Freedom of religion rooted in justice
A recent consultation took important steps to find a faithful paradigm of thinking over the issue of “Freedom of Religion or Belief.” Twenty-two church leaders and theologians gathered in Hattersheim am Main, Germany, 25-27 February, to discuss this issue in light of the global rise of ethno-nationalisms, xenophobia, interreligious intolerance, patriarchal hegemony and racism. “Given […]
WCRC mourns death of prophetic theologian
The World Communion of Reformed Churches mourns the passing away of Vuyani Vellem on 4 December in his home country of South Africa after a struggle with cancer. Vellem, a professor at Pretoria University, was a specialist in liberation theology, focusing his research on themes such as Christianity and democracy and Christianity and economics as […]
Reformed-Pentecostal dialogue distilling five years’ of discussion
The sixth session of the Reformed-Pentecostal Dialogue, which has revolved around the understanding of “mission,” focused on bringing together the fruits of their five years of work: mission and salvation the Holy Spirit and mission mission and the unity of the church mission and eschatology The work will be presented in a single document to […]
The International Reformed–Anglican Dialogue meets for the fifth time in Hiroshima
Communiqué 2019 The International Reformed–Anglican Dialogue (IRAD) between the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) and the Anglican Communion met for the fifth time, between 23 and 30 August 2019 in Hiroshima, Japan, under the leadership of Co-Chairs: The Revd Dr Elizabeth Welch (WCRC) and The Most Revd Dr Howard Gregory (Anglican Communion). This bilateral […]
Karl Barth’s life and work to be commemorated
The life and work of Swiss theologian Karl Barth will be remembered in a new traveling exhibition and a series of events beginning in December. The theme of the year-long commemoration is “Gott Trifft Mensch” or “God Meets Man.” “Karl Barth is the greatest theologian of the 20th century, and his work is very relevant […]
Dialogue explores communion as an “unbreakable gift and calling”
The International Reformed–Anglican Dialogue between the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) and the Anglican Communion met for the third time in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 31 August to 7 September 2017. The co-chairs are Elizabeth Welch (WCRC) and David Chillingworth (Anglican). The current series of bilateral discussions is the first that the Anglican and […]
Global Protestant gathering commemorates Czech reformer Jan Hus
By Stephen Brown With prayers, hymns and readings, the Czech reformer Jan Hus has been commemorated at a global assembly of Reformed churches on the anniversary of his being burned at the stake as a heretic on 6 July 1415. Born in Bohemia about 1369, Hus worked for the reform of the church, was then […]
WCRC joins declaration to overcome Reformation divisions
by Stephen Brown The World Communion of Reformed Churches has formally joined an ecumenical statement with Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists aiming to overcome divisions between Protestants and Roman Catholics from the time of the Protestant Reformation. “Today is a historic day,” said Jerry Pillay, president of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), at […]
LWF and WCRC sign the Wittenberg Witness, as WCRC joins JDDJ
“In the pursuit of communion and common witness” In an ecumenical worship service, held in the City Church in Wittenberg today, the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) signed the Wittenberg Witness, a common statement affirming their common call to continued renewal and cooperation on the occasion of the […]
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 […]