Magyar Egyház, 2009 (88. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2009-02-01 / 1. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11. oldal “Our objective was to create a sustainable model for our combined organizations”, says WARC President Clifton Kirkpatrick. “To achieve this we had to make some difficult decisions such as reducing the size of the staff. But we are confident that we have a good basis now on which to build for the future.” The joint executive committees also decided that the new organization would be established in Geneva where the WARC offices are currently located. The report on a proposal for relocation accepted by the governing bodies says the decision could be revisited three years after WCRC is created. For now, says the report, “It was deemed wisest to focus on planning for the WCRC and our world assembly.” New Reformed movement will open local congregations to global connections Representatives of member churches from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) have agreed to recommend merging as a global “communion” - a move they believe will have a direct and positive impact on local congregations worldwide. During meetings in Geneva last week the joint executive committees of the two organizations approved the draft constitution of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). “For churches in Switzerland, a country which is so encased that it is not even a member of the European Union, being in communion offers the chance to make the worldwide Reformed family visible in parishes through liturgy, perhaps by creating intercessional prayers for the concerns of member churches,” says WARC’s vice-president for Europe, Gottfried Locher of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches. WARC’s vice-president for Asia, Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang says being in communion sets an important example for Christians living in pluralistic societies such as her native Indonesia. “The idea of being in communion can inspire Christians to use that model to work together with good people from other religions, ethnicities and cultures.” Victor Pillay, a member of the REC executive committee from South Africa, imagines WCRC empowering congregations to respond to local needs by twinning congregations from the Global North and South. “This will increase the church’s credibility,” he says. Astrid Hardtke, an Argentinian chemical engineer with a passion for social justice sees WCRC stimulating local churches to play a mediating role in congregations which are divided by differing perspectives on local economic development. “The church can call business people, government representatives and human rights advocates together to seek new solutions, recognizing the needs of each group.” Salome Twum, an administrator in a rural university in Ghana, imagines WCRC building on WARC’s mission initiative called the Making a Difference Project in order to encourage young women to move into leadership positions in their local churches. “In South Africa, young women learned to write their names. This made a difference in their lives. They learned to speak and say this is who I am.” Oliver Patterson also sees a role for the WCRC in encouraging literacy. Patterson, a WARC executive committee member, suggests WCRC study the model offered by small congregations in the Queens district of New York City which are launching projects to encourage literacy through the creative arts. “Arts are central to the development of our children. Young people are being encouraged to tell their own stories. As Christians we need to understand kids and build on who they are,” says Patterson. How Many Christians Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb? (Church humor) Charismatic: Only 1 Hands are already in the air. Pentecostal: 10 - One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness. Presbyterians: None - Lights will go on and off at predestined times. Roman Catholic: None - Candles only. Baptists: At least 15 - One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken. Episcopalians: 3 - One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was. Mormons: 5 - One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it. Unitarians: ... - We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modem dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence. Methodists: Undetermined - Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass. Nazarene: 6 - One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy. Lutherans: None - Lutherans don't believe in change... Amish: ... - What's a light bulb?
