10.05.2006
What We Do
What does the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) do?
WARC is a worldwide movement working together for unity and fullness of life for all, both within the member churches themselves and in the wider context of a world that cries out for justice.
WARC brings together distinct branches of Protestant Christianity rooted in the 16th century Reformation of John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli and John Knox as well as in the movements before the 16th century led by reformers such as Pierre Valdes and Jan Hus. As a continuing body, it is the oldest of organized Protestant world communions. WARC also values the United and Uniting churches in its membership.
The Alliance of the Reformed Churches Throughout the World Holding the Presbyterian System, founded in 1875, merged with the International Congregationalist Council, founded in 1891, in 1970 to form the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (Presbyterian and Congregational). The uniting General Council was held at Nairobi, Kenya, and delegates agreed to the following covenant: “We, the representatives of Reformed, Presbyterian and Congregational churches in all the corners of the earth, holding the word of God given in the Bible to be the ultimate authority in matters of faith and life, acknowledging Jesus Christ as the head of the church, and rejoicing in our fellowship with the whole church, covenant together to seek in all things the mind of Christ, to make common witness to his gospel, to serve his purpose in all the world, and, in order to be better equipped for the tasks he lays upon us, to form this day the new World Alliance of Reformed Churches.”
Today the Alliance brings together more than 75 million Reformed Christians in more than 200 churches in 107 countries – united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled world.
In 2005 WARC made the following statement on its vision: “We are the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, consisting of Reformed, Congregational, Presbyterian, Waldensian, United and Uniting churches. We are called to be a communion of churches joined together in Christ to promote the renewal and unity of the church and to participate in God’s transformation of the world.”
General Councils Make an Impact
The Alliance has always been committed to playing a key role as a platform through which its member churches fulfil their mission, which includes being agents of transformation and justice in society. Actions from the last four general councils offer dramatic demonstrations of WARC playing this role.
The 21st General Council at Ottawa in 1982 declared that apartheid is a sin and its moral and theological justification a heresy. This was a watershed moment for WARC with it gaining major international attention for its courageous stand.
The 22nd General Council at Seoul in 1989 affirmed the commitment of the Alliance to address injustices experienced by women in church and society by launching a new programme with full-time staffing for this work. It also questioned the disunity in the manner in which Reformed Churches engage in mission, laying the background for the Mission in Unity Project which came a decade later.
The 23rd General Council at Debrecen in 1997 took very seriously the suffering caused by economic and environmental injustice and called on member churches to commit themselves to a process of recognition, education and confession concerning economic injustice and ecological destruction.
The 24th General Council at Accra in 2004 adopted a confession of faith that stated that “the integrity of our faith is at stake if we remain silent or refuse to act in the face of the current system of neoliberal economic globalization.” Its Accra Confession has been the subject of much attention and study both within churches and beyond.
WARC, then, has a dynamic history of making a difference by bringing churches together, seeking theological clarity that unites churches for social action while struggling for economic, ecological and gender justice. WARC and its two founding organizations have taken a faith stance when life and justice are at stake: for religious freedom for minorities, for freedom for those enslaved by others, for racial equality, for equality in the eras of Nazism and apartheid, for women’s rights in church and society, for a voice for young people when they are silenced, for the human rights of oppressed persons, for justice in sharing and managing the resources of the earth in an age of neoliberal economic globalization.
The Alliance continues to work for justice in the world and unity among churches. It believes it must carry on making a difference in a world where many cry out for justice.
WARC’s Core Callings
In order to facilitate this ministry of justice and unity, WARC in 2005 reorganized its work and its small Geneva secretariat under the following core callings:
- to covenant for justice in the economy and the earth: Programmes include mobilizing churches to address economic and ecological justice issues and advocating for just models for trade, agriculture and economics;
- to search for spiritual renewal and renewal of Reformed worship: Programmes include creating more meaningful forms of worship and deepening the spiritual renewal of churches;
- to foster communion within the Reformed family and the unity of the church ecumenical: Programmes include dialoguing with other communions on critical theological matters and collaborating with church groups on a wide range of justice and theological issues;
- to interpret and re-interpret the Reformed tradition and theology for contemporary witness: Programmes include assisting churches in celebrating Reformed accomplishments and developing leaders for churches;
- to foster mission in unity, mission renewal and mission empowerment: Programmes include finding new ways to be in mission together and strengthening the outreach of churches in all parts of the world;
- to promote inclusivity and partnership in church and society: Programmes include addressing gender inequality and violence and making a place for women and youth in society;
- to enable Reformed churches to witness for justice and peace: Programmes include advocating for human rights and supporting peace initiatives.
A small Alliance staff, organized in a flexible structure, and Networks made up of WARC Executive Committee members and volunteers from member churches around the world, work on numerous programmes based on a set of values that include:
- the renewal of the church by the word of God discerned in partnership and with full partnership with one another;
- conciliarity which is togetherness, mutual accountability, strengthening and learning;
- the commitment to justice, diversity, reconciliation and sufficiency that responds to the cries of suffering people and the groans of creation.
WARC's Networks
WARC carries out this work through the following Networks:
- covenanting for justice in the economy and the earth and enabling Reformed churches to witness for justice and peace;
- communion within the Reformed family and unity within the church ecumenical;
- interpreting and re-interpreting the Reformed tradition and theology for contemporary witness and for spiritual renewal;
- fostering mission in unity, mission renewal and mission empowerment;
- gender justice;
- youth;
- finance and fundraising;
- communications.
In addition, WARC responds to mission and development challenges, devastating disasters and emergencies through the Reformed Churches Partnership Fund.
From the beginning the Alliance has been strongly interested in Christian unity. It has endorsed attempts to unite churches in particular countries and mission fields and today is engaged in dialogues with Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, Lutherans, the Orthodox and others.
A “Major Step for Unity”
In what has been heralded as a “major step for unity” within the Reformed family, WARC leaders along with a team of leaders from the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC), recommended in February 2006 that a new global body named the World Reformed Communion be formed to represent the more than 80 million Reformed Christians worldwide. This recommendation will have to be processed by the governing bodies of both WARC and REC. REC has 12 million members in 39 churches in 25 countries. The two bodies, which have 27 common member churches, have been in bilateral talks since 1998.
WARC communicates about all these initiatives through its quarterly newsletter, Update, regular news releases and the WARC website (www.warc.ch) and it offers analysis of the theological issues at the heart of the Reformed family in its quarterly journal, Reformed World. It also publishes many other studies and in 2005 jointly published with the World Council of Churches Calvin’s Economic and Social Thought by André Biéler and The World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Modern Ecumenical Movement by WARC Executive Secretary for Theology and Ecumenical Engagement, Odair Pedroso Mateus.
WARC relies on the contributions it receives from member churches and the generosity of donors to continue its myriad programmes and publications. Many WARC member churches are located in the poorest regions of the world. All give out of a commitment to making a difference. Some congregations and individuals also willingly give to WARC.
You are encouraged to visit the WARC website (www.warc.ch) where you can learn more about WARC, get involved and be part of making a difference. You can also contribute to the Reformed Churches Partnership Fund that offers development and emergency assistance, give to the Theological Education Scholarship Fund for Women in the South, subscribe to WARC’s Update and Reformed World and/or purchase one of our publications.
The current President of WARC is Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA). WARC has six Vice Presidents and 33 other members on its Executive Committee. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with a dedicated staff team led by Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana.
WARC continues to welcome your feedback as we continue in our efforts to build communion and unity among churches, work for justice and transformation in the world and follow Jesus who came “that all may have life in fullness.” Write to us at warc@warc.ch.
Kristine Greenaway
Executive Secretary
Communications
