World Reformed Fellowship | |
---|---|
Type | Fellowship |
Classification | Protestant |
Orientation | Confessionally Reformed |
Origin | 2000 |
Members | 7,281,955 |
Official website | www |
The World Reformed Fellowship (WRF) is an ecumenical, Christian fellowship that advances partnerships among confessional Reformed churches around the world.[1]
History
The World Fellowship of Reformed Churches was formed in 1994 by the Presbyterian Church in America, the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico, and the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, as well as member churches mainly from Latin American countries and from India, East Africa and the United States.[2] The International Reformed Fellowship (IRF) was formed also in 1994 with Calvinist churches in Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, and from all part of Asia.
The World Fellowship of Reformed Churches and the International Reformed Fellowship united on October 24, 2000 to form the World Reformed Fellowship. The WRF is now an international body represented in seventy-nine countries.[3]
Work
The WRF operates commissions that serve its global membership, focusing on evangelism and missions, theological education, and theology. These commissions facilitate dialogue for better partnership between member denominations and organizations, produce and provide resources for the church, operate as theological and ministerial forums between WRF members, and serve as platforms of engagement from the WRF towards other organizations. The theological commission has produced several documents, such as the WRF’s Statement of Faith, a narrative statement on Reformed identity, and a statement on ecclesiology, all designed to facilitate greater theological partnership across cultural and intra-Reformed theological differences.[4] The commissions of the WRF sometimes facilitate larger forums, such as partnering with the Lausanne Movement to host a consultation on theological education in 2014 in São Paulo[5][6] and a theological consultation on Christian ministry among Muslims in 2011 in Istanbul.[7][8] The WRF partners with both the World Evangelical Alliance, of which the WRF is an affiliate member,[9] and New Growth Press for book publishing.[10][11]
The WRF hosts a global general assembly approximately every four years. These assemblies review and direct the work of the WRF’s commissions, are a time of networking and fellowship for the membership of the WRF, and are where the WRF’s membership hears about major issues facing the global church in order to consider and address them.
- 2000 Orlando, United States
- 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa
- 2010 Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2015 São Paulo, Brazil
- 2019 Jakarta, Indonesia
- 2022 Orlando, United States[12]
WRF membership is also divided up into regional boards for planning and implementing fellowship for ministries within their own larger, geographic area.[13] These boards are more contextualized than the general assembly, both in composition and in the nature of their work.
Governance
Governance of the WRF is held by its membership voting at general assemblies. Oversight and operations are carried out by a board of directors and an international director (CEO).
Chairmen of the Board,
- 2000–2016: Rick Perrin, Presbyterian Church in America
- 2016–2017: Solano Portela Neto, Presbyterian Church of Brazil
- 2017–present: Robert M. Norris, Evangelical Presbyterian Church
International Directors,
- 2000–2005: Paul Gilchrist, Presbyterian Church in America
- 2005–2015: Samuel T. Logan, Orthodox Presbyterian Church[14]
- 2015–2017: Flip Buys, Reformed Churches in South Africa
- 2017–present: Davi Charles Gomes, Presbyterian Church of Brazil[15]
Membership
The WRF is similar in theology to the International Conference of Reformed Churches and more conservative than the World Communion of Reformed Churches, though several member churches of the WRF are also members of either the ICRC or the WCRC. The WRF primarily differs from these other groups in that it is a fellowship, not a council, and so includes in its membership not only denominations, but individual congregations, pastors and theologians, and non-ecclesial organizations (e.g. theological seminaries). It conceives of its existence as facilitating dialogue and sharing of resources between the different global branches of Reformed Christians.[16] Unlike the WCRC, which officially supports the ordination of women,[17][18] and the ICRC, which prohibits denominational members that ordain women as pastors,[19][20] the WRF as a confessional fellowship recognizes the diversity of positions among its members regarding the ordination women.[21] There are a total of 82 denominational members of the WRF and 155 organizational members, as of July 08, 2023.[22][23] The majority (75 of 83, as of September 15, 2023) of WRF member denominations prohibit women from being ordained as pastors, elders, or deacons.
The WRF has a Reformed, confessional basis for membership. Members have to agree with:
- The statement that "The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are without error in all that they teach."
- At least one of the following historic Reformed Confessions – The Gallican Confession, The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Thirty-Nine Articles, The Second Helvetic Confession, The Canons of Dort, The Westminster Confession of Faith, the London Confession of 1689, the Savoy Declaration, or the WRF Statement of Faith.[24]
The largest churches as of 2023 are (membership of 100,000 or more):
- National Presbyterian Church in Mexico (2,800,000)[25]
- Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) (2,351,896)[26]
- Presbyterian Church of Brazil (702,949)[27]
- Presbyterian Church in America (393,528)[28]
- United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (250,000)
- Christian Reformed Church in North America (189,753)[29]
- ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (127,000)[30]
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church (121,058)[31]
Denominational members
As of June 2024, there are 84 member denominations:[32][33][34]
Country | Denomination | Number of congregations | Number of members | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
South Africa | Christian Reformed Church in South Africa | 19 | 2,500 | 1984[35] |
South Africa | Reformed Churches in South Africa | 382 | 76,812 | 2022[36] |
Angola | Presbyterian Church of Angola | 100 | 60,000 | 2023[37] |
Argentina | Orthodox Episcopal Anglican Church (Buenos Aires) | - | - | - |
Argentina | ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (Argentina)^ | - | - | - |
Australia | Presbyterian Church of Australia | 546 | 54,000 | 2006 |
Australia | Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia | - | - | - |
Australia | Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia | 16 | 719 | 2016[36] |
Bangladesh | Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh | 26 | - | 2011[38] |
Bangladesh | Bangladesh Presbyterian Church | 13 | - | 2017[39] |
Bangladesh | Grace Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh | - | - | - |
Bangladesh | Smyrna House of Prayer Church | - | - | - |
Bangladesh | Isa-e Church | 125 | 6,000 | 2015[40] |
Bangladesh | Thyatira Church Trust Bangladesh | - | - | - |
Bangladesh | Evangelical Reformed Church of Bangladesh | - | - | - |
Bangladesh | Bangladesh Evangelical Reformed Church of Bandarban, Tripura | - | - | - |
Brazil | Presbyterian Church of Brazil | 5,420 | 702,947 | 2021[27] |
Brazil | Christian Church Nations For Christ | - | - | - |
Burundi | Christian Reformed Church in Burundi | - | - | - |
Burundi | Holy Spirit Revival Church | - | - | - |
Canada | Reformed Church of Quebec | 5[41] | 400[36][42] | 2018[36] |
Colombia | United Church of Christ in Colombia | - | - | - |
Congo | United Presbyterian Churches of Congo | - | - | - |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Kivu Presbyterian Church | - | - | - |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Reformed Community of Katanga | - | - | - |
Egypt | Gospel Peace Church of Egypt | - | - | - |
Ethiopia | Raisin Power Baptist Church of Ethiopia | - | - | - |
Germany | Reformed Free Church in Germany | 2 | - | 2024[43] |
Haiti | Union of Churches of the Christian Community of Haiti | - | - | - |
Hungary | Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe | 25 | 370 | 2022[36] |
India | Council of Reformed Churches of India | - | - | - |
India | Telugu Baptist Church Council | - | - | - |
India | Celitic Cross Ministry Dioceses of India | - | - | - |
India | Christian Reformed Fellowship of India | 300 | - | 2019[44] |
India | Malankara Evangelical Church | - | - | - |
India | Reformed Church of India | - | - | - |
India | Presbyterian Reformed Church in India | 10 | - | (2022)[45] |
India | India Christian Mission Church | - | - | - |
India | Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed) | 50 | 10,000 | 2015[46] |
India | Reformed Presbyterian Church of India | 10 | 3,000 | 2004[47] |
India | Reformed Presbyterian Church India | - | - | - |
India | Reformed Presbyterian Church North East India | 105 | 11,376 | 2021[36] |
India | Evangelical Reformed Church of India | 84 | - | - |
India | United Church of India | - | - | - |
Indonesia | Indonesian Reformed Evangelical Church | 74 | 7,000 | 2011[48] |
Italy | Evangelical Reformed Baptist Churches in Italy | 14 | 500 | 2020[49] |
Kenya | Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church | 100 | 22,000 | 2020[50] |
Liberia | Emmanuel Temple (Sinkor, Monrovia) | - | - | - |
Lithuania | Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania | 14 | 7,000 | 2008[51] |
Madagascar | Protestant Church of Ambohimalaza-Firaisiana | - | - | - |
Malawi | Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi and Mozambique | 90 | 15,000 | 2016[52] |
Mexico | National Presbyterian Church in Mexico | 6,000 | 2,800,000 | 2010[25] |
Myanmar | Biblical Reformed Church in Myanmar | - | - | - |
Myanmar | Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar | 50 | 5,000 | 2004[53] |
Myanmar | Community of Reformed Churches in Myanmar | - | - | - |
Myanmar | Reformed Evangelical Church of Myanmar | 40 | 7,000 | 2010[54] |
Myanmar | Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar | 35 | 2,500 | 2021[55] |
New Zealand | Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand | 25 | - | - |
Pakistan | United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan | 200 | 250,000 | 2018 |
Pakistan | Sutlej Reformed Church of Pakistan | 20 | - | - |
Poland | Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Poland | 4 | - | - |
Russia | Evangelical Reformed Church of Russia | 15 | 350 | 2010[56] |
Senegal | Presbyterian Church of Senegal | 20 | 800 | 2017[57] |
South Korea | Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) | 11,920 | 2,351,896 | 2022[26] |
Sri Lanka | Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka[58] | 41 | 3,000 | 2014[59] |
Sudan and South Sudan | Sudanese Reformed Churches | 34 | 6,000 | 2023[60] |
Uganda | Presbyterian Church in Uganda | 87 | 3,047 | 2019[36] |
Uganda | Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda | 12 | 5,000 | 2004 [61] |
Uganda | Community Worship Presbyterian Church | - | - | - |
Uganda | Covenant Reformed Church in Uganda | - | - | - |
Uganda | Greater Grace Ministry (Kampala, Uganda) | - | - | - |
Uganda | King's Church (Kampala, Uganda) | - | - | - |
Uganda | Reformed Presbyterian Church in Africa (Uganda) | - | - | - |
Uganda | New Life Presbyterian Church of Uganda | - | - | - |
United Kingdom | Associated Presbyterian Churches | 9 | 200 | 2021[62] |
United Kingdom | Free Church of Scotland[63] | 112 | 5,400 | 2016[36] |
United States | Presbyterian Church in America | 1,934 | 393,528 | 2023[28] |
United States | Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church | 273 | 30,649 | 2021[36] |
United States | Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States) | 629 | 121,058 | 2023[31] |
United States | Evangelical Reformed Church in America | - | - | - |
United States | ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians | 400 | 127,000 | 2022[30][64] |
United States | Christian Reformed Church in North America[65] | 1,000 | 189,753 | 2024[29] |
United States | United Episcopal Church of North America | 26 | - | - |
Uruguay | Presbyterian Church of Uruguay | 2 | 150 | 2023 |
World | Total | 30,448 | 7,281,955 | 2004-2024 |
References
- ^ WRF Case Statement
- ^ Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie
- ^ "Global Membership of the WRF". World Reformed Fellowship. 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "WRF Commissions". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "WRF/Lausanne Global Theological Education Consultation". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "2014 Consultation on Global Theological Education". Lausanne Movement. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "WRF Resources for Ministry in the Context of Islam". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "Our Muslim Neighbors: Improving Student Knowledge of the Diversity of Islamic Faith and Practice" (PDF). Reformed Theological Seminary. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "WEA Congratulates New International Director of World Reformed Fellowship". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "New Growth Press: World Reformed Fellowship". New Growth Press. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "The Decalogue Project: Disciples from Six Continents Engage God's Ten Commandments, Latest Book in WEA World of Theology Series Available Now". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "The General Assembly". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "WRF Regional Boards". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is not a denominational member of the WRF; Sam Logan held an individual membership with the WRF.
- ^ "WRF Executive Leadership". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "WRF Case Statement".
- ^ "The WCRC Considers A Call For Its Members to Accept the Ordination of Women". World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ "A Declaration of Faith on Women's Ordination" (PDF). World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "Reformed Churches in the Netherlands Suspended by the International Conference of Reformed Churches for Adopting Women's Ordination". The Aquila Report. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
- ^ "ICRC: GKV Membership Terminated". Wes Bredenhof. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
- ^ "WRF State on Ecclesiology". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ "WRF Denominational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "WRF Organizational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "WRF Case Statement". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ a b "Report on the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico 2010" (PDF). Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong)". Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ a b "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil in 2021". Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ a b "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church in America 2019-2023". Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Statistics of the Christian Reformed Church in North America in 2024". Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "ECO Membership". Retrieved 2021-06-19.
- ^ a b "Statistical Report of the 44th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church" (PDF). June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "List of member denominations of World Reformed Fellowship". Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Word Reformed Fellowship: List of Members". Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ "WRF Denominational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America: Interchurch relations of the Christian Church Reformed in South Africa" (PDF). 12 June 1984. p. 179. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Minute of the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church" (PDF). June 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Igreja Presbiteriana wants to help vulnerable families". June 13, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "Interview with Rev. Edward Ayub, founder of the Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Presbyterian Church Bangladesh has 13 churches and 20 pastors in 2017". Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "History of Isa-e Church". September 25, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ "List of churches in Quebec Quebec Reformed Church". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ "History of the Reformed Church of Quebec" (PDF). Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "History of the Free Reformed Church in Germany". Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "History of the Presbyterian and Reformed Fellowship of India" (PDF). November 1, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "List of churches of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in India". Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ "History of the Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed)". Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "Reformed Presbyterian Church of India". October 21, 2004. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Indonesia". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Reformed Baptists in Italy". 2013. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "CRB: Evangelical Presbyterian Church Africa". Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania". April 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
- ^ "Floods affect members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi and Mozambique". December 18, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
- ^ "Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar". February 27, 2004. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Myanmar". Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ "Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar". June 25, 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ "History of the Union of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Russia". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "WRF Report on the Presbyterian Church of Senegal" (PDF). January 1, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ "Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka". Retrieved December 24, 2021.
- ^ "2023 Annual Report of Sudanese Reformed Churches". April 10, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda". Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ >"Congregations of Associated Presbyterian Churches". Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ Cameron Shaffer (March 19, 2024). "What the EPC Can Learn from the PCA". Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "Ecumenical Relations of the Christian Reformed Church in North America". Retrieved December 15, 2015.