Keeping the faith in Pakistan
Shan Joseph comes from a long line of Christians. His great-grandfather was an Anglican minister and his parents and grandparents devoted believers. But in a nation where only 1.6% of the population identifies itself as Christian, that can be difficult. “In Pakistan, Christians are ranked alongside the lowest caste of Hindus,” said Shan. “There will […]
A red thread links Council participants and artists on Leipzig’s Nikolaikirchhof
By Amy Eckert. Photos by Anna Siggelkow. Hundreds of General Council delegates joined in a silent walk from Leipzig’s Willy-Brandt Platz to the St. Nicholas Church on Saturday, July 1. In their hands they carried a portion of red thread knitted by women from a local senior center over the course of two weeks. In […]
Artist Joel Schoon-Tanis inspires Council delegates with “Baring Fruit”
By Amy Eckert Celebrated American artist Joel Schoon-Tanis painted “Baring Fruit” to commemorate the WCRC’s 2017 General Council in Leipzig. The artwork has also found its way into each attendee’s bag, adorning the cover of the Worship Book for the 2017 General Council. It didn’t take Mr. Schoon-Tanis long to come up with a concept […]
WCRC members create justice-themed theatrical performance
By Amy Eckert, photo by Fritz Baarlink They arrived from five continents and 11 nations: Brazil and South Africa, Pakistan and Argentina, Canada and Ghana. Fifteen Reformed church members, none of them professional actors and all of them strangers to one another, arrived in Berlin in advance of the 2017 General Council of the World […]
WCRC witnesses to the world in Berlin
by Stephen Brown Christians have to stand against all forms of injustice in the economy and the environment, Chris Ferguson, general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), said in a sermon at a service in Berlin’s Protestant cathedral. The world is “dominated by war, violence, massive forced migration, gender-based violence, with economic […]
Global gathering challenged to overcome church entanglement with injustice
by Stephen Brown In a world marked by injustice and discrimination, churches need to recognize how they are intertwined with structures of power if they are to promote justice and solidarity, a global gathering of Reformed Christians has heard. “The world is calling upon the faith leaders to use their power for justice for 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 […]
Ferguson casts vision for Communion
by Laurence Villoz In his report to the WCRC General Council, General Secretary Chris Ferguson outlined a new vision for the future, even as he noted the challenges the Communion has taken on since the 2010 Uniting General Council—and those it is still facing. During the presentation of his report to the Council in Leipzig, […]
Art Lab unites international artists around General Council
by Amy Eckert While WCRC delegates were worshiping and discerning in the Messe, a dozen artists gathered across town. Their task: To create artworks inspired by the General Council’s themes of transformation and Reformation, and to do so in just one week. “We asked the artists not to arrive well-prepared with an idea already in […]
Serving as a steward key to Hipp’s pastoral calling
by Amy Eckert When Joanna Hipp was invited to serve as a steward at a meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2012, she recognized the unique opportunity to learn about ecumenism. Hipp’s mentor and professor, Clifton Kirkpatrick, thought the ecumenical meeting would suit her gifts well. But Hipp had no idea the […]