The general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), Setri Nyomi, has called on members of the Alliance to seek new ways of coming together while remaining open to the higher goal of full Christian unity.
“The whole idea of belonging to an Alliance is to express our belonging together. Often the Reformed family is known for our tendency to divide,” said Nyomi.“Can we in this era forge a new reputation which involves picturing ourselves beyond our national boundaries and holding ourselves accountable to one another?,” he said.
Nyomi made the appeal to member churches of the Reformed family at a meeting with the North East Asia Area Council of WARC in Taipei, Taiwan, last week.
He told the Council that WARC members needed to explore ways in which the Reformed family of churches could become closer but added: “At the same time we will always value the fact that belonging together as a Reformed family is not an end in itself. We have been called to a higher goal of Christian unity.”
Nyomi proposed Asian churches begin working with sister organisations to better serve member churches and reiterated the core callings determined at the recent meeting of WARC’s executive committee.
He cautioned Council members not to turn the values and customs of the Church into a “static set of traditions” and urged them to constantly interpret and re-interpret the traditions and theology of the Reformed family. He added that to do this effectively meant taking seriously the voices of women and those on the margins of society.
“The church in many parts of the world acts as if it has space for everybody on Sunday but in terms of commitments and decision making processes, it counts only men usually of 50 years and above,” said Nyomi.The whole idea of belonging to an Alliance is to express our belonging together. Often the Reformed family is known for our tendency to divide.
Setri Nyomi, WARC general secretary
“How can we make ourselves open to God’s transformation which makes it possible for us to be more inclusive and to regard women and men, young and old, lay and clergy as partners in the mission of God?”
Nyomi also urged members of the Reformed family to listen to the voices of young people in the process of spiritual renewal.
This was the first meeting between the general secretary and an area council since the meeting of the WARC executive committee in October.
