World Communion of Reformed Churches
The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) is the largest association of Reformed churches in the world and the third largest Christian communion in the world, after the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches.[1][2][3][4][5] It has 229 member denominations in 108 countries which claim close to 80 million Christians.[6] 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) and has more than 80 million members in 108 countries.[7]
Among the biggest denominations in the WCRC are the Presbyterian Church of Africa, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, United Church of Canada, Presbyterian Church USA, Reformed Church in Hungary, Reformed Church in Romania, Protestant Church in Indonesia, and Church of Scotland. 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 Reformed organizations.
History
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 Reformed 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, Grand Rapids, MI, USA. 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.
Work
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 organisations, organises a bi-annual Global Institute of Theology, and brings Reformed theological scholars together for various discussions. The Justice office promotes economic, ecological and human justice, 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 organisational responsibilities. The current general secretary is the Rev. Chris Ferguson, a minister from the United Church of Canada. Through the General Secretariat, the WCRC is able to promote dialogue between churches, advocate for causes on a global scale and support the activities of its member churches through various means.
The global headquarters of the WCRC are located in Hannover, Germany, with a North American non-profit subsidiary based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Members of the Communion
This is a list of members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches as of June 2013:[8]
- Algeria
- Protestant Church of Algeria/Eglise Protestante d'Algérie
- Angola
- Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola/Igreja Evangélica Congregacional em Angola (IECA)
- Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola/Igreja Evangélica Reformanda de Angola (IERA)
- Argentina
- Evangelical Church of the River Plate/Iglesia Evangélica del Rio de la Plata
- Evangelical Congregational Church in Argentina/Iglesia Evangélica Congregacional
- Presbyterian Church of Argentina/Iglesia presbiteriana Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Reformed Church in Austria/Evangelische Kirche HB (Reformiert) in Österreich
- Bangladesh
- St. Thomas' Church/Church of Bangladesh
- Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bangladesh
- Belgium
- United Protestant Church in Belgium/Eglise Protestante Unie de Belgique/Verenigde Protestantse Kerk in Belgie
- Bolivia
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Bolivia/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana en Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Arab Evangelical Church of São Paulo/Igreja Evangélica Arabe de Sao Paulo
- Evangelical Reformed Churches in Brazil/Igrejas Evangélicas Reformadas no Brasil
- Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil/Igreja Presbiteriana Independente do Brasil
- United Presbyterian Church of Brazil/Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil
- Bulgaria
- Union of Evangelical Congregational Churches in Bulgaria/Evangelaska Kongreschanska Zewrkwa
- Burkina Faso
- Reformed Evangelical Church of Burkina Faso/Eglise evangelique reformee du Burkina Faso
- Burma
- Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar
- Independent Presbyterian Church of Myanmar
- Mara Evangelical Church/Evangelical Mission Myanmar/Mara Evangelical Awnanopa
- The Presbyterian Church of Myanmar/Kawlram Presb Kohhran
- Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Myanmar
- Cameroon
- Africa Protestant Church/Eglise protestante africaine
- Evangelical Church of Cameroon/Eglise évangélique du Cameroun
- Presbyterian Church in Cameroon/Eglise presbyterienne camerounaise
- Presbyterian Church of Cameroon/Eglise presbytérienne camerounaise
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Protestant Church of Christ the King/Eglise Protestante du Christ-Roi
- Chile
- Presbyterian Church of Chile/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Chile
- Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Chile/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana en Chile
- China, Hong Kong
- The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China
- China, People's Republic of
- Colombia
- Presbyterian Church of Colombia/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia (Synodo presbiteriano)
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Evangelical Community in the Congo/Communaute evangelique du Congo
- Presbyterian Community in the Congo/Communaute presbytérienne au Congo
- Presbyterian Community of Eastern Kasai/Communaute presbyterienne du Kasai oriental
- Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa/Communaute presbyterienne de Kinshasa
- Presbyterian Community of Western Kasai?/Reformed Presbyterian Community in Africa/Communauté presbytérienne au Kasai occidental/Communauté presbytérienne réformée en Afrique
- Protestant Community of Shaba/Communaute Protestante au Shaba
- Reformed Community of Presbyterians/Communauté Réformée des Presbyteriens
- Congo, Republic of the
- Evangelical Church of Congo/Eglise évangélique du Congo
- Costa Rica
- Costa Rican Presbyterian Evangelical Church/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana Costarricense
- Croatia
- Reformed Christian Church in Croatia/Reformirana Krscanska Crkva U Hrvatskoj
- Cuba
- Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba/Iglesia Presbiteriana-Reformada en Cuba
- Czech Republic
- Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren/Evangelische Kirche der Böhmischen Brüder/Ceskobratrská Cirkev Evangelická
- Denmark
- Reformed Synod of Denmark/Den reformerte Synode i Danmark
- Dominican Republic
- Christian Reformed Church of the Dominican Republic
- Dominican Evangelical Church/Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana
- Egypt
- Evangelical Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile)/El-Kanisah El-Injiliyah
- El Salvador
- Reformed Calvinist Church of El Salvador/Iglesia Reformada Calvinista de El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea/Iglesia Reformada Presbiteriana de Guinea Ecuatorial
- Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus/Ye Etiopia Wangelawit Betakristian Makane Yesus
- France
- Evangelical Reformed Church of France/Eglises protestantes réformées évangeliques de France (UNEPREF, formerly EREI)
- Malagazy Protestant Church in France/Eglise Protestante Malgache/Fiangonana Protestanta Malagasy
- Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine/Eglise Réformée d'Alsace et de Lorraine
- United Protestant Church of France/Église protestante unie de France
- French Polynesia
- Maòhi Protestant Church/Etaretia Evaneria no Porinetia Farani/Église Protestante Maòhi
- Germany
- Church of Lippe/Lippische Landeskirche
- Evangelical Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany (Synode evangelisch-reformierter Kirchen in Bayern und Nordwestdeutschland)
- Reformed Alliance/Reformierter Bund
- Evangelical Old-Reformed Church in Lower Saxony
- Ghana
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana/Presbyteria Nyanyui Hame le Ghana
- Presbyterian Church of Ghana
- Greece
- Greek Evangelical Church/Helliniki Evangeliki Ekklesia
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala/Iglesia Evangélica Nacional Presbiteriana de Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Christian Reformed Church of Honduras/Iglesia Cristiana Reformada de Honduras
- Hungary
- Reformed Church in Hungary/Magyarországi Református Egyház
- India
- Church of North India
- Church of South India
- The Congregational Church of India (Maraland)
- Evangelical Church of Maraland
- Presbyterian Church of India
- Reformed Presbyterian Church, North East India
- Indonesia
- Christian Church in Central Sulawesi
- Christian Church in Luwuk Banggai
- Christian Church in South Sulawesi
- Christian Church of Southern Sumatra (GKSBS)
- Christian Church of Sumba (GKS)
- Christian Churches of Java
- Christian Evangelical Church in Bolaang Mongondow
- Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa
- Christian Evangelical Church in Timor
- Church of Toraja Mamasa (GTM)
- The East Java Christian Church
- Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera
- Evangelical Christian Church in West Papua
- Evangelical Church in Kalimantan
- Indonesia Christian Church
- Indonesian Protestant Church in Buol Toli-Toli
- Indonesian Protestant Church in Donggala
- Indonesian Protestant Church in Gorontalo
- Javanese Christian Churches (GKJ)
- Karo Batak Protestant Church
- Pasundan Christian Church
- Protestant Christian Church in Bali
- Protestant Church in Indonesia
- Protestant Church in the Moluccas
- Protestant Church in Southeast Sulawesi
- Protestant Church in West Indonesia
- Sangihe-Talaud Evangelical Church
- Toraja Church
- Iran
- Synod of the Evangelical Church in Iran
- Ireland
- Italy
- Waldensian Evangelical Church (Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches)/Chiesa Evangelica Valdese
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Church of Christ in Japan/Nippon Kirisuto Kyokai
- Korean Christian Church in Japan/Zainichi Daikan Kirisuto Kyokai Sokai
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kiribati Protestant Church/Ekaretia ni Boretetanti i Kiribati
- Korea, Republic of
- Presbyterian Church of Korea
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (ChanYang) (Reformed Church of Korea)/Chan Yang
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDongChunTong)/Hap Dong Jeong Tong/Hap Dong Chung Tong
- Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea/Ki Jang
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (Daeshin)/Dae Shin I
- Latvia
- Reformed Church in Latvia/Evangeliska Reformatu-Braju Draudze
- Lebanon
- Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
- National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
- The National Evangelical Union of Lebanon/Al-Ittihad Al Injili Al-Watani Fi Lubnan
- Lesotho
- Lesotho Evangelical Church/Kereke ea Evangeli Lesotho
- Liberia
- Lithuania
- Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church - Unitas Lithuaniae/Lietuvos Evangeliku Reformatu Baznycia
- Luxembourg
- Protestant Reformed Church of Luxemburg H.B./Protestantisch-Reformierte Kirche von Luxembourg H.B./Eglise Protestante Réformée du Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Eglise de Jésus-Christ à Madagascar/Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara
- Malawi
- Church of Central Africa Presbyterian - General Synod
- Church of Central Africa Presbyterian - Nkhoma Synod
- Malaysia
- Presbyterian Church Malaysia/Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Reformed Congregational Churches
- United Church of Christ - Congregational in the Marshall Islands/Jarin Parik Dron
- Mauritius
- Presbyterian Church of Mauritius/Eglise presbytérienne de Maurice
- Mexico
- Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Mexico/Iglesia Presbiteriana Asociada Reformada de México (IPAR)
- National Presbyterian Church in Mexico, A. R./Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México, A. R.
- Presbyterian Reformed Church of Mexico/Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada de México
- Morocco
- Evangelical Church in Morocco/Eglise évangélique au Maroc
- Mozambique
- Evangelical Church of Christ in Mozambique/Igreja Evangelica de Cristo em Mocambique
- Presbyterian Church of Mozambique/Igreja Presbiteriana de Moçambique
- Reformed Church in Mozambique/Igreja Reformada em Mocambique
- United Church of Christ in Mozambique/Igreja de Christo Unida em Mocambique (Ex-Missao American Board)
- The Netherlands
- The Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PCN)/De Protestantse Kerk in Nederland (PKN)
- Remonstrant Brotherhood/Remonstrantse Broederschap
- Covenant of Free Evangelical Congregations in the Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands/Eglise evangélique en Nouvelle Calédonie et aux Îles Loyauté
- New Zealand
- Niger
- Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger/Eglise évangélique de la République du Niger/Ekklisiyar Bishara Ta Kasar Niger
- Nigeria
- Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria
- Church of Christ in the Sudan Among the Tiv/Nongo u Kristu u ken Sudan hen Tiv (NKST)
- Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ
- Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
- Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria
- United Church of Christ in Nigeria/Habaddiyar Ekklisiyar Kristi a Nigeria
- Niue
- Church of Niue/Ekalesia Niue
- Pakistan
- Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
- Sialkot Diocese of the Church of Pakistan
- The Philippines
- Christian Reformed Church in the Philippines
- United Church of Christ in the Philippines
- United Evangelical Church of Christ (Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Cristo)
- Poland
- Polish Reformed Church/Kosciol Ewangelicko-Reformowany w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
- Portugal
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal/Igreja Evangélica Presbiteriana de Portugal
- Reunion
- Protestant Church of Reunion/Eglise Protestante de La Réunion
- Romania
- Reformed Church in Romania (Oradea)/Kiralyhagomelleki Reformatus Egyhazkeruelet (Oradea)
- Reformed Church in Romania - Transylvanian District/Romaniai Reformatus Egyhaz - Erdelyi Egyhazkerület
- Rwanda
- Presbyterian Church in Rwanda/Eglise presbytérienne au Rwanda
- Senegal
- Protestant Church in Senegal/Eglise protestante du Sénégal
- Serbia, Republic of, and Montenegro, Republic of
- Reformed Christian Church in Serbia and Montenegro/Reformatska Hriscanska Crkva u SFRJ
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia/Reformovaná Krest. Cirkev na Slovensku
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Dutch Reformed Church (DRC)/Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK)
- Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA)/(NGKA)
- Dutch Reformed Church of Africa/Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA)
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa
- Peoples Church of Africa/Volkskerk van Afrika
- Presbyterian Church of Africa
- Reformed Church in Africa, South Africa
- United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
- Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
- Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa/ Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider Afrika
- Volkskerk van Afrika
- Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ
- Spain
- Spanish Evangelical Church/Iglesia Evangélica Espanola
- Sri Lanka
- Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka
- Presbytery of Lanka
- Sudan
- Presbyterian Church in Sudan
- Africa Inland Church Sudan
- Sudanese Reformed Churches
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Uniting Church in Sweden or Equmeniakyrkan (founded 2011 by member church Mission Covenant Church of Sweden and two other denominations)
- Switzerland
- Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches or (Schweizerischer Evangelischer Kirchenbund, Fédération des Eglises protestantes de Suisse, Federazione delle Chiese evangeliche della Svizzera, Federaziun da las Baselgias evangelicas da la Svizra SEK-FEPS)
- Taiwan
- Presbyterian Church in Taiwan/Tâi-oân Ki-tok Tiúⁿ-ló Kàu-hōe
- Thailand
- Togo
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Togo/Eglise évangélique presbytérienne du Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Tuvalu Christian Church/Te Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Christian Reformed Church of East Africa
- Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda
- Reformed Presbyterian Church in Africa (Uganda)
- Ukraine
- Reformed Church in Sub-Carpathia/ Reformed Church in Transcarpathia/Karpataljai Reformatus Egyhaz
- United Kingdom
- Church of Scotland
- The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
- Presbyterian Church of Wales/Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru
- Union of Welsh Independents/Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg
- United Free Church of Scotland
- United Reformed Church
- United States of America
- Christian Reformed Church in North America
- Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
- ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (provisional member)[9]
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church
- Hungarian Reformed Church in America
- Korean Presbyterian Church in America
- Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church/Lietuviu Evangeliku Reformatu Baznycia-JAV
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Reformed Church in America
- United Church of Christ
- Uruguay
- Waldensian Evangelical Church of the River Plate/Iglesia Evangelica Valdense de Rio de la Plata
- Vanuatu
- Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu/Presbiterian Jyos Blong Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Presbyterian Church of Venezuela/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Presbyterian Church of Vietnam
- Western Samoa
- Congregational Christian Church in Samoa/Ekalesia Fa' apotopotoga Kerisinao I Samoa
- Zambia
- Church of Central Africa Presbyterian - Zambia Synod
- Reformed Church in Zambia
- United Church of Zambia
- Zimbabwe
United Congregational Church of Southern Africa -Zimbabwe Synod
References
- ↑ Reformed Ecumenical Council
- ↑ World Alliance of Reformed Churches
- ↑ "Analysis: Damage done to Episcopal church". USA Today. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ↑ Major Branches of Religions
- ↑ The Anglican Communion Official Website—Welcome
- ↑ http://wcrc.ch/our-story/
- ↑ "WCRC History". World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
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 Reformed Christians worldwide.
- ↑ WCRC churches
- ↑ "ECO received as a member-church of WCRC" (June 3, 2013), The Layman Online. Accessed June 5, 2013.
External links
- World Communion of Reformed Churches Official site
- Official launch in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA in June 2010
- World Reformed Communion announcement
- CRC to Host Inaugural Meeting of Reformed World Communion
- Reformed Ecumenical Council - Official website
- World Alliance of Reformed Churches - Official website
- International Conference of Reformed Churches - Official website
- World Reformed Fellowship - Official website