A Significant Moment for Reconciliation of Reformed Church Groups

The creation of the 80 million-member World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) marks an opportunity "to reinvigorate Reformed witness" in a fractured world, says one of the architects of the union.

"We are at a very significant moment to witness to the reconciliation we find in Christ," said Clifton Kirkpatrick, president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), which will unite with the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) in June 2010.

Kirkpatrick's comments came in the midst of the first meeting of the governing bodies of the uniting organizations, which took place at Utrecht, the Netherlands, in October. The WARC Officers and the REC Executive Committee met to finalize a draft constitution, by-laws, staffing, structure and logo for WCRC.

"This is not a merger or a takeover but the creation of something new," added Peter Borgdorff, president of REC. "I am very excited that this has come about. At its core, Reformed history is a history of separation. This is a global witness that emphasizes the better and more excellent way."

At the outset of the meeting WARC general secretary Setri Nyomi said he was excited by the union process which will offer the Reformed family an opportunity to show to a broken world that the church can heal some of its divisions. "This is a contribution to Christian unity."

Added REC general secretary Richard van Houten, "I am encouraged by this work of bringing together two important Reformed organizations."

At the closing worship service the two organizations launched the WCRC logo, with Nyomi and Van Houten speaking of the importance of the symbols: a vessel or communion cup symbolizing unity, a circle illustrating Christ's church in the world, interwoven threads for partnership and the cross marking confessional identity.

The design was created by U.S. artist Judith Rempel-Smucker in a design contest organized by WARC.

Following the Utrecht meeting the two organizations sent the draft constitution and by-laws to all member churches for ratification before the uniting General Council to be held 18 to 28 June 2010 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, under the theme, "Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace."

WCRC will represent 80 million Reformed Christians around the world. WARC has 75 million members in 214 churches in 107 countries. REC has 12 million members in 41 churches in 25 countries.

The Utrecht meeting was hosted by the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, which was created in a merger in 2004 of the Netherlands Reformed Church, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

WARC and REC leaders have praised the Netherlands union as one of the inspirations behind the creation of WCRC.

Arjan Plaisiers, general secretary of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, said that as inheritors of a common legacy, Reformed Protestants are not called to merely make space for ecumenical bodies but to respond to Christ's call to unity.

"We need each other for a common witness and so I am very happy that this union is taking place. And we are very proud to host it," Plaisiers said at a news conference.

Earlier in the week Arenda Maasnoot, the vice-moderator of the Netherlands church, warmly welcomed the two governing bodies, with hopes that the meeting would offer a strong foundation for the new organization.

"The World Communion of Reformed Churches will be an important body in promoting the Reformed heritage throughout the world," she added.

During the week in Utrecht, the presidents and general secretaries also took time to visit Tom Mikkers, president of the Remonstrant Brotherhood Church, another WARC member.