mexico National Presbyterian Church in Mexico 6,0002,800,0002010 [25]
MyanmarBiblical Reformed Church in Myanmar---
Myanmar Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar 505,0002004 [52]
MyanmarCommunity of Reformed Churches in Myanmar---
Myanmar Reformed Evangelical Church of Myanmar 407,0002010 [53]
Myanmar Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar 352,5002021 [54]
New Zealand Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand 25--
Pakistan United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan 200250,0002018
PakistanSutlej Reformed Church of Pakistan20--
PolandEvangelical Presbyterian Church in Poland4--
Russia Evangelical Reformed Church of Russia 153502010 [55]
Senegal Presbyterian Church of Senegal 208002017 [56]
South Korea Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) 11,9202,351,8962022 [26]
Sri Lanka Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka [57] 413,0002014 [58]
Sudan and South Sudan Sudanese Reformed Churches 275002005 [59]
Uganda Presbyterian Church in Uganda 873,0472019 [36]
Uganda Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda 125,0002004 [60]
UgandaCommunity Worship Presbyterian Church---
UgandaCovenant Reformed Church in Uganda---
UgandaGreater Grace Ministry (Kampala, Uganda)---
UgandaKing's Church (Kampala, Uganda)---
Uganda Reformed Presbyterian Church in Africa (Uganda) ---
UgandaNew Life Presbyterian Church of Uganda---
United Kingdom Associated Presbyterian Churches 92002021 [61]
United Kingdom Free Church of Scotland [62] 1125,4002016 [36]
United States of America Presbyterian Church in America 1,934393,5282023 [28]
United States of America Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church 27330,6492021 [36]
United States of America Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States) 627125,8702022 [63]
United States of AmericaEvangelical Reformed Church in America---
United States of America ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians 400127,0002022 [30] [64]
United States of America Christian Reformed Church in North America [65] 1,000189,7532024 [29]
United States of America United Episcopal Church of North America 26--
Uruguay Presbyterian Church of Uruguay 21502023
WorldTotal30,4377,281,2672004-2024

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References

  1. ↑ WRF Case Statement
  2. ↑ Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie
  3. ↑ "Global Membership of the WRF". World Reformed Fellowship. 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  4. ↑ "WRF Commissions". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  5. ↑ "WRF/Lausanne Global Theological Education Consultation". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  6. ↑ "2014 Consultation on Global Theological Education". Lausanne Movement. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  7. ↑ "WRF Resources for Ministry in the Context of Islam". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  8. ↑ "Our Muslim Neighbors: Improving Student Knowledge of the Diversity of Islamic Faith and Practice" (PDF). Reformed Theological Seminary. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  9. ↑ "WEA Congratulates New International Director of World Reformed Fellowship". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  10. ↑ "New Growth Press: World Reformed Fellowship". New Growth Press. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  11. ↑ "The Decalogue Project: Disciples from Six Continents Engage God's Ten Commandments, Latest Book in WEA World of Theology Series Available Now". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  12. ↑ "The General Assembly". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  13. ↑ "WRF Regional Boards". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  14. ↑ The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is not a denominational member of the WRF; Sam Logan held an individual membership with the WRF.
  15. ↑ "WRF Executive Leadership". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  16. ↑ "WRF Case Statement".
  17. ↑ "The WCRC Considers A Call For Its Members to Accept the Ordination of Women". World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  18. ↑ "A Declaration of Faith on Women's Ordination" (PDF). World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  19. ↑ "Reformed Churches in the Netherlands Suspended by the International Conference of Reformed Churches for Adopting Women's Ordination". The Aquila Report. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  20. ↑ "ICRC: GKV Membership Terminated". Wes Bredenhof. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  21. ↑ "WRF State on Ecclesiology". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  22. ↑ "WRF Denominational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  23. ↑ "WRF Organizational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  24. ↑ "WRF Case Statement". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  25. 1 2 "Report on the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico 2010" (PDF). Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  26. 1 2 "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong)" . Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  27. 1 2 "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil in 2021" . Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  28. 1 2 "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church in America 2019-2023" . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  29. 1 2 "Statistics of the Christian Reformed Church in North America in 2024" . Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  30. 1 2 "ECO Membership" . Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  31. ↑ "Statistical Report of the 43rd General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church" (PDF). June 20, 2023. p. 1. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  32. ↑ "List of member denominations of World Reformed Fellowship" . Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Word Reformed Fellowship: List of Members" . Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  34. ↑ "WRF Denominational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  35. ↑ "Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America: Interchurch relations of the Christian Church Reformed in South Africa" (PDF). 12 June 1984. p. 179. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Minute of the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church" (PDF). June 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Igreja Presbiteriana wants to help vulnerable families". June 13, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Interview with Rev. Edward Ayub, founder of the Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh" . Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  39. ↑ "Presbyterian Church Bangladesh has 13 churches and 20 pastors in 2017" . Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  40. ↑ "History of Isa-e Church". September 25, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  41. ↑ "List of churches in Quebec Quebec Reformed Church" . Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  42. ↑ "History of the Reformed Church of Quebec" (PDF). Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  43. ↑ "History of the Presbyterian and Reformed Fellowship of India" (PDF). November 1, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  44. ↑ "List of churches of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in India" . Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  45. ↑ "History of the Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed)" . Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  46. ↑ "Reformed Presbyterian Church of India". October 21, 2004. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  47. ↑ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Indonesia". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  48. ↑ "Reformed Baptists in Italy". 2013. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  49. ↑ "CRB: Evangelical Presbyterian Church Africa" . Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  50. ↑ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania". April 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  51. ↑ "Floods affect members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi and Mozambique". December 18, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  52. ↑ "Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar". February 27, 2004. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  53. ↑ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Myanmar" . Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  54. ↑ "Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar". June 25, 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  55. ↑ "History of the Union of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Russia" . Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  56. ↑ "WRF Report on the Presbyterian Church of Senegal" (PDF). January 1, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  57. ↑ "Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka" . Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  58. ↑ "Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka" . Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  59. ↑ "3rd Report General Synod of the Reformed Churches in Sudan" (PDF). May 8, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  60. ↑ "Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda" . Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  61. ↑ > "Congregations of Associated Presbyterian Churches" . Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  62. ↑ "General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  63. ↑ "Report Statistician of the 43rd General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church" (PDF). June 22, 2023. p. 53. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  64. ↑ Cameron Shaffer (March 19, 2024). "What the EPC Can Learn from the PCA" . Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  65. ↑ "Ecumenical Relations of the Christian Reformed Church in North America" . Retrieved December 15, 2015.
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