Feminist theologian from West Timor awarded Sylvia Michel Prize
On Sunday, 4 March, the international Sylvia Michel Prize for promoting the leadership functions of women in the church was awarded for the fifth time at a church service in Bremgarten, Switzerland. The award was given to Mery Kolimon, president of the Protestant Evangelical Church in Timor, Indonesia. Born in 1972, Kolimon studied theology in the […]
Reformed Church of East Africa approves ordination of women
After years of discussion the Reformed Church of East Africa’s (RCEA) General Synod approved the ordination of women at its synod in November. The current RCEA moderator, Musa Kipkorir Kapkong Maina, expressed his joy and thanked the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) for being a beacon of light. “In this area, WCRC has walked […]
General Council approves statement on ordination of women
by Laurence Villoz The “Declaration of Faith on the Ordination of Women” was accepted by the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) at its General Council on Monday, 3 July, in Leipzig. “We have reached a certain consensus,” exclaimed Jerry Pillay, president of the WCRC. At the decision-making session on gender justice delegates accepted the […]
The WCRC considers a call for its members to accept the ordination of women
by Laurence Villoz While the churches deplore injustices against women, some of them perpetuate gender inequality by denying female ordination. “Gender based violence is one of the biggest challenges in the world,” said Dr. Dorcas Gordon, principal of John Knox College in Toronto, Canada, at the “Gender Justice” session of the General Council of the […]
Prize empowers women
Nominations are now being accepted for the Sylvia Michel Prize, a bi-annual award that promotes and supports projects preparing women for leadership positions in Reformed churches worldwide. The prize of US$5000 is awarded every two years by the Reformed Cantonal Church of Argovia in Switzerland in cooperation with the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). […]
Statement on International Women’s Day 2017
Today, on International Women’s Day, we are joining the worldwide efforts to make gender-based violence visible. Today’s movement will take different shapes in different parts of the world, including becoming “A Day Without Women” in some places. But regardless of what form the day takes, it is a call to women and their allies to […]
Gender justice focus of first Accra+10 consultation
The first in a series of bi-regional consultations focused through the Accra Confession took place in Ghana in November. Participants from the Africa Communion of Reformed Churches (ACRC) and Northeast Asia Area Council (NEAAC) came together under the theme “Gender Reading of the Signs of Times.” The general objective of the consultation was to reflect […]
Award recognizes women leaders
Two women from two generations have been recognized for their work both as leaders and for developing leaders in their church. Yvette Rabemila and Brigitte Rabarijaona, both ordained ministers in the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, were awarded the 2014 Sylvia Michel Prize at a worship service in Heiden, Switzerland, on Sunday, 8 March […]
Members invited to actively oppose violence against women and children
The We Will Speak Out coalition invites all members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) to join in its annual “16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.” The campaign begins on Tuesday, 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until 10 December, International […]
WCRC joins delegation to United Nations
Presbyterian advocates for women at UN Commission on the Status of Women Dora Arce Valentín, the World Communion of Reformed Churches’ executive secretary for justice and partnership, will join a delegation from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that will advocate for gender equity with the 58th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This Commission […]