World Communion of Reformed Churches

The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) is the largest association of Reformed (Calvinist) churches in the world. It has 230 member denominations in 108 countries, together claiming an estimated 80 million people,[1] thus being the fourth-largest Christian communion in the world after the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion.[2] This ecumenical Christian body was formed in June 2010 by the union of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC).[3]

World Communion of Reformed Churches
TypeCommunion
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationReformed
ScriptureBible
TheologyReformed Christianity
PolityPresbyterian
PresidentNajla Kassab
Interim General SecretaryRev. Dr. Setri Nyomi
Headquarters
Origin2010 (2010)
Members80 million
Official websitewcrc.ch

Among the biggest denominations in the WCRC are the Church of South India, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Presbyterian Church of Korea, Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Protestant Church in Indonesia, Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Church of Cameroon, Borneo Evangelical (SIB Malaysia) and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. Its member denominations on the whole could be considered more liberal than the member denominations of the International Conference of Reformed Churches or the World Reformed Fellowship, which are also large ecumenical Calvinist organizations.

History

The WCRC traces its origins to 1875, with several unifying Reformed organizations emerging in London, England.

After a two-day meeting ending on 1 February 2006, Douwe Visser, president of the Reformed Ecumenical Council, and Clifton Kirkpatrick, president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, said in a joint letter to their constituencies, "We rejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit which we believe has led us to recommend that the time has come to bring together the work of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council into one body that will strengthen the unity and witness of Calvinist Christians."

After first calling the potential body "World Reformed Communion", this was modified into "World Communion of Reformed Churches".

A Uniting General Council of the WCRC, bringing the organization into existence, took place from 18–26 June 2010 at Calvin College, located at Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The council focused on the "Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace" mentioned in Ephesians as its main theme, setting a tone of true mutual understanding and acceptance amongst member churches and associates, laying aside differences and other issues as they embark on this shared journey with one another as each seeks to discern the will of God and continue their struggle for justice and peace in the world. The World Communion of Reformed Churches has not taken a position on the issue of homosexuality but includes denominations that affirm same sex marriage.[4]

Work

The 2010 Uniting General Council stated that the WCRC should be "called to communion and committed to justice." Its two main program offices are thus focused on these aspects, with theological work included with communion. The Theology and Communion office serves as coordinator for official dialogues with other religious organizations, organizes a bi-annual Global Institute of Theology, and brings Calvinist theological scholars together for various discussions. The Justice office promotes economic, ecological and human rights, basing much of its work on the Accra Confession, a statement adopted at the 2004 General Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and re-endorsed at the 2010 Uniting General Council.

The WCRC also has a General Secretariat which includes the general secretary's office, the communications office and other organizational responsibilities. Through the General Secretariat, the WCRC promotes dialogue between churches, advocates for causes on a global scale and supports the activities of its member churches.

The global headquarters of the WCRC are located in Hanover, Germany, with a North American non-profit subsidiary based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Originally based in Geneva, Switzerland, which played host to John Calvin and earned a reputation as the "Protestant Rome", the group's Executive Committee announced on 8 November 2012, that they would relocate the headquarters to Hanover, Germany, by December 2013, due to overbearing financial strains caused by the high value of the Swiss franc.[5]

Organization positions

Ordination of women

In 2017, WCRC published the Declaration of Faith Concerning Women's Ordination, in which it supports the practice of women's ordination and encourages its 42 member denominations that do not ordain women to change their position.[6][7][8] The National Presbyterian Church in Mexico and National Union of Independent Reformed Evangelical Churches of France protested against the declaration, while the Presbyterian Church of Chile abstained.[9]

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

In the same year, WCRC became the 5th signatory of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, after the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (of the Roman Catholic Church), Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council and Anglican Communion.[10]

Same-sex marriage

The WCRC has no official position on human sexuality. However, many of its member denominations promote same-sex marriage or bless same-sex unions, such as the Remonstrant Church, Spanish Evangelical Church, United Church of Canada, Uniting Church in Australia, Uniting Church in Sweden, United Church of Christ, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Evangelical Church of the River Plate, Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, United Protestant Church in Belgium, United Protestant Church of France, Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine, Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg, Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK), Reformed Church in Austria, Reformed Church in America, Swiss Reformed Church, Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, Reformed Alliance, Church of Lippe, Evangelical Reformed Church in Germany, United Reformed Church, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Presbyterian Church (USA), Church of Scotland, Presbyterian Church of Wales, Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, Waldensian Evangelical Church and Waldensian Evangelical Church of the River Plate.[9]

Leadership and General Council

General Councils
Council yearCity and countryTheme
2010Grand Rapids, U.S.Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace
2017Leipzig, GermanyLiving God, Renew and Transform Us[11]
2025Chiang Mai, ThailandPersevere in Your Witness[12]

Presidents

WCRC presidents are ordinarily elected for a term of seven years at every General Council:

YearNameChurch affiliation
2010–2017Jerry PillayUniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
2017–2025Najla KassabNational Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon

General Secretaries

WCRC general secretaries are elected for seven years at every General Council (held septennially):

YearNameChurch affiliation
2010–2014Setri NyomiEvangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana
2014–2021Chris FergusonUnited Church of Canada
2021–2023"Collegial General Secretariat"(see below)
2023–2025Setri NyomiEvangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana

Setri Nyomi's term was a continuation of his term as general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Upon the conclusion of Chris Ferguson's term as general secretary in August 2021, the WCRC Executive Committee appointed a "Collegial General Secretariat" originally composed of the three executive secretaries: Hanns Lessing (Secretary of Communion and Witness, Evangelical Church of Westphalia), Philip Vinod Peacock (Secretary of Justice and Witness, Church of North India), and Phil Tanis (Secretary of Communications and Operations, Reformed Church in America).[13] They were joined in the Collegium by Muna Nassar (Secretary of Mission and Advocacy) in December 2022.[14] In 2023, Setri Nyomi was installed as interim general secretary, to serve until the 2025 General Council.[15]

Member churches
Red countries are home to at least one member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches

This is a list of members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches as of February 2016:[16]

  • Algeria
    • Protestant Church of Algeria/Eglise Protestante d'Algérie
  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
    • Evangelical Church of the Helvetic Confession in Austria/Evangelische Kirche HB (Reformiert) in Österreich
  • Bangladesh
  • Belgium
    • United Protestant Church in Belgium/Eglise Protestante Unie de Belgique/Verenigde Protestantse Kerk in Belgie
  • Bolivia
    • Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Bolivia/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana en Bolivia
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
    • Evangelical Reformed Churches in Brazil/Igrejas Evangélicas Reformadas no Brasil
    • Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil/Igreja Presbiteriana Independente do Brasil
    • United Presbyterian Church of Brazil/Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil
  • Bulgaria
    • Union of Evangelical Congregational Churches in Bulgaria/Sǎjuz na Evangelskite Sǎborni Cǎrkvi
  • Burkina Faso
    • Association of Reformed Evangelical Churches of Burkina Faso/Eglise evangelique reformee du Burkina Faso
  • Cameroon
    • Africa Protestant Church/Eglise protestante africaine
    • Evangelical Church of Cameroon/Eglise évangélique du Cameroun
    • Presbyterian Church in Cameroon/Eglise presbyterienne camerounaise
  • Canada
  • Central African Republic
    • Protestant Church of Christ the King/Eglise Protestante du Christ-Roi
  • Chile
    • Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Chile/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana en Chile
    • Presbyterian Church of Chile/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Chile
  • China, Hong Kong
    • The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China
  • China, People's Republic of
  • Colombia
    • Presbyterian Church of Colombia/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia (Synodo presbiteriano)
  • Congo, Democratic Republic of the
    • Evangelical Community in the Congo/Communaute evangelique du Congo
    • Presbyterian Community in the Congo/Communaute presbytérienne au Congo
    • Presbyterian Community of Eastern Kasai/Communaute presbyterienne du Kasai oriental
    • Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa/Communaute presbyterienne de Kinshasa
    • Presbyterian Community of Western Kasai?/Reformed Presbyterian Community in Africa/Communauté presbytérienne au Kasai occidental/Communauté presbytérienne réformée en Afrique
    • Reformed Community of Presbyterians/Communauté Réformée des Presbyteriens
  • Congo, Republic of the
    • Evangelical Church of Congo/Eglise évangélique du Congo
  • Costa Rica
    • Costa Rican Presbyterian Evangelical Church/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana Costarricense
  • Croatia
    • Reformed Christian Church in Croatia/Reformirana Krscanska Crkva U Hrvatskoj
  • Cuba
    • Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba/Iglesia Presbiteriana-Reformada en Cuba
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
    • Reformed Synod of Denmark/Den reformerte Synode i Danmark
  • Dominican Republic
    • Christian Reformed Church in the Dominican Republic
    • Dominican Evangelical Church/Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana
  • Egypt
    • Evangelical Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile)/El-Kanisah El-Injiliyah
  • El Salvador
    • Reformed Calvinist Church of El Salvador/Iglesia Reformada Calvinista de El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
    • Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea/Iglesia Reformada Presbiteriana de Guinea Ecuatorial
  • Ethiopia
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Grenada
    • Presbyterian Church in Grenada
  • Guatemala
    • National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala/Iglesia Evangélica Nacional Presbiteriana de Guatemala
  • Guyana
    • Guyana Congregational Union
    • Guyana Presbyterian Church
    • Presbyterian Church of Guyana
  • Honduras
    • Christian Reformed Church of Honduras/Iglesia Cristiana Reformada de Honduras
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Indonesia
    • Christian Church in Central Sulawesi
    • Christian Church in Luwuk Banggai
    • Christian Church in South Sulawesi
    • Christian Church of Southern Sumatra (GKSBS)
    • Christian Church of Sumba (GKS)
    • Christian Churches of Java
    • Christian Evangelical Church in Bolaang Mongondow?
    • Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa
    • Christian Evangelical Church in Timor
    • Church of Toraja Mamasa (GTM)
    • The East Java Christian Church
    • Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera
    • Evangelical Christian Church in West Papua
    • Evangelical Church in Kalimantan
    • Indonesia Christian Church
    • Indonesian Protestant Church in Buol Toli-Toli
    • Indonesian Protestant Church in Donggala
    • Indonesian Protestant Church in Gorontalo
    • Javanese Christian Churches (GKJ)
    • Karo Batak Protestant Church (GBKP)
    • Pasundan Christian Church
    • Protestant Christian Church in Bali
    • Protestant Church in Indonesia
    • Protestant Church in the Moluccas
    • Protestant Church in Southeast Sulawesi
    • Protestant Church in West Indonesia
    • Sangihe-Talaud Evangelical Church
    • Toraja Church
  • Iran
    • Synod of the Evangelical Church in Iran
  • Ireland
  • Italy
    • Waldensian Evangelical Church (Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches)/Chiesa Evangelica Valdese
  • Jamaica
    • The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
  • Japan
    • Church of Christ in Japan/Nippon Kirisuto Kyokai
    • Korean Christian Church in Japan/Zainichi Daikan Kirisuto Kyokai Sokai
  • Kenya
    • Presbyterian Church of East Africa
    • The Reformed Church of East Africa
  • Kiribati
    • Kiribati Protestant Church/Ekaretia ni Boretetanti i Kiribati
  • Korea, Republic of
  • Latvia
  • Reformed Church in Latvia/Evangeliska Reformatu-Braju Draudze
  • Lebanon
    • National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
    • The National Evangelical Union of Lebanon/Al-Ittihad Al Injili Al-Watani Fi Lubnan
    • Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East/Մերձաւոր Արեւելքի Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցիներու Միութիւն
  • Lesotho
    • Lesotho Evangelical Church/Kereke ea Evangeli Lesotho
  • Liberia
    • Presbyterian Church in Liberia
  • Lithuania
    • Evangelical Reformed Church in Lithuania/Unitas Lithuaniae/Lietuvos Evangeliku Reformatu Baznycia
  • Luxembourg
    • Protestant Reformed Church of Luxemburg H.B./Protestantisch-Reformierte Kirche von Luxembourg H.B./Eglise Protestante Réformée du Luxembourg
  • Madagascar
    • Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Eglise de Jésus-Christ à Madagascar/Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara
  • Malawi
    • Church of Central Africa Presbyterian
    • Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Harare Synod
    • Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Nkhoma Synod
  • Malaysia
    • Presbyterian Church Malaysia/Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia
  • Marshall Islands
    • Reformed Congregational Churches
    • United Church of Christ – Congregational in the Marshall Islands/Jarin Parik Dron
  • Mauritius
    • Presbyterian Church of Mauritius/Eglise presbytérienne de Maurice
  • Mexico
    • Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Mexico/Iglesia Presbiteriana Asociada Reformada de México (IPAR)
    • National Presbyterian Church in Mexico, A. R./Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México, A. R.
    • Presbyterian Reformed Church of Mexico/Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada de México
  • Morocco
    • Evangelical Church in Morocco/Eglise évangélique au Maroc
  • Mozambique
    • Evangelical Church of Christ in Mozambique/Igreja Evangelica de Cristo em Mocambique
    • Presbyterian Church of Mozambique/Igreja Presbiteriana de Moçambique
    • Reformed Church in Mozambique/Igreja Reformada em Mocambique
    • United Church of Christ in Mozambique/Igreja de Christo Unida em Mocambique (Ex-Missao American Board)
  • Myanmar
    • Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar
    • Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Myanmar
    • Independent Presbyterian Church of Myanmar
    • Mara Evangelical Church/Evangelical Mission Myanmar/Mara Evangelical Awnanopa
    • The Presbyterian Church of Myanmar/Kawlram Presb Kohhran
    • Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar
  • The Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
    • Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands/Eglise evangélique en Nouvelle Calédonie et aux Îles Loyauté
  • New Zealand
    • Niue Niue Church/Ekalesia Niue
    • Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Niger
    • Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger/Eglise évangélique de la République du Niger/Ekklisiyar Bishara Ta Kasar Niger
  • Nigeria
    • Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria
    • Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ
    • Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
    • Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria
    • United Church of Christ in Nigeria/Habaddiyar Ekklisiyar Kristi a Nigeria
    • Universal Reformed Church of Christ (formerly Church of Christ in the Sudan Among the Tiv/Nongo u Kristu u ken Sudan hen Tiv)
  • Pakistan
  • The Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
    • Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal/Igreja Evangélica Presbiteriana de Portugal
  • Romania
  • Rwanda
    • Presbyterian Church in Rwanda/Eglise presbytérienne au Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • Senegal
    • Protestant Church in Senegal/Eglise protestante du Sénégal
  • Serbia, Republic of, and Montenegro, Republic of
    • Reformed Christian Church in Serbia and Montenegro/Reformatska Hriscanska Crkva u SFRJ
  • Singapore
    • Presbyterian Church in Singapore
  • Slovakia
    • Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia/Reformovaná Krest. Cirkev na Slovensku
  • Slovenia
    • Reformed Church in Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
    • United Church in the Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
    • Dutch Reformed Church (DRC)/Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK)
    • Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA)/(NGKA)
    • Dutch Reformed Church of Africa/Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA)
    • Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa
    • Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ
    • Peoples Church of Africa/Volkskerk van Afrika
    • Presbyterian Church of Africa
    • Reformed Church in Africa, South Africa
    • United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
    • Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
    • Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa/ Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider Afrika
    • Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ
  • South Sudan
    • Sudanese Reformed Churches
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
    • Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka
    • Presbytery of Lanka
  • Sudan
    • Presbyterian Church in Sudan
    • Africa Inland Church Sudan
  • Swaziland
    • Swaziland Reformed Church (SRC)
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
    • Protestant Church of Switzerland or (Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche Schweiz, Église évangélique réformée de Suisse, Chiesa evangelica riformata in Svizzera, Baselgia evangelica refurmada da la Svizra)
  • Tahiti
    • Maòhi Protestant Church/Etaretia Evaneria no Porinetia Farani/Église Protestante Maòhi
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Togo
    • Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Togo/Eglise évangélique presbytérienne du Togo
  • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
    • Christian Reformed Church of East Africa
    • Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda
    • Reformed Presbyterian Church in Africa (Uganda)
  • Ukraine
    • Reformed Church in Sub-Carpathia/ Reformed Church in Transcarpathia/Karpataljai Reformatus Egyhaz
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Uruguay
  • Vanuatu
    • Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu/Presbiterian Jyos Blong Vanuatu
  • Venezuela
    • Presbyterian Church of Venezuela/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Venezuela
  • Vietnam
    • Presbyterian Church of Vietnam
  • Zambia
    • Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Synod of Zambia
    • Reformed Church in Zambia
    • United Church of Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
    • Reformed Church in Zimbabwe

Former members

On June 22, 2023, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church approved a resolution by which it withdrew from the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[18]

See also
  • List of the largest Protestant denominations

References
  1. "Called to communion. Committed to justice" (PDF). World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  2. "World Communion of Reformed Churches | World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  3. "WCRC History". World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 28 March 2017. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) have merged to form a new body representing more than 80 million Calvinist Christians worldwide.
  4. "26th General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches" (PDF). wcrc.ch. 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  5. Steffan, Melissa. "'Protestant Rome' No More: Reformed Group Abandons Geneva". News & Reporting.
  6. "World Communion of Reformed Churches publishes declaration of faith supporting female ordination". Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. "Declaration of Faith on Female Ordination of the World Communion of Reformed Churches" (PDF). Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. "World Communion of Reformed Churches calls for member denominations to accept female ordination". Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  9. "26th Assembly of the World Communion of Reformed Churches" (PDF). Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  10. "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" (PDF). 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  11. {{https://wcrc.ch/gc2017}}
  12. {{https://wcrc.ch/gc2025}}
  13. https://wcrc.ch/news/collegial-leadership-begins-guiding-communion
  14. https://wcrc.ch/news/nassar-appointed-executive-secretary
  15. https://wcrc.ch/news/nyomi-elected-interim-general-secretary
  16. "Members".
  17. "ECO received as a member-church of WCRC" (June 3, 2013), The Layman Online. Accessed June 5, 2013.
  18. "Provisional Minutes of the 43rd General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (USA):Recommendation 43-10 of the Committee on Interchurch Relations" (PDF). 22 June 2023. p. 226. Retrieved 26 June 2023.

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