Global Christian Forum Leader Speaks to Synod 2017
Rev. David Han of The Global Christian Forum
Karen Huttenga
The Christian Reformed Church is a member of several ecumenical alliances. Representatives from these alliances are sometimes invited to attend the annual general assembly, synod, of the CRCNA. This year, the invitation was extended to and accepted by David Han of The Global Christian Forum. Han spoke to Synod 2017 on June 13.
Han explained that The Global Christian Forum’s purpose is to bring together a broad range of Christian denominations and ecumenical organizations from around the world to address common challenges. This includes Catholics, Evangelicals and Pentecostals.
Through The Global Christian Forum, these diverse, Christian leaders meet every five to seven years at a global summit. The forum also convenes church leaders in regional summits, most recently in the Middle East and Latin America.
According to Han, at the 2012-2013 global summit leaders identifies two key challenges to the church worldwide: persecution, and the perception that some churches are proselytizing from other denominations.
In response to the issue of persecution, The Global Christian Forum held “a global consultation of 150 church leaders, half of whom were leaders of churches suffering persecution and other half were leaders of churches and agencies in solidarity with them.”
“It was the first time in the modern history of the church that a gathering consisting of nearly all streams of global Christianity coalesced around the issue of persecution of Christians,” said Han.
The forum has also “encouraged work on reconciliation and ‘healing of memories’ between churches and communities which have experienced tension and pain due to conflicting perspectives and practices on mission and evangelism.”
After Han completed his talk, synod’s first clerk, Rudy Gonzalez, led prayer for Han and his work. “Father we can say it is only by the power of your hand that you bring about these gatherings where people who wouldn’t normally come together come together…We pray that your name would be honored and glorified as they fellowship with one another. We pray that it would be all about honoring the name of Jesus Christ.”
For continuous coverage of Synod 2017 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, reports, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.
