Calvin Synod Herald, 1981 (81. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1981-05-01 / 5-6. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 5 OTTAWA 82 The General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Reverend Edmond Perret, has recently sent his report for 1980 to the member churches, in which an important place is given to the preparation for the General Assembly of the WARC which will take place at Ottawa, Canada, from 17-27th August 1982. Here are some extracts from this report. The General Theme “... The theme ‘Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory’ (with preparatory Bible studies to be used by the Churches more than one year in advance) shows our determination to work with others (Melbourne, WCC Assembly on ‘Thy Kingdom Come’), to pursue our quest for a contemporary understanding of the Reformed tradition (our 1977 Centennial Consultation on ‘The Glory of God and the Future of Man’) and to develop a much needed study on the theology of real power.” (Report to the General Secretary, 1980) The Sections “Delegates will receive sufficiently in advance papers on the sub-themes: 1. The People of the Covenant and the Mission of the Kingdom; 2. The Power of Grace and the graceless Powers; The Theatre of Glory and the threatened Creation’s Hope. All this will force the issue where we have to affirm what we believe as Reformed.” (Report of the General Secretary, 1980) The Challenge “When planning for the General Council, the Executive Committee has been very conscious of this responsibility: ‘We have to be aware of certain distinctive issues which challenge the life and witness of the Reformed.’ To make quite sure that there is no side-stepping of the challenge, a plan was further approved to invite a number of draft-discussion papers on issues such as: the Reformed understanding of the catholicity of the Church, confession of faith and the act of confessing, worship, wealth and power, racism, the theological basis of human rights, etc. We have already found a heartening response and theologians in different areas of the world are already at work on these topics. But there should be no mistaking the gravity of these questions in the life of the Church. As Reformed, do we have the courage to rise to the challenge? It may well be that forthcoming Council will be a test case for the reality of our own existence and of our witness.” (Report of the General Secretary 1980). Our Witness “As a matter of fact, a very typical Reformed question is addressed to the Churches, members of the Reformed family: we who teach Reformation is not a moment of history which has taken place in the past, but who claim that it is a permanent process, do we only proclaim it or do we live it? The renewal of Reformed identity and witness, the proclamation in action of the liberty of God’s grace raises the question as to how we call ourselves Reformed: are we faithful to what in the past was our tradition and contribution and try to repeat it, or are we faithful in the sense that we are proclaiming afresh the living Word of God in a different context, in order to contribute effectively to the emerging of a new world? The renewing power of the Word of God, heard together, received in the Christian community, and translated into activity within the whole community of men and women, this is the real contribution that we can offer. And this is a continued process of re-formation. Are we ready for that?” (Report of the General Secretary 1980) Women and the General Assembly The Department of Cooperation and Witness recently sent a letter to all the General Secretaries of the member churches and to all the women’s organizations of those churches to draw their attention to the necessity that the delegations to the Ottawa Assembly should include a number of women that is not merely symbolic but truly adequate. Since delegations will be set up between January and June 1981, now is the time to consider this. Preparation of Material The Bible Study to be sent to the churches for their preparation for the Assembly is now being translated. Publication is hoped for April 1981. Visitors’ Programme “The Council will be open to visitors, who will be entitled to attend major events of the Assembly, such as Bible studies, main lectures, worship, etc. As we expect a significant number of visitors, a special major programme will be arranged for them, with lectures on basic issues, contacts with Canadian Churches, visits, workshops, etc. Visitors will have the opoprtunity to contribute a lot to their own member Churches after they have had the experience of the Council.” (Report of the General Secretary 1980). RPS - Feb. ’81. PRESBYTERS CONFERENCE Ligonier, September 6—7 MINISTERS CONFERENCE Ligonier, September 7—8
