World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC)

Grand Rapids, MichiganJune 17 – 27, 2010

What is the WCRC?Merger between World Alliance of

Reformed Churches (WARC) and Reformed Ecumenical Alliance (REC)

Launched at the Uniting General Council in June 2010 in Grand Rapids

Brings together 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide

United to be a stronger voice on the big issues of our day - climate change, human rights, economic justice and helping our neighbours of all faiths.

What is the WCRC?Its 230 member churches in 108 countries

are Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, Uniting and United churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation led by John Calvin, John Knox and others. WCRC has its secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.

Historic CommunionIn 2005, the REC Assembly resolved to

approach the World Alliance of Reformed Churches to propose a much closer relationship, that the REC become an "entity within" the WARC.

In January 2006, a joint committee of eight delegates proposed that the two organizations each disband and that the member churches together for a new organization.

Uniting General CouncilNew body will meet every seven years General council elects new executive and

new presidentMakes decisions on major issues facing the

world and member churchesGathering of some 600 delegates from more

than 100 countries plus guests, observers, staff, volunteers and presenters, all totalling about 1000

United Church of CanadaA member of the former WARC and the

new WCRCShares the same interest in social justice

issues, such as peace, poverty, racism, environment and empire

Benefits from the dialogue with people from around the world

Informs our decision making on these issues

We are ahead of many of the Reformed movement in some issues such as gender justice

UCC DelegatesUCC has six “voting” delegates selected

through the Nomination process, based on expressions of interest.

Delegates included two from Saskatchewan (Moses Kanhai and Vic Weibe), two from Alberta, one from New Brunswick, one from Nova Scotia

Other UCC ParticipantsCo-opted staff, committee members,

stewards, observers, presenters, ecumenical guest, theological students

One UCC participant (Peter Wyatt) was dean of the Global Institute of Theology that took part in the council as part of their theological studies

One key UCC staff worked on the planning team and one is a member of the communication staff.

Format of UGCOpening parade and servicePlenary sessions in gym - main hallWorship in college chapelBible studies, section meetings, committee

meetings, region meetings, in buildings around campus

Meals in two dining hallsAccommodation in dormitories

Format of UGCMorning and evening worship servicesDaily Bible studies – delegates assigned a

group of about eight or 10 peopleDelegates pre-selected Sections at time of

registration by choosing from a list of topics.

UGC themeUnity of the Spirit in the Bond of PeacePrimary focus on unity and justice(Ephesians 4) “I therefore, the prisoner in the

Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling tow which you have been called, with all munility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, amking every effort to aintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

PeaceTrue peace should be based on justice and

equality for all, regardless of ethnicity, intellect, educational qualifications, social status, age, or gender.

It entails an acknowledgement and recognition of not only our own worth, but also that of others.

IssuesSome of the issues were based on past

councils as articulated in reports such as the Accra Confession

Some issues were raised in plenarySections were opportunities for all to

explore issues in depthProvided brief report to Policy committeeThese were reviewed along with all

reports and included in a report to the plenary from the Policy committee

Decision MakingPolicy committee reported to the plenaryThe full body had the opportunity to

comment and debate, amend as necessaryVote on report of Policy committeeReport becomes policy and part of the

message from the councilMessage committee prepare a statement for

public distribution

AttendanceParticipants from numerous countries, e.g. Ghana, Nigeria,

Madagascar, Cameroon, Togo, Philippines, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Congo, Senegal, France, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Mozambique, Lesotho, Rwanda, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman, Switzerland, Germany, Romania, Lithuania, Denmark, United Kingdom, Hungary, Greece, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Serbia, Portugal, Croatia, Sweden, Slovakia, Austria, Bulgaria, Poland, Luxemburg, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Ukraine, Columbia, Brazil, Guatemala, Chile, Honduras, Venezuela, El Savador, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Mexico, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Canada, USA, Australia, Samoa, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Niue Island, Kiribati, Vanuatu.

WorshipMorning and evening worship, generally led

by different cultural groups, e.g. Middle Eastern, Hispanic, Caribbean.

Often energetic, with new hymns composed for the event

Liturgical dancingExcellent music leadership

Bible StudyBible Study booklet with five subthemes from

the Unity theme of the councilBest opportunity to bond with a small group

representing different countries and denominations

My group represented India, UK, Lithuania, Nigeria, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia and Canada

SectionsSections covered a range of issues oriented

topicsI joined Leadership Development and

NurturingGroup discussed importance of Formal

Training, Youth Leadership Development and Lay Leadership Development

WorkshopsCovered instructional topics such as Using

Volunteers in the Fight Against AIDS, People with Disabilities, Water – Gift of God and Human Right, Economic Globalization and the Struggle for Justice, When Children Matter, Food Justice, Pursuing Justice for Indigenous People and Caste in the Context of Empire.

WorkshopsI attended workshops on Mission in the

Context of Empire, Emerging Christianity, Truth Telling, Healing and Reconciliation, and Leadership and Congregational Sustainability.

CommitteesSome delegates were pre-selected to

participate in committees such as Policy, Issues and Messages.

These represented a very important aspect of the work and consumed long hours in order to have reports ready for presentation to the plenary

First Nations InvolvementVery important aspect of the whole

experience, including the opening parade, theme speaker, pow wow and worship

Native American leader donated a family medallion to the WCRC

Proposal passed to use medallion as a symbol of the presidency to be passed on to future presidents

Local CommunityNumerous ways that local Reformed

churches shared in the experience – attending closing worship and communion, hosting delegates, inviting groups of delegates to worship in local churches and join local families for lunch

Local church sponsors hosted tables at the banquet held in a hall in the city

HospitalityEvident from first arriving at the airport,

registration, all forms of support throughout the event

Bonding of delegates with local church members – house guests, outings, etc.

Ecumenical GuestsThroughout the gathering ecumenical guests,

representing major friends of the WCRC brought greetings

Included World Council of Churches, Vatican, other faith communities

Theme SpeakersSeveral theme speakers, including …A significant speaker was Richard Twiss …

Visa DenialsA cloud that hung over the event was the

reminder that 73 delegates were denied Visas by American Authorities

Special prayers were said and a proposal for a letter of protest to the American government

Loss of a DelegateOn the last day of the event, the pianist and

organist and worship leader at worship services, Christina Mandang, of Indonesia, died in a traffic accident.

WeatherThere were also real, literal clouds hanging

over the councilAt 1:05 a.m. on one night of the time, the

tornado siren in the city sounded and many delegates had to retreat to the basements of the dorms until the tornado warning was lifted

The tornado damaged places near the city but missed the campus.