WARC Holds Priority-Setting Meeting

The first meeting of newly elected officers of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) ended in Geneva, Switzerland on 26th February. They convened for 4 days to formulate priorities for the Alliance this year as a guide to the worldwide reformed churches.

WARC is a fellowship of more than 75 million Christians in 218 churches in 107 countries. They are all rooted in the 16th-century Reformation led by John Calvin, John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli and many others, and the earlier reform movements of Jan Hus and Peter Valdes. All the member churches are Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed and United.

The process began based on the many mandated actions set by WARC’s 24th General Council in Accra, Ghana, in August 2004, on which the Officers were elected as well. The Officers include the president, six regional vice-presidents and the general treasurer.

Stated in a press release, among the priorities discussed by the Officers were the following:

- To covenant for justice in the economy and the earth.
- To search for spiritual renewal and renewal of Reformed worship.
- To foster communion within the Reformed family and unity within the church ecumenical.
- To interpret and re-interpret the Reformed tradition and theology for contemporary witness.
- To foster mission in unity, mission renewal and mission empowerment.
- To build churches that are truly inclusive of all the people of God.
- To enable Reformed churches to witness for justice and peace.

A modest restructuring plan and a fundraising effort involving the whole WARC family were also proposed by the treasurer.

"I believe we have laid the groundwork for a vital and secure future for the Alliance in this meeting," said Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, WARC’s president. "It is our prayer that the Alliance will remain a key prophetic voice for justice for a long time to come and a strong force for communion among Reformed churches all over the world."

WARC general secretary Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi added, "The Alliance Officers have remained faithful to the Accra General Council and acted responsibly in the face of very limited financial and staff resources. This meeting will pave the way for a continuing faithful presence of the Reformed family on important questions of justice in the world and on the issue of unity among Reformed and other Christians around the world."

On the 24th General Council of WARC last year, the Accra confession was adopted by 400 delegates. While sternly rejecting "the current world economic order imposed by global neoliberal capitalism and any other economic system, including absolute planned economies, which defy God’s covenant by excluding the poor, the vulnerable and the whole of creation from the fullness of life", it stated that "working to create a more just economy is essential to the integrity of Christian faith."