It’s a Wrap for WCRC
Delegates to the World Communion of Reformed Churches have, after many years of planning, come to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., completed their business, and are now either back in their home countries or well on their way.
Sadly, the otherwise celebrative event ended on a sad note with the death of Christina Mandang, a musician from Indonesia. See accompanying story, Organist Killed Hours After Meeting. Keeping in mind the untimely passing of Christina, here are a few items that help to wrap up the conference from a Christian Reformed Church in North America perspective.
CRC Reaction
Rev. Gerard Dykstra, executive director of the CRC, was busy helping to coordinate Synod 2010 in Palos Heights, Ill. As soon as synod finished on Thursday, June 17, he returned to Grand Rapids to help host the meeting of the World Alliance of Reformed Church and the Reformed Ecumenical Council that was transformed via merger into the WCRC.
He also served as a delegate during the 10-day ecumenical gathering. Dykstra took time from his duties at the Uniting General Council to speak about the CRC's role in the event.
"I am very pleased that the Christian Reformed Church in North America has the opportunity to serve as one of the host churches for the Uniting General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches," he said.
"It is exciting to be a part of the formation of the largest and broadest Reformed ecumenical body in the world. It has been good to gather with sisters and brothers from around the world for worship, fellowship, and discussions."
Setri Nyomi, general secretary of WCRC, said that he was impressed with, and very thankful for, all of the work the CRC, along with a host of other denominations, devoted in order to assure that the event involving more than 1000 delegates, guests, and observers from around the world was successful. Behind the scenes, Rev. Peter Borgdorff, executive director emeritus of the CRC and president of the Reformed Ecumenical Council, along with many others, worked for more than two years to make sure everything went off smoothly.
CRC Participation in Event
From the floor of the WCRC in Van Noord Arena on the Calvin College campus, Rev. William Koopmans gave a report asking delegates to accept recommendations contained in a document titled "Reformed Identity, Theology, and Communion." Koopmans and others helped to compile the document from the work done by a study committee.
Pastor of a CRC congregation in Chatham, Ontario, Koopmans also traveled from Synod 2010 outside of Chicago to serve as a delegate to the Uniting General Council. Last year, he served as president of Synod 2009.
"This is not a confession," Koopmans told the WCRC delegates. "It is a statement of faith of who we are and what we believe as a communion.... Doing this was indeed a team effort."
In part the draft statement read, "The gracious sovereignty of God reminds us that God lovingly claims this whole world as God's own. That recognition energizes our carrying out of our calling of God’s mission.... We are challenged to be responsible keepers of the earth that God created and entrusted in our care."
Among the recommendations that the committee brought forth was the request that the WCRC office "help membership of the WCRC to clarify what it means to be a confessional or confessing church." The WCRC accepted the Reformed identity report without major modifications.
A story from the Ecumenical News Service reported that there was discussion on moving the WCRC office out of Geneva, Switzerland, where the cost of living is high, to a city in the global south.
The Impact on Calvin College
On a grassroots theological level, Darlene Meyering, assistant to the president at Calvin College, said that the meeting showed her as a Reformed Christian not "what divides us" but rather "what unites us."
"Calvin hosts loads of events and conferences each summer and even through the school year, but the scope and diversity of countries represented by the UGC is certainly far greater than any other summer I can remember in my over 27 years working on campus," she said.
"Even folks who are pretty much glued to their desks can hardly miss the many representatives from so many countries walking through buildings or across the campus."
Many of those attending the meeting wore colorful native dress from countries worldwide. Gazing at the different ways in which people were dressed "brings smiles to all who see it," said Meyering.
"It's a taste of heaven to think that we are connected as Christians and able to share communion with these wonderful people and the church members they represent in their own churches, countries, and cultures."
On a very practical level, Calvin students had a chance to mingle with churches leaders from around the world.
Also on a practical level, in feeding delegates, guests, and observers, the Calvin food service, says Richard A. Balfour, director of dining services at Calvin College, went through
- 1200 dozen eggs
- 675 pounds of dry rice
- 6,192 chicken breasts
- 480 pounds of popcorn chicken
- 936 pounds of inside beef round
- 31 pounds romaine lettuce
- 620 cases of hand and cut fresh fruit.
