The Reformed Church Center at New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS) recently marked a milestone in its journey of faith and intellectual engagement by celebrating its 25th anniversary. On April 24, 2025, the occasion was graced with a thought-provoking address by the Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). The address, titled “Being Reformed in the 21st Century: A Gift or a Challenge?” offered a deep dive into the challenges and responsibilities facing Reformed Christians today.

Nyomi’s address captivated attendees by exploring the deep-rooted teachings of the Reformed tradition, emphasizing its transformative nature and the ongoing responsibility of Christians to engage the world in meaningful ways. His message was clear: while the Reformed tradition is a gift that has been passed down through centuries, living out its call today is undoubtedly a challenge.

Opening with the central theme of grace, Nyomi articulated how God’s grace liberates believers, freeing them from the constant striving for self-sufficiency and allowing them to enter into right relationships with God, one another, and creation. “Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ liberates us,” Nyomi explained. “It is not our works that save us but God’s grace, setting us free to be in right relationship with God and the world.”

However, the task of living out this grace in a world marked by inequity and injustice is not easy. Nyomi didn’t shy away from addressing the harsh realities that face the global community today. He pointed to the stark disparity between the world’s rich and poor, using a recent World Bank report which revealed that over 700 million people live below the international poverty line of $2.15 a day. He also noted that the wealth of the world’s richest 1% equals that of the remaining 99%, a troubling sign of growing economic inequality. These figures, Nyomi explained, paint a grim picture of a world where many have access to vast resources while billions struggle to meet their basic needs.

In his reflections, Nyomi also recalled the painful legacy of colonialism and slavery, which continue to influence global inequality. He shared personal insights from his homeland of Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, a territory rich in resources that still faces significant economic struggles. “In Ghana, gold was mined, but where is that gold today?” Nyomi asked, questioning the long-lasting consequences of colonization, where resources were exploited, but the benefits were not felt by the indigenous people.

The legacy of slavery, he added, remains another dark chapter of injustice that reverberates throughout the world, particularly in former slave-exporting nations. Nyomi pointed out that while slave owners were compensated when slavery was abolished, the descendants of enslaved people were never compensated. The world, he said, continues to feel the ripples of these historic wrongs.

But it wasn’t all a grim recounting of the world’s challenges. Nyomi’s address ultimately aimed to inspire hope. He reminded the gathered scholars and church leaders that Reformed Christians have a duty to confront injustice, not run from it. “Being Reformed today is about more than theological understanding. It’s about engagement in the world around us,” he said.

Nyomi highlighted how the Reformed tradition has historically been a movement of resistance to tyranny and injustice. He pointed to key documents like the Belhar Confession and the Accra Confession, which called for social justice and ethical engagement in the world. He encouraged attendees to consider how these theological frameworks can be applied today to address current crises such as economic inequality, climate change, and the growing refugee crisis.

While Nyomi acknowledged the daunting nature of the task before Reformed Christians, he emphasized the strength found in community. “We are not alone in this mission. We have the Holy Spirit, and we have one another. Together, we can face the challenges of our time,” he assured the audience.

In closing, Nyomi urged the audience to embrace both the gift and challenge of the Reformed tradition, recognizing that they are called not only to receive but to live out their faith in a way that brings transformation to the world. “The Reformed tradition is a gift, but it is also a challenge,” he affirmed. “We have a responsibility to engage the brokenness of the world with the grace and truth of Christ.”

As the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Reformed Church Center continues at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Nyomi’s words serve as a reminder to all that while the world may be filled with injustice and pain, Reformed Christians are called to be agents of transformation, empowered by grace and guided by a deep sense of responsibility toward their neighbors and the earth.

Watch the full address below: