07.06.2006

WARC Update June 2006

WARC and LWF leaders hail proposed joint assembly with WCC Leaders of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) have reacted positively to a proposal from the World Council of Churches (WCC) that the three groups and possibly others jointly hold the next meetings of their highest governing bodies. (07.06.2006)
President speaks on ecumenical issues Clifton Kirkpatrick, the president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), has been a key figure in several significant ecumenical conversations over the past several months: (07.06.2006)
Historic agreement reached by Reformed and Lutheran churches in Middle East Representatives of the Reformed and Lutheran churches in the Middle East and North Africa signed a historic agreement of full recognition in January putting them in communion with one another concerning baptism, the Eucharist, ordination and pulpit exchanges. (07.06.2006)
Union of Reformed and Lutheran churches in Alsace Lorraine The creation of the Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine was formally decreed by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin in April. (07.06.2006)
Presbyterian Church (USA) invests in Oikocredit The Presbyterian Church (USA) has invested U.S. dollar 1 million in Oikocredit, an organization established by the World Council of Churches that helps people in poor countries start small businesses. (07.06.2006)
Partnership Fund brings faith groups together The Reformed Churches Partnership Fund is helping churches in Asia and Africa in their attempts to grapple with the challenges of religious and cultural plurality in their communities. (07.06.2006)
Indian church reverses trend, sends missionaries to Wales The Mizos hill people of northeast India who were converted to Christianity by Welsh Presbyterians in the 19th century are now sending missionaries to help what they see as their mother church in Wales. (07.06.2006)
Taiwanese hospital and university assist Sri Lankan women The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan continues to assist Sri Lankan women hit hard by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. (07.06.2006)
WARC calls for recognition of women in church and society The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) marked International Women’s Day 2006 in March by calling on all churches to recognize the significant role of women in church and society. (07.06.2006)
Same-sex marriages rejected by Southern African church The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa has said that its ministers and congregations must not perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, though the denomination says it wants to welcome gay and lesbian people in its churches. (07.06.2006)
Use of condoms to fight HIV/AIDS supported by Zambian church The United Church of Zambia has come out in support of condom use as an appropriate means to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in a country where many churches have opposed the use of prophylactics. (07.06.2006)
Stirring the debate in the U.S. The United Church of Christ, often described as one of the most socially progressive Protestant denominations in the United States, has turned to television commercials and the internet to hammer home the message that it is an inclusive church. (07.06.2006)
Slovak church finds a balanced way to treat communist collaborators An attempt by the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia to deal with church leaders who collaborated with the former Communist government has resulted in a compromise rule that offers both forgiveness and restriction. (07.06.2006)
Hearing the call of Accra on economic globalization in Belgium Another church has responded to the call of the Accra Confession. (07.06.2006)
Plan to return antiquities hailed by Hungarian Reformed church Hungary’s Reformed church has welcomed a decision by Russia to return a valuable Calvinist book collection, six decades after it was seized as war booty by the Soviet Red Army. (07.06.2006)
Colombians continue to bleed, ecumenical network claims A network of Colombian religious organizations has made an urgent call for churches around the world to accompany the Colombian people in their resistance to the violence and political instability that threatens the country. (07.06.2006)
Caribbean and North American Area Council stresses reforms Structural and financial reforms were high on the agenda as the Caribbean and North American Area Council (CANAAC) of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) gathered in Techny, Illinois, U.S., in March. (07.06.2006)
Alliance mourns loss of two leaders: James E. Andrews, William P. Thompson The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) expressed a deep sense of loss over the deaths of two past leaders in recent months. (07.06.2006)
General secretary praises Thai church for ecumenical outreach In his first visit to the Church of Christ in Thailand, Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), praised the church for its mission outreach work to the whole Thai community. (07.06.2006)
Taiwan church thanked for mission efforts, offered new challenge A leader of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) has congratulated Taiwan Presbyterians for years of courageous local mission efforts and challenged them to tackle the issue of neoliberal economic globalization. (07.06.2006)
Alliance launches new study series for Reformation Sunday A new series of congregational resources on Reformation Sunday has been launched by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). (07.06.2006)
From the desk of the general secretary “… someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (John 21.18) (07.06.2006)