Young radio DJ uses her programme to keep Zambian Christians real
By Amy Eckert You would think living in a declared Christian country would be good for believers. 23-year-old DJ Jessica Bwali isn’t entirely sure. “In recent years there’s been a mushrooming of Christian churches in Zambia,” said Jessica of her home country. “But unfortunately, they aren’t really Christian at all. In many, a kind of […]
Lombard Prize awarded to New Zealand’s Jordan Redding
By Amy Eckert Jordan Redding, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and a doctoral student from Dunedin, New Zealand, has been named the winner of the 2017 Lombard Prize. In association with Lombard, Odier & Cie, Bankers of Geneva, Switzerland, the WCRC called for entries in the essay competition 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 […]
For two Syrian sisters, the General Council offers an opportunity to speak of difficulty…and hope
by Amy Eckert It’s difficult to live in Homs, Syria, in 2017. It’s even more difficult to live in the besieged city as an openly practicing Christian. Loujain Saad, a member of the National Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon (NESSL), first learned of the WCRC in 2015. She was invited to volunteer as a […]
Stewards work behind the scenes of the General Council
By Amy Eckert Attendees may never see the work done by the WCRC’s stewards. But without their volunteer hours, the General Council couldn’t function. Before most delegates ever arrived, a team of 75 stewards were unpacking trucks, ripping open boxes, setting up offices with computer connections and stuffing attendees’ bags with literature, meal tickets, a […]
Youth Gathering Kicks off before the General Council
By Amy Eckert Long before the WCRC’s General Council delegates began to arrive—even before the Women and Youth Pre-Councils landed in Germany—a group of some 120 young adults began a period of worship, study and interaction at a Youth Gathering. Held in a village northwest of Leipzig, the Youth Gathering at the local Begegnungszentrum Zwochau […]
Young theologians gather for unique experience
They have come from many nations, gathering at the top of what has been called the “holy hill.” The Global Institute of Theology (GIT) officially began at the Theological College for Church and Diaconie on Saturday, 10 June, with an opening worship led by Martin Engels, moderator of the Reformed Alliance; Andar Parlindungan, executive secretary […]
Interns excited about General Council
Each year the staff of the World Communion of Reformed Churches welcomes one or two new young adults as interns to its offices in Hannover, Germany. Interns have come from Indonesia and South Africa, South Korea and Taiwan, the United States and elsewhere. With a commitment to ecumenism, they seek connections, experiences and opportunities. This […]
Youth invited to special gathering
Making new friends from around the world, deepening a relationship with Christ and engaging in critical issues is only a taste of what’s planned for the Youth Gathering in the week before the 2017 General Council. “This event is for young Christians from all around the world to share their unique context, embrace the diversity […]
Ecumenical relationships drive interns
Despite differing approaches an interest in strengthening ecumenical knowledge and relationships drives both of the current interns at the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). “My previous work experience has supplied me with knowledge about the local level of ecumenism,” says Lin Wan-Jou, who was the ecumenical youth programme assistant for the Presbyterian Church in […]