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CouncilofWCRC19thand20thFebruary,2015

Belfast

DraftMinutesPresent: Members: PastorClaudioPasquet,WaldensianChurch RevDimitrisBoukis,GreekEvangelicalChurch BishopGusztávBölcskei,ReformedChurchinHungary RevLenseLijzen,RemonstrantseBroederschap RevThomasHennefeld,ReformedChurchofAustria MrJonášPlíšek,EvangelicalChurchofCzechBrethren RevJamesBreslin,UnitedReformedChurch RevAlisonMcDonald,ChurchofScotland RevJaneRowell,UnitedReformedChurch RevCherylMeban,PresbyterianChurchinIreland ModeratorDietmarArends,ChurchofLippe RevTrevorGribben,PresbyterianChurchinIreland RevBranimirBučanović,ReformedChurchofCroatia MrIanBuchanan,UnitedFreeChurchofScotland RevRimasMikalauskas,EvangelicalReformedChurchofLithuania PastorIsraelFlores,SpanishEvangelicalChurch RevClaireSixtGateuille,EgliseProtestanteUniedeFrance RevZoltánBallai,ReformedChurchinRomania(TransylvanianDistrict) DrRevMarekIzdebski,TheEvangelical-ReformedChurchinPoland ArjanPlaisier,ProtestantChurchintheNetherlands MrJánosAntal,ReformedChurchinRomania(Nagyvárad/OradeaDistrict) RevLaurenceFlachon,UnitedProtestantChurchofBelgium RevSergeFornerodFederationofSwissProtestantChurches RevEmőkeRozgonyi,ReformedChristianChurchinSlovenia RevSabineDressler,ReformedAllianceinGermany RevDrJeanRavalitera,MalagasyProtestantChurchinFrance RevThomasFender,Evangelical-ReformedChurch RevOlleAlkholm,UnitingChurchinSweden RevSabineHofmeister,ReformedChurchinDenmark

Guests: RevDrDougGay,ChurchofScotland RevChrisFerguson,GeneralSecretary,WCRC RevDonaldKer,MethodistChurchinIreland

Mr Ulrich Schneider, CEO Reformationsjubiläum 2017 e.V., Evangelische KircheDeutschlandFrithjofBerndsen,LutheranChurchinIreland

PastorMarkusMerz,CPCEVienna

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SteeringCommittee,ObserversandOthers:RevJan-GerdHeetderks,ProtestantChurchintheNetherlandsMsMartinaWasserloos,ReformedAllianceRevBalázsÓdor,ReformedChurchinHungaryRevAlexanderHorsburgh,ChurchofScotlandMrsKerstinKoch,ChurchofLippeRevDrBasPlaisier,ProtestantChurchintheNetherlandsRevDrDonaldWatts,PresbyterianChurchinIrelandMrsVitaIckė,EvangelicalReformedChurchofLithuaniaMrVaidotasIckys,EvangelicalReformedChurchofLithuania

Thursday19thFebruarySession1OpeningJan-GerdHeetderkswelcomedeverybodytothemeeting,especiallyChrisFergusonwhowasattending his firstmeeting or the Council ofWCRC Europe as General Secretary ofWCRC,FrithjofBerndsenfromtheLutheranChurch,DonaldKeroftheMethodistChurchinIrelandandMarkusMerzofCPCE.HethankedthePresbyterianChurchinIrelandforitsgenerosityinhostingthemeeting.HeledtheCouncilinworship.MinutesTheminutesweretakenasreadandapproved,withoneamendment.President’sreportJan-GerdHeetderkspresentedhisreport(Appendix1).Hehighlightedtheasylumconferenceorganizedwith theReformierterBund, thevisit to theReformedChurchofTranscarpathia,thesolidarityvisitbytheSteeringCommitteetoSpanishEvangelicalChurch,andthelettersofsupportwhichhadbeensenttotheTransylvanianReformedChurchintheirongoingdisputewiththestateoverchurchproperties.He proposed that WCRC Europe should make an exception to its normal practice of notsupportingdiaconalwork,bymakingaoneoffdonationof€10,000tosupportthediaconalworkoftheReformedChurchofTranscarpathia.Thiswasunanimouslyagreed.TheSteeringCommitteeundertooktoliaisewiththechurchinUkrainetofindasuitableprojecttosupport.

ACTION:BALÁZSÓDORHeproposed that theCouncil support a regional consultationplanned for autumn2015onhuman trafficking.Aquestionwas asked as to how theproposed conference related to theworkofCCME.Jan-GerdassuredtheCouncilthatwealwaysworkincloseco-operationwithCCME,soasnottoduplicatetheirwork.Heemphasizedtheimportanceofbringingtogetherparticularly the very small reformed communities who otherwise do not normally haveopportunities to participate in such work. It was felt by the Steering Committee to

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complementtheworkofWCRCGlobal.A questionwas asked on how thiswould be advertised. An invitationwould be sent to allmemberchurches.Theproposaltosupportthisfinanciallyupto€5000wasagreed.MartinaWasserloospresentedaproposalforaconferenceontheTheologyofMigrationandAsylum from a Reformed viewpoint, planned for Berlin. There was a tension between theaspirationsofAccraandtheincreasingdevelopmentofafortressEurope.Itwasproposedtoofferupto€7500tosupportthisconference.Thiswasagreed.AquestionwasaskedaboutthedistinctiveReformedcontributiontothisissue.Inresponse,Sabine Dressler reminded the Council that many Reformed congregations are themselvescomprisedofrefugeesandmigrants.Calvinhimselfwasarefugeeandministeredtorefugeecongregations.Shesaiditwouldbefascinatingtoexaminetheimpactthismayhavehadonhistheology.Sheappealedfornamesoftheologiansandhistorians,andindeedanyonewhomayhaveusefulcontributionstomakeonthissubject.MarkusMerzinformedtheCouncilthatCPCEwasalsoworkinginthisarea.ThePresident’sreportwasreceivedwithapproval.Treasurer’sreportandquestionsKerstinKochpresentedherreport(Appendix2).Shepointedoutthatthisreportreferredtotwo years’ figures. Themove to banking in euros hadmade life easier, and had eliminatedmostconversionproblems.SheexplainedthatthemaincostsweretheCouncilmeetingsinAthensandWarsaw,andthedonationof€10,000totheGreekEvangelicalChurchfordiaconalwork.A question was asked about whether there was a budget and whether the discrepancybetweenexpenditureandincomewasanticipatedtocontinue.TheCouncilwasassuredthatitwasnot,butalsothattheCouncilshouldnotsimplybebuildingupbigreserves.A question was asked whether or not the Council should build in a regular donation fordiaconalwork. Jan-Gerd argued that the Council should continue its policy of onlymakingdonationsinveryexceptionalcircumstances.Thiswasagreed.AppointmentofTreasurerKerstin was reappointed as Treasurer for a further four years, and this was done withunanimousacclaim.DiscussionwithThePresbyterianChurchinIrelandTrevor Gribben, Principal Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, introduced theModeratorofthePCI,theRtRevDrMichaelBarry.DrBarrybroughtformalgreetingsandwelcomedtheCounciltoBelfast.Hespokeoflivinginachangingworldwithanunchanginggospelandthechallengesofmission.

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TrevorGribbenintroducedthelifeandworkofthePCI.HespokeofthefactthatthePCIisacrossborderchurchwith534churchesin19presbyteries.ItisthebiggestProtestantchurchinNorthernIreland.Hedescribed the reorganizationof the structureof the churchwhichhadbeenundertakenandspokeofhowthechurchspeaksintothepublicsquare.Hespokeofthecontext,livinginanchanginglandscape–onanislandoffanislandattheedgeofEurope.Helaidparticularemphasisonwhathasbeenlearnedfromyearsofconflictaboutaministryofreconciliation.Partnershipisalsohugelyimportant.Muchhasbeenlearnedfromothersituationsofconflictworldwide.A question was asked about whether there was government support for diaconal work.Anotherwasaskedaboutwhetherthereisashrinkingofmembership.MrGribbenrespondedsayingthatthePCIisdeclininginnumbersthoughthereisstillverystrongcommitmentandthefinancesareholdingup.AquestionwasaskedaboutrelationswiththeRomanCatholicChurch.Fortheavoidanceofdoubt,MrGribbenemphasizedthattheconflictwasprimarilypoliticalandnotreligious.HetoldtheCouncilthatthereismuchgoodsocialserviceworkdoneecumenically,thoughsomeareanxiousaboutecumenicalworship.Relationshipsaregoodandgrowingbutthereisstillalongwaytogo.Manylocalchurchesareworkingveryhardonreconciliation.AtourofthebuildingwasarrangedandenjoyedbymembersoftheCouncil.Afterthecloseofbusiness, theCouncilenjoyeddinner inthePCIAssemblyBuildingsastheguestsofthePCI.Friday20thFebruarySession2MorningprayerwasledbyCherylMeban.SandyHorsburghintroducedRevDrDougGaywhoaddressedthethemeofNationalIdentity,EuropeanIdentityandtheRoleoftheReformedChurches.(Appendix3)Generaldiscussionensued,withquestionstoDougGay.Session3SergeFornerodspokeonthethemefromaSwissperspective.(Appendix4)ClaudioPasquetthenspokeonthethemefromanItalianperspective.(Appendix5)Finally,GusztávBölcskeiaddressedthethemefromaHungarianperspective.TheCouncilbroke into fivegroups fordiscussion.Summariesweregivenof thediscussionswhen the Council returned to plenary session. Doug offered some concluding reflections,aboutcontinuedanxiety,aboutvalidationofconcernsfromCentralandEasternEurope,about

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whetheritmadeadifferenceifthewealthiestpartofacountrywishestosecede,asopposedto parts of equal economic strength. He said hewas afraid thatwemay be too late in theconversationwhencertainplacesareexperiencingseriousbreakdownsinsocialcohesion.Hesaid we need to learn from one another, particularly where there has been complexity,struggleandconflict.Hesaidnationalismneeds to lead topeaceandexpressed theneed tolookbackonhistorywithbothgratitudeandpenitence.Jan-GerdthankedDougmostwarmlyforhisinput.MarkusMerzbroughtgreetingsfromCPCEandspokeaboutitscurrentworkbothinViennaandBrussels.ThenextCPCEGeneralAssemblywillbeinBaselin2018.Workisbeingdoneonvarieties of liturgies, on education in Europe and on finding ways of participating moreeffectivelyinEuropeansociety.European cities of Reformation: Markus repeated the invitation to nominate cities andparticipateinthisprocessandcelebration.HeemphasizedthatitwasnotrestrictedeithertoGermanyorto1517,butwasratheraEurope-widemovementwhichwasmoreaprocessthananevent.Thereisawebsitewhichcanbeaccessedatwww.reformation-cities.orgSession4Jan-GerdintroducedUlrichSchneidertotalkabouttheWorldReformationExhibitionin2017and the next Evangelishe Kirchentag in Berlin and Wittenberg in May 2017. Detailedorganizationofahugevarietyofevents,involvingthousandsofpeople,isalreadywellunderway.MrSchneidershowedavideowhichgavefurtherinformationandimpressions.Apointwasraisedabouthowappropriatethiscelebrationwasinthecontextofplacesotherthan Germany and in places where the Reformation was much more influenced by theCalvinistReformation thanby theLutheran.Pleasweremade for takingcareoverdifferentcontexts. Severalmembers emphasised that it was important to askwhywe celebrate theReformation,arguing that it shouldnot justbeabout lookingbackbutabout looking to thefuture. Many voices shared their concern that there is a need to make sure this is doneecumenically.SergeFornerodsaidthattheSwisschurcheshadadopted2017asasymbolicdateinordertodo things together with others. He pointed out that the German churches hadmade a bigjourneyawayfromafocusonLuther,andexpressedgratitudeforthis.HealsospokeofthedeterminationinSwitzerlandtodothingsecumenically.ClaudioPasquet saidhe saw2017as anopportunity tobuildunitybetween theprotestantchurches.A lotofdiscussion is still takingplaceabouthowmanyof thechurchesmay takepartinthefestivities.Moneyandpersonnelcommitmentswerementionedasconcerns.Somearelookingtoparticipateinpartnershipwithothers.ArjanPlaisiermentionedplanstheProtestantChurchintheNetherlands,stressingthattheyweremakingmodest preparations for a focused, short-termparticipation.Workwas beingdonewiththeRomanCatholicChurchintheNetherlandstoparticipatejointly.TheChurchofLippeemphasizedtheimportanceofecumenism.AustriahasajointReformed,LutheranandMethodistplanningteam,pluswiderecumenicalinvolvement.UlrichSchneidermadeapleaforReformedchurchestoworktogethertosupportthelesswell

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offchurchesandtofacilitatetheinvolvementofsmallchurches.Jan-Gerd suggested that the two German Reformed churches might contact the memberchurchesofWCRCEuropeand theCouncil to see if they could facilitate involvement. SergeencouragedtheSteeringCommitteetotakethematterforward.The Church of Lippe promised to inform partners of what they were doing. There was apossibilitythattheirdiscussionsmightnot,infact,leadtotheirparticipationsotheycouldnotpromisetopartnerwithothers.Jan-GerdsaidthathewasafraidthatthetaskwastoobigfortheSteeringCommittee.ItwouldbeontheSeptemberSteeringCommitteeagenda.ACTION:STEERINGCOMMITTEESergehighlightedthepossibilityofaEuropeanKirchentagtakingplaceinsixorsevenyear’stime.Therewouldbeaconference inBadBoll tobrainstormabout thepossibilityof takingthis idea forward. He invited participants to identify people who might be interested inbrainstorming,especiallylaypeople.Jan-GerdintimatedthatMartinahopedtoparticipate.ReportfromtheWCRCExecutiveCommitteeCherylMebangaveareportontheworkoftheWCRCExecutiveCommittee(Appendix6).ThemainbusinesshadbeentheappointmentofChrisFergusonasGS.Thishadbeenamostpositive experience. She asked for help with finding people to help Phil Tanis,Communications Secretary, to find stories. There cannot be communion withoutcommunication.NewsfromMemberChurchesZoltánBallaispokeaboutthestruggleintheReformedChurchinRomania(TransylvanianDistrict)with the statewhich is re-nationalising buildings. He asked for a statement to becirculatedaroundtheparticipants.Hespokeofthesymbolicsignificanceofbuildingsandtheprinciple that in the21st CenturyEU, property rights shouldbe respected. Itwas thereforemoreaboutmakingawitness for justicerather thansimplyaboutregainingownershipofaparticularbuilding.Lense Lijzen spoke about a new experience of the Remonstrant Broederschap inundertaking national advertising. A national broadcast and poster campaign had beenundertaken to tell peoplewho they are andwhat they stand for. He recognized that therewererisks inthisandtherehadbeenmuchdiscussionwiththeRemonstrantcongregationsabout theprincipleofundertaking this.Afteragreement thatposterswouldbedisplayed inrailway stations, permissionwas withdrawn. However, after a social media campaign, thisdecisionwasreversed.Experiencehasshownthatthecampaignhasbroughtnewpeopletothe church, though it was too early tell what the lasting results might be. It had been asignificant financial investment, but the Remonstrants had felt that they might regret notdoingit,hadtheynot.SabineDresslerinvitedparticipantstoletherknowiftheyplannedtobeattheEvangelisheKirchentagserviceon4thJune,2015,andwouldliketobeinvolvedJonášPlíšekmentionedthecelebrationsplannedbytheChurchofCzechBrethrentomarkthe600thanniversaryofthemartyrdomofJanHus,andinvitedparticipantstoseveralevents.

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Session5Jan-Gerd introducedChris Ferguson,General Secretary ofWCRC, andwelcomedhim to theCouncil.Chris brought greetings from Jerry Pillay, who was unable to be present. He spoke of theprocess of discernment which had led to his appointment, with the advantages of self-examinationfortheorganizationthatthispresented.He spoke of the process of uniting WARC and REC and how this had presented majorchallenges.ThemovetoHanoverhadbroughtcoststhathadnotbeenanticipated.Hehasundertakenanintensive programme of visits to churches in every part of the world. He spoke of hisdeterminationtostrengthenlinkswithotherecumenicalorganisations.HedescribedhowhisperspectivehadchangedonworldeventsbearinginmindthatthereareReformedchurchesineverysituationwherethereisconflict.Steps have been taken to overhaul broken administrative systems exposed by themove toHanover.Somedonationshavebeenreceived tohelpbuildupverydepletedreserves, fromtheCouncilforWorldMissionandfromsomeoftheunitedchurchesinGermany.It looks likelythattherewillbea€50-80kdeficit inthecurrent financialyear.Muchof thisrelates to pension arrangements for employees in Switzerland. Financial systems arebeginningtoworkbutagreatdealoffundraisingisstillneeded.Questionswereinvitedanddiscussionensued.DateofnextmeetingTheCouncilagreedtomeetnextfrom3-5thMarch,2016,inavenuetobedecided.CloseofmeetingThePCIwaswarmly thankedonceagain for itshostingof themeeting.ThemeetingclosedwithacelebrationofHolyCommunioninthePCIAssemblyBuildingsChapel, ledbyDonaldWatts.ThiswasfollowedbydinnertakentogetheratJury'sInn.

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Appendix1President’sReport2015Howtoliveoutcommunion?Thatisalwaysthequestionifyouthinkabouttherelationsofthememberchurcheswiththeothermemberchurches.In a continentwith somuchdifferent languages, it is not easy to share in each other’s church life bywrittenreports on the web or by sharing church-newspapers. So often we hardly knowwhat is happening in otherchurchesofourcommunion.Wedon’tknowaboutthehighlightsbutwealsodonotknowthesadstories.ThemeetingsoftheCouncilareveryimportantformeetingeachotherinaninformalcontextandtellingeachotheraboutourlifeinchurchandsociety,butthishasitslimitations.Wehopethat,onthebasisofourbackgroundandon the basis that we have been brought together in the communion of theWorld Communion of ReformedChurches,partnershipsbetweenindividualchurcheswillgrowandbloom.AstheSteeringCommittee,wethinkthat(informal)networkswillstrengthenourcommunionandwewillpromotethatbyorganizingconferencesorbyparticipatinginconferences.Inthepastyear,therewerealotofactivitiesandwewantshareourworkwiththeCouncil.Celebratingthe10thanniversaryoftheAccraconfession-RegionalconsultationonasylumTheWCRC organized regional consultations on the theme: “Called to Communion, Committed to Justice: TheAccra Confession Ten Years Later”. The general objective was to reflect together, through the lens of eachregionalcontext,onourcommitmenttojusticeasWCRCmemberchurches,amidsttheglobalcontextofviolenceandinjusticeanddegradationofbothhumanbeingsandnature.The regional consultation for Europe took place from 9th – 10th October, 2014 and was a conference aboutasylum.TheReformedAllianceorganizedthisconferencetogetherwithWCRCEurope.Weareverygratefulfortheworkof theReformedAlliance.Without theirwork theorganizingof theconferencewouldhavebeen toomuchforus.ThePresidentwaspresent.Thereportonthisconsultationisattachedtothisreportasappendix1.Celebratingthe10thanniversaryoftheAccraconfession–GlobalconsultationThe consultationwasheld inHanover inNovember2014andwas the culminationof amonths long seriesofmeetingsre-engagingthemembershipoftheWCRCwiththeAccraConfession.The global consultation brought together representatives from the WCRC’s regions that had held their ownconsultations,aswellasotherchurchleaders.AllsharedbothstoriesoftheimpactoftheAccraConfessionandsuggestions for better utilizing it in the future. The President and Vice-PresidentMartinaWasserloos-Strunkattendedtheconference.Thereportonthisconsultationisattachedtothisreportasappendix2.TheologyTheSteeringCommitteeaskedthesecretaryofthetheologydepartmentoftheWCRC,DouweVisser,tosetup,inconsultationwithProfessorMichaelWeinrich,anewnetworkoftheologiansascontinuationofthenetworkthathadbeenpartofWCRCEuropeoverthepastyears.DouweVisserorganizedameetingofseveralyoungtheologiansinApril2014inHanover.TheintentionwasthatthereshouldhavebeenaverbalreporttothemeetingoftheCouncilbutunfortunatelyDouweVisserisnotabletocometothemeetinginBelfast.Awrittenreportonthisconsultationisattachedtothisreportasappendix3.ExecutiveCommitteeWCRCThePresidentparticipatedinthemeetingoftheExecutiveCommitteeinMay2014inHanover.TherewillbeaseparatereportfromRev.CherylMebanandawrittenreportisavailableinthepapersforthismeeting.ReformedChurchinTranscarpathia(Ukraine)AsproposedattheCouncilmeetinginWarsaw,theSteeringCommitteewroteinAprilasolidaritylettertotheReformedChurchinTranscarpathiaandassuredourReformedsistersandbrothersinUkraineofouron-goingprayerandconcern.

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Because the situation in the Ukraine didn’t get better in any way and the hostilities were going further andfurther, in September the Steering Committee wrote a second letter to express the sincerest concerns andprayersofWCRCEuropefortheReformedChurchinTranscarpathia.Alsointhisletter,weofferedtovisittoourbrothersandsistersintheUkraine.BishopZánFábiáninvitedadelegationtotheUkraineandthePresidentandVice-PresidentBalázsÓdorvisitedtheReformedChurchinTranscarpathia.Vice-PresidentMartinaWasserlooswasalsoonherwaytotheUkrainebuttheaeroplanehadatechnicalproblemwhichpreventedhertravelling.TheeconomicandpoliticalsituationintheUkraineisverydifficult.BecauseofthedepreciationoftheUkrainianmoney,evenpeoplewithanormalsalaryarehavingbigproblems.Thesituationofthepooristerrible.Weweredeeplyimpressedbytheworkofthechurchinthefaceofimmensechallenges.WemetalivingchurchwithaneyeforBiblicaltraditionsandbeliefsbutalsoforthecircumstancesofthesociety.Thechurchdoesalotofdiaconalwork–withthehelpofmanychurchesinEurope–andhasveryimportantprojects.ThedelegationalsoincludedPhilTanis,executivesecretaryforcommunicationsoftheWCRC;SeonKooKim,amissionarytoHungaryfromthePresbyterianChurchintheRepublicofKorea;MiroslavPfann,aCzechReformedministerwhowillsoonbeservingchurchesinUkraine;SusanBrown,ConveneroftheEuropeCommitteeoftheChurchofScotland’sWorldMissionCouncil;andDiánaErdélyi,ecumenicalsecretaryfortheReformedChurchinHungary(seeappendix1forfurtherinformationandappendix4forthenewsitemfromthewebsiteofWCRC).Proposal:NormallyWCRC Europe doesn’t support diaconal projects but in this exceptional situation theSteering Committee proposes to offer €10,000 for a diaconal project. If the Council agrees, the SteeringCommitteewillconsultwiththechurchforagoodcauseforthemoney.SolidarityVisittotheSpanishEvangelicalChurchDuring the last few years, the Steering Committee has been making Solidarity Visits to member churchesalongsideitsnormalcommitteemeetings.Weareprioritisingsmallermemberchurches,inparticularthosewhohaveexperiencedrecentdifficulties.InOctobertheSteeringCommitteevisitedtheSpanishEvangelicalChurch(EES).TheSteeringCommitteespokewiththePresidentandthegeneralsecretaryofthechurchandwithtwopastors.AlsotheSteeringCommitteegotapresentationon theworkofElFaro, thesocialoutreacharmof theEES. Ihasbeenworking for18years. Itstarted in Santa Columba, near Barcelona, andwas initially for addressing social problems in the area. It hasexpandedconsiderablyoverthecourseofitshistoryandisnowalsoworkinginSouthAmerica.ThemembersoftheEESspokeofthehistoryandprofileoftheirchurch.TherehasbeenaReformedpresencesincethebeginningofthe16thCentury.AfterCivilwar,itwasseverelypersecutedbyFranco.Underhisrule,itsseminary closed andmany congregationswere dispersed. Religious freedomwas revoked. Religious freedomreturnedin1980.However,theStateimposedafederationofnon-Catholicsbutthiswasclearlyunsatisfactory.Today,thereare300,000evangelicalandprotestantpeopleinSpain.SocialworkandtheologicalworkarebothbigpartsofthemissionoftheEES.Atthismoment-incommonwithmanychurches-theEEShasabigproblemwithsupportofretiredpastorsandwidows,owingtotheimpossibilityofbuildinguppensionfundsduringthetimeofFranco.AjuridicalprocesstoaddressthisinjusticehasbeentakenevenasfarasStrasbourg.ReformedChurchofRomaniaA recent court ruling set a dangerous legal precedent which could lead to other instances of the re-nationalizationofchurchpropertiesthatwerereturnedtotheiroriginalownersafterthefallofcommunism.TheSteering Committee heardwith great dismay about the ongoing processes to ‘renationalize’ the SzékelyMikóReformedHighSchoolinSepsiszentgyörgy/SfântuGheorge.TheSteeringCommitteesentaletterofsolidaritytoBishopBélaKatóandofferedsupportinanywaytheRCRwouldrequest,andmostofallprayersastheChurchfaces these events. More information can be found athttp://www.reformatus.hu/nezet/hirek24/?t=miko&lan=enFarewelltoJörgSchmidt

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ThePresidentwaspresent at the farewell of Jörg Schmidtwhowas, formanyyears,General Secretaryof theReformed Alliance in Germany. The President brought thanks to Jörg Schmidt for his work for the reformedcommunity.LetterofcongratulationThe Steering Committee sent a letter of congratulation to Professor Károly Fekete, bishop elect of theTranstibiscanReformedChurchDistrictoftheReformedChurchinHungary.Hisinductiontookplaceinductionon24thJanuary2015inDebrecen.ConferenceHumanTraffickingAsa followupofour conferenceofAsylumandMigration, theparticipantsproposed that the communicationaboutcommonchallengesinEuropeshouldbecontinued.TheSteeringCommitteediscussedthisandwantstosupportthiswish.Wethinkthatsuchaconferencemakesitpossibleto liveoutcommunioninourregionandhelpstocreateinformalnetworksofchurchesandpeoplewhoareinvolvedinacommonissues.WCRC-global has this year a Lent campaign about human trafficking and the Steering Committee asked theReformedAllianceinGermanytoorganizeaconferencewithWCRCEuropeagain.Proposal: The Council supports the plan of the Steering Committee for a regional conference on humantrafficking. This conference is scheduled for Autumn 2015, with people from the European reformedcommunity,andwillbeorganizedbytheReformedAllianceandWCRCEurope(SabineDresslerandVice-President Martina Wasserloos-Strunk). The Steering Committee is authorized to make a financialcontributiontothisconference.ConferenceBerlinonAsylumandMigrationBecauseoftheimportanceofthetopicofAsylumandMigrationforpeopleinEuropeandforacommonvisionofourlifeandcommunityinEurope,wewanttoplanafurtherconferenceaboutthisissueinBerlininSpring2016.The conference will hear voices from European countries about difficulties and opportunities in terms ofintegrationandthinkaboutthequestionofhowwecouldlivewiththestrangerinthemidstofoursocietiesonthewaytocommunion.Itisintendedtolearnmoreaboutareformed“Theologyofmigration”andtorecognizeand rebuild our engagement in Europe. The conferencewill be organized in coordinationwith the ReformedAllianceandtheEKD.Proposal:TheCouncilsupportstheplanoftheSteeringCommitteeforaregionalconferenceonasylumandmigration.TheSteeringCommitteeisauthorizedtomakeafinancialcontributiontothisconference.TheSteeringCommittee isgrateful for the trustandsupportof theCouncil.Theworkwedo is joyfuland,wehope,meaningful.Jan-GerdHeetderks,PresidentFebruary2015Attachment1ReportontheEuropeanConsultationontheAccraConfession-October2014(Hannover)IntroductionandbackgroundIn2004,WARCgathered inGeneral Council inAccra,Ghana. Itwas aCouncilwithdifficult negotiations,withsearching forcommonground,withmanydiscussionsandnewdefinitions. Itwasabattle formeaningsandastruggleforinterpretations:whatdoconfessionandconfessingmeantoday,facingthestruggle,forexample,intheGlobalSouthofourCommunity?Whatdoes“Empire”meanandwhatis“livinginthemidstofEmpire”?Oneofthemainquestionswas,howcouldweconfessourreformedfaith,andfollowingthat,howitispossibletorejectinjustice–especiallytheeconomicinjusticeasoneconsequenceoftheneoliberalglobalization?Wedealtwithreflectionsinatimeofcrisis,weheardfromeachother–anditwasimpressiveandsometimesdistressingto hear the stories of those who felt suffering. And, at the end, we confessed the Accra Confession (AC) –everybody in his or her own way (the possibility was given by the AC 15). It was a great moment for ourCommunityandataskforthefuture.

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TheAccra Confessionmotivates us to seek a global covenant for justice in the economy and the earth in thehouseholdofGod.In2004,wehadtheeconomicinjusticeofglobalizationinourfocus.ItisnotasecretthattheACwasadifficultpoint in our later European discussion. There was a lot of rejection in our communities, and the EuropeanparticipantsoftheGeneralCouncilhadtoexplainabouttheprocessinAccraandthediscussionsthere,tobringmoreinsighttotheprocessofCovenanting,moreunderstandingfortheneedfortheCovenantingprocess,andmore common prayer. Especially the matter of “Empire” was a contentious point – and that appears to beunchanged.Perhaps thediscussionaboutEmpireslowedusdown in thedescriptionofourrealproblemsandourhandlingwithit.Wehavetodefineitagainandagain,andwehavetoseehowitworksorratherhowtheywork;weneedtothinkabouttheempireswithwhichweareconfrontedintheplural.As theEuropean contribution to describe the engagement in termsof theAC, theEuropeanArea collected in2010storiesofReformedChurchesandcommunities,publishedasbooklet:EuropeCovenantingforJustice.Now ten years laterwehave to read theAC anew– not onlywith respect to themeaning of 2004, but in anadvancedway,withnewquestionsforourcommunitytoday.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheproblems,economicstructuresandchallengesfrom2004are“yesterday-stories”buttheworldhasturnedmoreandmore–wenotenew coalitions of power, further developed bodies of “Empire” – and more community and partnership isneeded.ForsomeofourbrothersandsistersinEurope,thepoliticalsituationhaschangedinthelasttenyears.FinancialCrisis,unemploymentandpoverty,especiallyintheSouthofEuropewasnottobeexpectedin2004totheextentithasoccurred.Wearewitnessingpoliticalchangesandnewthreatsintheworld.Morethaneverwearerequiredtobecommunityandtolookintheneighbourhood.As we have been thinking since 2004, how we can go on with the covenanting process and how we coulddescribe,inthelightoftheAC,ourEuropeanchallengesintermsofglobalizationtoday–theissueoftheregionalconsultationontheACbecameclear:Weallareaffectedbymigrationandasylum–asChristians,asareformedcommunion – with our own reformed history of migration and our gratitude for God’s help in times ofhomelessness.So WCRC Europe decided in 2013, in consultation with the justice department, that the regional Accraconferenceshouldfindafocusinasylumandmigrationissues.Theconsultationwasorganizedincooperationwiththe‘ReformierterBund’ofGermanyandwearegratefulforthiscollaboration.TheaimoftheconsultationwastoreflectonhowtheAccraConfessionworksinourcommunityandhowweliveoutourcovenantingprocess.For theEuropeanArea,werecognized the issueofasylumandmigrationasourmajorchallengeinEurope–forourChurchesbutevenforthewholesociety.Theconsequencesofmigrationareevident in someplaces:when theSteeringCommitteevisited the reformedcommunity inAthens,we saw thesituation of refugees in Piraeus andwe felt how this situation gives people in Athens sometimes a feeling ofsorrow,helplessnessanddenial.Somemonthsago,theUNHCRgaveusinformationaboutthecurrentsituationofrefugees:Bytheendof2013,51.2millionindividualswereforciblydisplacedworldwideasaresultofpersecution,conflict,generalviolence,orhumanrightsviolations.Some16.7millionpersonswererefugees:11.7millionunderUNHCR’smandateand5millionPalestinianrefugeesregisteredbyUNRWA.Theglobalfigureincluded33.3millioninternallydisplacedpersonsandcloseto1.2millionasylum-seekers.InthelightofthecrisisinIraqandSyria,andrecognizingthesituationintheMediterranean,wemustexpectthatthefiguresfor2014aremuchhigher.AUNHCRstatementsaidthatthenumberswereupsubstantiallyinbothabsoluteandpercentageterms.Inall,90,000peoplecrossedtoEuropebetweenJuly1andSeptember30andatleast2,200losttheirlives,comparedto75,000peopleand800deathsfortheperiodbetweenJanuary1andJune30.TheissuesofrefugeesandasylumseekersandofmigrationaremosturgentforthecountriesoftheEuropeanUnion.ThecatastropheofLampedusabringstheplightofthosewhoseektofleetheirowncountriesintotragicfocus.TheEUfacesthechallengeofdevelopingpoliciestoaddressthespecificsituationofmigrants,respectinghumanrightsandgivingprotectiontovulnerablepeople.FortheinstitutionsoftheEU,andalsofornationalgovernments,itishighlyimportanttoseeandconsidertheirown situation and possibilities, but nevertheless it often gives the impression that the EU is building its ownpowerstructures,whicharebuildinganew“ironcurtain”,excludingpeoplewhoareinneedforhelp.

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Theconsultation–storytellingTheworkingmethodoftheconsultationwasthepracticeofstory-telling.Wedecidedtodoso,becausewearedeeplyconvincedthatweneedfirstempathyandthen,asasecondstep,action.AsEuropeanmemberchurchesoftheWCRC,wearepartofandaffectedbythecomplexsituationintheoneorotherway. To reflect on our role, at firstwe listened explicitly to those churches situated in external bordercountries:- Whataretheirexperienceswithregardtotheissuesofrefugeesandmigrants?- Howdotheygetinvolvedandwhatcanotherslearnfromtheirexpertise?- Whatproblemsdochurchesobservebytheirengagement?- Inwhichwaycouldweasacommunionsupporteachotherbytakingupresponsibilityforthesakeof

humanity?- Inwhichwaydoesourinvolvementreflectsourtheologyandour“beingthebodyofChrist”?Thetestimoniesofthedelegatesofthechurchesduringtheconferencewereveryimpressive:SamuelAmedro,PresidentoftheÉgliseofEvangéliqueauMaroc,toldaboutthesituationofthe40,000refugeeswhoarestrandedinNorthAfricaabouttheworkofhischurch.“Everyyear,therearemoremigrantswhodieinMoroccothaninMediterraneanSea.Thatisoureverydayreality.Frommypointofview,itismurder.Andwhenyouhaveamurder,youaresupposedtofindthemurdererandthesponsor.Youcouldsay:theyshouldgobackhome!Ifyouthinkso,youwillprobablyberight.Butletmeaskyouonequestion:whocanstealthedreamfromtheonewhohasnothingelsebuthisdream?Theirdream is theonly richness theyhave.And it is a fabulousengineinsidetogothroughalltheprooftheyhavetogothrough.Andyouhavetoknowthat,mostoftime,thereisnoroomforthemintheirowncountry.Infact,theyarenotallowedtogobackhome:becauseoftheshame,because of the investment the whole family made in them sending them for migration. They are forced tosucceed!Becausethesurvivalofalltheirfamilydependsonthem…”TheÉgliseEvangéliqueauMaroclooksafterthepeoplenobodywantsinEuropebutwhoarestilltryingtogetover the fence– thesevenmeterhighborderbetweenMoroccoand theSpanishenclaveofMelilla - the fencewhichwasbuilt tokeeprefugeesontheAfricancontinent.Amedro’schurch isnotrich-whattheycangive isfood,a smile, aprayer, a somecompanionshipandrespect for thedignityof thosewhohavenothing -excepttheirdreamsofadecentlife.Theworkofthechurchisillegal-thestatedoesnotallowMoroccanstoassistrefugees.Butthemembersofthechurch look after refugees andmigrants,whomade it fromdifferent countries toMorocco andwho are nowlivinginacampintheforest.Manyofthewomenarevictimsofviolenceandrape;theirbabies,whoarebornintheforest,havenolegalstatusandnooneknowsthem.Withaplastictarpaulin,achurchisbuiltand,fromafewbranches,awoodencrossismade-thatisenoughtoworship.Amedrotoldaboutthepeoplewhoagainandagaintrytogetoverthefencebutgetwoundedbybarbedwireorbythebulletsoftheborderpolice.Thechurchisgivingemergencymedicalassistance.Howtoproceed,hedoesnotknow-justthatitisgettingworse."Wewillcarryon-please,youareourvoiceinEurope",heappealedtotheReformedchurches.Thedelegates fromHungary, Italy,Greece,Spain,Poland,LebanonandMoroccogavean impressivepictureoftheengagementespeciallyofverysmallchurches.TheydemandedchangeinEuropeanimmigrationpolicyandpointed, in their reports to hownecessary it is, as Reformed sister churches, thatwe knowmore about eachotherandhowimportantitistonetworkwithoneanother.Afewquotes:Churches’CommissionforMigrantsinEurope(DorisPeschke):“ACallforchangeofattitudesregardingmigrationinaccordancewithEuropeanvalues-AtrulyhumanapproachtorefugeeprotectioninlinewithinternationalandEuropeanconventions,includinglegalandsecureaccesstoEuropeforthoseinneedofprotection- A common European asylum system including decent reception conditions as well as a Common EuropeanResettlementscheme.”PaoloNaso,Italy:“WeinviteyoutoconsiderSicilyandLampedusaasthegatewhereEuropemeetstheglobalSouth,itssuffering,itshopes,itshumanandspiritualrichness.So,ifLampedusaisEuropean,itisGermanalso.SwedishorDutch...AndweinviteyoutoincludewhatsymbolicallyLampedusaexpressesinthetheological,socialandpoliticalagendaofyourchurches”.

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NikosStefanidis,Greece:AndIwanttoclosebysayingthatwearenotsimplyahumanitarianorganization.WewanttospeakalsoaboutChristianity,abouttheBible,aboutGodtheFathertheSonandtheHolySpirit,aboutsalvation.Andwedoitinaverycarefulway.Weprovide,inthebeginning,athreecoursemeal.Afterfewhoursofservingthem,weannouncethatitistimetoleavesowecancleanthecentreforthenextday.ButweexplainthatifanyoneisinterestedtohearaboutJesusandhas questions about Christianity they can stay. Usually about 30-70 refugees are staying. Many are continuingaskingquestionsandreadingtheBibleandsomeacceptingJesusandarebaptized.AndallthisforGod’sgloryonly.Theconsultation-conclusionsAttheendoftheconference,wetriedtofocusontwoquestions:1.Whydothesesmallchurchesinvestsomuchinhelpingrefugeesandmigrants?2.WhydoesEuropedowhat itdoes toprevent (toomany)refugeesandmigrantsenteringEurope(“FortressEurope”)?Inrelationtoquestion1,differentmotiveswerementioned:One motive, which can be found in almost all countries, was and is the biblical imperative: “Love yourneighbour”.So,e.g.,inGreece(Nikos),churchesasked:Istohelprefugeesjustagovernmentaljob?Whatisourmission?And:WhatwouldJesusdo?Andtheansweris:ThisiswhatGodasksustodo.”Anotherreasonalsowasthebiblicalnote“We’vebeenslavesinEgypt”,understoodasapoliticalreasontolookafter“slaves”today.InSpaine.g., itwasthememoryoftheFrancodictatorship:theprotestantchurchinSpainwaspersecutedbyherowngovernmentandhelpedbychurchesfromoutsideSpain.Similartothatexperiencearechurchesgoingtohelpbecauseoftheirownhistoryofbeingmigrants.InItalythisisamajorreasontohelp:theWaldensianchurchisamigrantchurch.Anotherreasonforsupportingrefugeesand/ormigrantsisthatitisjustpartofthediaconalwork.InHungary,it’sthenecessarypastoralcare;itmeetstheneedsthechurchesarefacingintheirsociety.InPoland,churchpeopleseetheirinvolvementasactofgratitude:PolishpeopleleftPolandforothercountriesinEuropeandtheywerehelped.Lastbutnotleast,animportantmotivewasjusttonoticeandtospeakout:WiththeAccraConfession(16)werealize:theintegrityofthechurchisatstake!“It’saquestionofinjustice,whatwearefacing.Theworkwedoisnotanactofsympathybutanactofintegrity.Wedothistobuildthechurch.Tohelp,aswedo,isaquestionofbeingchurch,anactofintegrityofbeingchurch,andsowebuildchurch.Theseactscausearevivalofthechurch.Howcanwebeachurchandnotdoit.Thisiswhytheworldwillbelieve.”(NajlaKassabfromtheLebanon)“Thebeingofthechurchisatstake.”(DorisPeschkefromtheCCME).ThesewordscalltomindthewordsoftheAC:16.Webelievethattheintegrityofourfaithisatstakeifweremainsilentorrefusetoact…35.Webelieve inobedience to JesusChrist, that the church is called to confess,witnessandact,even though theauthoritiesandhumanlawmightforbidthem,andpunishmentandsufferingbetheconsequence(Acts4.18ff).JesusisLord.Inrelationtoquestion2:When it comes to thepolitical analysis, there is a gap. Churches and especially congregations in all Europeancountrieswork formigrants andasylum-seekers,but the church isoften restrained in thepoliticaldiscussionaboutthesystem.Thepoliticalanalysisofthesituationisnoteasytoo.Thereweredifferentquestions:What is the difference between asylum-seekers and migrants? For asylum-seekers there are internationalconventionsespecially theGenevaconventionbut, forexample, the fence inMoroccokeepsouteveryoneandasylum-seekersarenotenabledtoaskforasylum.Anddopeoplewhoseekforabetterlifeandfleestarvationhavefewerrightseventhoughtheyarenotcoveredbyinternationalconventions?

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Howmanyrefugees/migrantscanasocietybear?HowtoactagainstastrongmovementofpopulistpartiesinsomepartsofEurope?Isitpossibleto‘manage’migration(notasylum!)?DoseEuropewanttokeepcheaplabourfromoutsideofEurope?Theparticipantsaskedhowthechurchesareinvolvedinthepoliticalsystem.Therewasaconsensusthatitisno“accident”thatthesmallchurchesatthebordersofEuropearesoinvolvedinhelpingrefugees.Oncetheymetthe needs literally by their feet, on the coastlines of their countries they can help better than the “mainline”churches.Theyusuallyhavemoreproblemswhenitcomesto“political”questionsandaction.Ontheotherhand,forexampleinGermanchurchesbutalsochurchesinothercountries,youfindcongregationshelpingrefugeesbecauseof their face-to-face-experience.Refugeesarebroughttomanyplaces indifferentcities,wherechurchpeoplemeetthemandhelpthem.ItisclearthatanotherEuropeanimmigrationpolicyisnecessaryandthatthechurcheshavetotrytousetheirinfluencetorealizeanother,humanpolicy.InthelightoftheAccraConfession,asChurcheswehavetoaskhowwearepartofthesystemofexploitationandexpulsionandmaybehowwebenefit.Weneedcertainlytofindtheconnectionbetweentheneoliberalideologyandthereasonsforasylumseekingandmigration.ThisiswhattheJohannesburgDeclarationmeanswhen itsays: “Wespeakofempire,becausewediscernacomingtogetherofeconomic, cultural, political and military power in our world today that constitutes a reality and a spirit oflordlessdomination,createdbyhumankindyetenslavingsimultaneously.”Butoverandabovethat,itrequiresustoanalysecarefullythereasonsforthesesituationsandtodiscussthesereasons.Churchesneedtostandupagainstdehumanizingproceduresandthecriminalizationofhelp.Somechurchesdo.Thereareongoingdiscussionsinsomecountrieswithpoliticiansonthesematters.Theparticipantsoftheconferencealsoaskedforastrongcommunionsothat,ontheoneside,sisterchurchesknowabouttheirworkandproblemsandthat,ontheotherside,churchescanhelpeachothertoo.“WebelieveinGod,CreatorandSustainerofalllife,whocallsusaspartnersinthecreationandredemptionoftheworld.WeliveunderthepromisethatJesusChristcamesothatallmighthavelifeinfullness(Jn10.10).GuidedandupheldbytheHolySpiritweopenourselvestotherealityofourworld.”(AC17)November2014MartinaWasserloos-StrunkJan-GerdHeetderksAttachment2:AccraConfession:TenYearsLaterWhathavewedone?TheAccraConfessionemergesfromthesufferingandstruggleofthepeopleofGodtolivelifeinitsfullest.Aswecelebrate tenyearsof theAccraConfession,werecognize that itsadoptionbytheWorldAllianceofReformedChurchesbrokenewgroundonanissuethatwasnecessaryandurgent.TheAccraConfessionhasprovidedthebasisformissionalengagementinnewandradicalways,becomingaparadigm-changingmomentinthehistoryoftheReformedcommunion.OverthelasttenyearstheAccraConfessionhasinspiredconversationsaroundwhatitmeanstolivefaithfullyasdisciplesofChrist in themidstofeconomic injustice.Within thecommunionandbeyond, theseconversationsprovided for a new shared language for the naming of injustice and the call to build a justworld. The AccraConfessionrecognizedtheconnectionbetweentheecologicalandeconomiccrisesandspokeofcovenantingfortheeconomyandtheearth.

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At the same time, certain conceptswithin the confession challengedmember churches, particularly languagearoundempireandneo-liberalism,confessionandcommunion.Despitethesecontentions,theAccraConfessionbroughtpeopletogetheraroundjusticeissues.Whathavewegained?One of the most important gains since the Accra Confession was adopted has been the document itself: aconfessionthataroseoutofthecriesandstrugglesoftheglobalSouth,resonatingwiththosewhosuffer inallpartsoftheworld,andstrengtheningknowledgeofNorth/Southdynamics.Indiscerningthesignsofthetimes,theAccraConfessionhasprovenprophetic.Since2004,theAccraConfessionhasaffordedusmanyopportunitiestogainpartnerswhoarewalkingtogether,such as CWM, LWF,WCC,WSCF, resulting in many initiatives including the New International Financial andEconomicArchitecture.Newfaith-basedsocialmovements,suchasOikotreeandPeaceforLife,andnumerouspublications have also been made possible in part because of the principles of the Accra Confession.Theconfessionalsogivesusentrypointsforindividuals,churches,NGO’sandevengovernmentstoengagerealitiesofpower,domination,inequality,genderinjusticeandclimatechange.Whathashappenedsince2004?The emergence of the WCRC as a communion that brought the WARC and the REC together reaffirmed thecentralityoftheAccraConfession.Theconfessionproducedanumberofconsultationsandconversations,amongwhich were the South Africa – German dialogue, the Oikotree project, the Sao Paulo statement on a NewInternational Financial and Economic Architecture and a Gender Reading of the Accra Confession, helping allinvolvedcometotermswiththemeaningofsomeofthechallengesoftheAccraConfession.Theglobalfinancialcrisisof2008confirmedtheAccraConfession’sdefinitionofempireas“thecomingtogetherof economic, cultural, political and military power that constitutes a system of domination led by powerfulnationstoprotectanddefendtheirowninterests.”Italsobroughttolighttheconvergenceofinterconnectedandcomplex issues, such as global warming and extreme climate disasters, increased nationalism and non-stateplayersaffectingglobalandregionalpolitics,sustainedmilitarization,theshift inglobalpoliticalandeconomicpowers,agri-business,andunjusttradeagreements.Atthesametimetherehasbeenanemergenceofsocialmovementsinresponsetotheseissues.ArabSpringandtheOccupyMovementareacoupleofexamplesofthesesocialmovements.Whatismissing?Werecognizethattheworldandeconomicpowerslookdifferenttodaythantheydidatthe2004draftingoftheAccra Confession. Neo-liberal economics, race and patriarchy have entangled in legion manner. Economicinequality has increased exponentially and the obstinate persistence of racism and racial tensions escalate.Group identities that aremost influencedby the effects and realities of empire includebut arenot limited todiscriminationbasedoncaste,indigeneity,gender,sexuality,anddisabilities.Wemustnowworktoaddresstheeffectsofanunjustneo-liberaleconomicsysteminamoreintegratedmannerthat analyses and responds to these unjust social, political, and economic realities. These interconnectionsinclude:growinginequalitiesthatlinktohumantrafficking,displacementandmigration;environmentalracism,thedangersofnuclearpowerplantsandtheirvulnerabilityinthemidstofextremeclimatechange;andpoliticalcrises which lead to religious and political fundamentalism. We also cannot ignore the deepening of thePalestine-Israelconflictaswellasotherconflictsaroundtheworld.Whatistheurgentpropheticresponse?We,astheWCRC,arecalledtorespondinnewwaystothesignsofthetimesinthisnewday,2014.Wearecalledto faith in God, faithfulness to theWord of God, and action according to the principles laid out in the AccraConfession.Werecognize that thepresentsocialandeconomiccrisisandthestateofendlesswarconstituteacrisisoffaithandthereforeneedsaresponseoffaithtowitnesstotheGodofLife.Wearecalledtorepentanceandconfessionforthewaysinwhichweeachhavebeencomplicitintheinequalitiesandinjusticeswhichwehavenamedinthisdocument.

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WecommitourselvestoopennesstothechallengesoftheAccraConfessionitselfasnewcrisesariseandcallfornewunderstandingsofourownpropheticfaithfulness.Wecommitourselvestoliberationandresistanceagainstallformsofdomination.Wecommittoworktogetherwithpartnersandsocialmovementswithwhomwewalkthisjourneyofjustice.Wecommittodeeplisteningtovoicesonthemarginsandthosewehavesilenced,aswellastothevoiceoftheSpiritasshespeakstousthroughotherreligiouscommunities.AndthereforewecommendtotheWCRCbody,initsentirety,theseactionareas:~CriticalreadingofscriptureandcreativeresourcesforcongregationstowitnesstotheGodofLife~Caste~Climatechange~Genderandsexuality~Humantrafficking~Immigrationandmigration~TheNewInternationalFinancialandEconomicArchitecture~Racism~ThetheologyofenoughAttachment3:AnoverviewofworkdonebytheWCRCtheologynetworkIwasaskedbythePresidentofWCRCEuropetosetupanewnetworkoftheologiansascontinuationofsuchanetworkthathasbeenpartofWCRCEuropeoverthepastyears.Thefollowingpersonsaskedacceptedtoserve:

MichaelWeinrich(participantoftheformernetwork)MichaelJagessarMatthewPrevettPascaleRenaud-GrosbrasMartinEngelsViktoriaKoczianJohnMcCulloghDouweVisser

Wehadameeting22-26April2014inHannover.AsastartingpointfordiscussionwetookthequestiongiventothisnetworkfromthesideoftheSteeringCommittee:

“TheSteeringCommitteewantedto focuson furtherdevelopmentof the themeofhermeneutics fromtheCouncil in Vienna. We think that it is very important to talk and think in our communion about thisquestion.Inmanymemberchurchestherearediscussionswithhermeneuticaspects(forexamplesame-sexrelationships and theministry). How canwe in our churches, but also in our communion, work on thistheme?Arewetobeonlyacommunionofthelike-minded,whoagreewithoneanother,orcanwemaintainand build communion in diversity? What is the nature of doing reformed theology and its impact ondialogue?”

Basedonthiswereflectedonthefollowingquestions:

• Whatistheologicallyrelevantinyourcontext?• WhatistheessentialplaceofReformedTheologyinthewholeoftheology?• WhatisthetheologicaltaskforWCRCandhowdoyouseethisnetworkfunctioning?

WealsolookedattherelevantquestionsforWCRC´stheologyworkingeneral.Wedevelopedalistofthemesthisnetworkcandealwith.ThegroupworkedespeciallyonapresentationfortheupcomingmeetingofWCRCEuropein2015.IndiscussionhoweverwiththePresidentJan-GerdHeetderksweheardthatthetimeforsuchapresentationthisyearwould

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beverylimited.Wethereforeproposetocomeoncetogetherthisyearandtoprepareafullpresentationforthemeetingin2016.DouweVisserAttachment4:Support shown to Reformed church in Ukraine http://wcrc.ch/news/support-shown-to-reformed-church-in-ukraine/A WCRC Europe delegation on a solidarity visit to the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia were deeplyimpressedbytheworkofthechurchinthefaceofimmensechallenges.

“We met a living church,” said Jan-Gerd Heetderks,PresidentofWCRCEurope.“TheyhaveaneyeforBiblicaltraditionsandbeliefsbutalsoforthecircumstancesofthesociety.”ThedelegationvisitedBeregszászandDercen,Ukraine,9-11 January, traveling in from Hungary. The church inTranscarpathia is a part of the Hungarian ReformedChurch,aninternationalexpressionofchurchcommunionbetween ethnic Hungarian churches in the Carpathian

Basin.ThedelegationwashostedbyBishopSándorZánFábiánandLayPresidentBélaNagy,thelatterofwhomisalsodirectorofthechurch’sdiaconalcentre.The diaconal centre coordinates a multitude of programs, including donated goods distribution, a bakery, acommunitykitchen,ahomefortheelderly,schoolsandavolunteerfiredepartment.

“I was very impressed by theirwork. They are living testimony to the love ofChrist,”saidHeetderks.“What’smostimpressiveistheirfaithfulnessinthecircumstancesinwhichtheylive,”saidSusanBrown,fromtheChurchofScotland.“Itputsthingsinaslightlydifferentperspective for yourown church life.Wehave the luxuryof choosingwhattodoandwhatnottodo.Theydon’thavethat.Iftheydon’tdo,itwon’tgetdone.”“Though it is a vulnerable community facing immense difficulties anduncertainties, it has a vision and practice of a serving faith community,” saidBalázsÓdor,aVicePresidentofWCRCEurope.The delegation learned about the challenges of being an ethnic and religiousminority,bothhistoricallyandcurrently.Theyformallyrememberedthedozensof Reformed Hungarian pastors who were exiled, jailed or killed during the

Sovietera.Andtheysawhowthechurchisnowworkingwithlocalgovernmentstoplugthemanygapsinthesocialsupportframework.“WCRC Europe has a special responsibility towardsmemberchurchesorReformedcommunitiesintheeasternpart of the continent,” saidÓdor, “especially thosewhichare inadifficult,minoritysituationandarechallengedbymajorityreligionsorthestate.”“The visit of a high level delegation is very important. Itshows that there is international support for theHungarian minority–both as a people and a religion,”agreedZánFábián.“Iamveryhappythatwehavebrothersandsistersabroad.”

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ThedelegationalsoincludedPhilTanis,executivesecretaryforcommunicationsoftheWCRC;SeonKooKim,amissionarytoHungaryfromthePresbyterianChurchintheRepublicofKorea;MiroslavPfann,aCzechReformedminister who will soon be serving churches in Ukraine; and Diána Erdélyi, ecumenical secretary for theReformedChurchinHungary.Appendix2FinancialReporttotheCouncilofWCRCEurope,Belfast,February2015IntroductionThisisthereportofthefinancialsituationoftheEuropeanArea,inaccordancewithparagraph14oftheWCRCEuropeby-laws.Thisreportisaboutthefinalfigures2013andthepreliminarynumbersfor2014.BecauseoftherelocationtoHanoverthebook-keepingcurrencychangedfromSwissFranc(CHF)toEuro(EUR).IncomeTheannualincome,generatedbythe5%levyfromthetotalcontributionsfromtheEuropeanmemberchurchestoWCRC,hasbeenbetweenEUR20,000andEUR23,000since2010.In2013theallocationwasEUR22,923.Thepreliminary incomefor2014isaroundEUR22,825.Asweareearly in2015,theremaybesomemoreentriesfromlastyearstilltobeprocessed.The2013closingbalanceoftheEuropeanAreaFundwasEUR227,291.Theclosingbalanceasat31December2014willbearoundEUR185,125.ExpenditureThePresidentreportsonthevariousactivitiesundertakenbythesteeringcommitteeormembersofthesteeringcommittee since the Council meeting inWarsaw last year. The visits and other representative obligations in2013werepartofhisreportin2014.The main expense in 2013 was the Council meeting held in Athens. In addition, there were two projectssupportedbyWCRCEuroperelatingtothejubileeoftheHeidelbergCatechism,eachcostingEUR1,000.In2014theexpenditurewashigherthantheincome.Thereareanumberofreasonsforthis:WCRCEurope,togetherwiththeReformedAllianceinGermany,heldathreedayconferenceonMigrationandAsyluminOctober2014inHanover.ThecoststoWCRCEuropeconstitutedaroundEUR6,000.TheGIT(GeneralInstituteofTheology)tookplaceinCubalastsummer.WCRCEuropebackedthiseventwithEUR8,200.BesidethecostsfortheCouncilmeetingandtheobligationsofthesteeringcommittee,thereweretwobigitemsasresultsof formerdecisions.TheCouncil inAthensin2013decidedtosupporttheGreekEvangelicalChurchwitha sumofEUR10,000 for itsdiaconalwork.Thisamountwas transferred inautumn lastyear.TheGreekEvangelicalChurchusesthemoneyforitsrefugeeproject.In2012itwasdecidedtogiveuptoEUR10,000perannumforaperiodforfouryearsfromtheEuropeanFundto WCRC global in order to support the post of Dora Arce-Valentin as Executive Secretary for Justice andPartnership.ThesesumsofEUR10,000perannumwerenottransferredin2012or2013.In2014thepastyearswerealsoincluded;thismadeanamountofEUR30,000altogether.The Steering Committee has taken the view that,while it is prudent forWCRC Europe tomaintain a healthyoperatingbalance,themoneyhasbeencontributedbymemberchurchestobeusedtofurthertheworkofWCRCandWCRCEuropeanditisthereforetheretobespent.

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FinancialsituationWCRC(global)JohannWeusmann,asTreasurerof theWorldCommunionofReformedChurches, informedtheWCRCEuropeTreasurerattheendoflastmonth(January2015)thatheisquiteconfidentthatbyclosingthebook-keepingfor2014therewillbethepossibilityoftransferringsomemoneytothereservefundsagain.Inhislatestmailhewasabitreluctanttobemorespecificonthistopic.Furtheranddetailedinformationcannotbegivenatthemoment.KerstinKochWCRCEuropeTreasurer8February,2015

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Appendix3

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Appendix4

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Appendix5NationalIdentity,EuropeanIdentityandtheRoleoftheReformedChurchesfromanItalianPointofViewAsyouallknow,thesituationinItalyisquiteunique.FromahistoricalpointofviewItalyhasonlyexistedasastatefor150yearsandRomeonlybecamepartofItalyin1870.Fromasocio-politicalpointofviewitisstillacountrywithaverystrongNorth/Southdividewhereeconomicbackwardness fuels themafiaandcorruption.AndfromareligiouspointofviewtheoftencompleteidentificationofItalywiththeRomanCatholicChurchisatoddswiththepopulationasawholewhenitcomestofollowingitsethicaldecrees(forexampleweareoneofthecountriesinEuropewiththelowestlevelsofpopulationincrease)The identity of Italy as a nation is still quite fragile – think for example of movements like the “Lega Nord”(NorthernLeague)whichinitiallysoughttodivideItalyintotwonations.Thankstotheeducationsystem....andtelevision,itisonlyinthelast50yearsthattheItalianlanguagehasbeenimposedonapeoplespeakingvarietyof localdialects.Highunemploymentamongstyoungpeople(nowalmost50%)means thatnotonlyare therehighlevelsofemigration,especiallyamongstthehighlyqualified,butalsoalackofprideinourcountryanditsinstitutions.Inthelesswelldevelopedareasofthecountryandparticularlyamongstthelesswelleducatedthisunemploymentcreatesapoolofpeoplepreparedtoworkforthemafia.Despitethisweareseeingariseinthenumberofthosetakingpartinvoluntarywork,inpressuregroupswhichare opposed to organised crime and theuncontrolled laissez fairewhich seems to characteriseworldpoliticstoday: in a recent referendum90%of Italians voted against the privatisation ofwater. Initially ItalianswerelargelyinfavourofEuropeanunityandtheEuro.Nowallthathaschanged.Theeconomiccrisisandimmigrationare causing the rise and increase of Anti-Europe and Anti-Immigration movements which look towardsnationalism.Eventhe“LegaNord”hasputtoonesideitsseparatistideasandispromotingitselfasapartywhichwillgive“ItalybacktotheItalians.”The Catholic Church maintains a strong political and economic position in the country. The catholicdenomination is recognised by the state as the favoured denomination thanks to an agreement or ConcordatdrawnupbyMussoliniin1929andrecognisedbytheconstitutionofthenewRepublicin1948.Buttodayintheeconomic downturn the Catholic church and the little Protestant Churches often find themselves workingtogetherinthefightfortherightsofmigrantsandthosewhofindthemselveslivingbelowthepovertylineandhavebeenmarginalisedbylaissezfaireeconomicpolicies.ThenewPopewithhisopennesstowardsthepoorisviewedwithmuch suspicion by some newspapers and influential catholic groupswho feltmore comfortablewithhispredecessor.In the16thcentury Italyhadmanyconverts toProtestantismbut theyhadeither toabjureoremigrate.From1540 there was an Italian service in Geneva just for those who had emigrated there for religious reasons.ReligioustoleranceonlycametoItalyin1848(1870inRome).Thisbroughtabout,amongstotherthings,theendoftheJewishghettos(anItalianinvention–ghettoisanareainVenice)TheonlyProtestantswhomanagedtosurvive in a little alpine “ghetto”were theWaldensians. This reformed group began in the 12th century andspreadacrossEurope.After joininginwiththeReformationin1532theyunitedwithotherEuropeannationalchurches(Reformed,LutheranandMoravian/Hussite)butwithintheItalianstatestheReformationwasbroughtto a bloody end. For this reason theWaldensian Church beganwith close linkswith Geneva and the French,GermanandDutchreformers.Andtodayourviewisthesame,comingfrommedievaltimes,thatreformedchurchesneedtobeless“nationalchurches”andmorepartofacommonaimtobewitnessestotheGospel.Rightfromthebeginningwehavebeenpartof theEcumenicalCouncil, theAllianceofReformedChurchesandotherEuropeanandWorld institutionswhich seek to promote unity between churches and on a number of occasions our Synod has discussed thenecessityofestablishinga“EuropeanProtestantSynod”.TodaythereformedchurchinItalyseesitsrolein4mainareas:•To witness to the Gospel in an increasingly secular society which knows little of the variety of Christian

experienceandwheremany joinour churchwhen they realise that there is analternative to theCatholicChurch

•PromotingdialoguebetweenChristians (withCatholics,OrthodoxChristiansandEvangelicals)andprovidingopportunitiesfordialoguewithotherreligions(notalwayseasyasIslamisnowthesecondreligioninItalyaswell

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•Doingallwecantofightagainst;theacceptancethatthewelfarestateisatanend,themarginalisationofthepoor,therejectionofimmigrantsandacompassionlesseconomy

•ToseekandpromoteworkalongsideotherReformedandProtestantChurchesinEuropeknowingthatallweattempttodoinItalyisincommonwithourbrothersandsistersaroundtheworld

•Iwasasked todo this fiveminutepresentation–averydifficult thing foran Italian todo…Iapologise for themanygeneralisationswhichIhavehadtouseinordertobebrief.Thankyouforlistening.ClaudioPasquet,ItalianWaldensianPastorAppendix6WCRCExecutiveCommitteemeeting,Hannover,Germany,10-18May2014I want to share with you recent and encouraging news of developments within the life of the Communion,includingopportunitiestousethegiftsofyourchurchmemberstoassistinsomecrucialandpracticalwaystothefunctioningandwellbeingofourWCRCfamily.GeneralSecretaryExecutivecommitteevotedunanimouslyandwithclearconvictiontoelectRevDrChrisFergusonasthenextGeneralSecretaryofWCRC,commencing1stAugust2014.Afterathoroughsearchandselectionprocess,Chriswas interviewed by the executive committee as a whole, and gave a thoroughly convincing account of hisabilities,self-awarenessofvulnerability,andaclearcapacitytoleadandunitesuchadiversebodywithpassion,convictionandsensitivity.Atseveralpointsandinparticularontheeveningof17thMay,RevDrSetriNyomiwascelebratedandthankedforhisvisionandleadership,humilityandcommitmenttotheunityoftheChurchanditswitnessforjusticeandpeaceintheworld.Setriwillcontinueinpostuntil31August.26th General Council - will be held in Erfurt, Germany in June 2017. A planning committee has beenappointed to work alongside the German Host committee. The theme will be 'Living God, Renew andTransformus'.Theology,CommunionandMissionThe core group reported on dialogues completed (Reformed-Lutheran; Reformed-Catholic) and forthcoming(Reformed-Anglican;Reformed-Pentecostal; exploratory engagementwith emerging churches, esp. viaAfricanandEuropeanregions),consultations(Mission in theFrontline;FaithConfessions in the lifeofWCRCmemberchurches;Communion),networkingnewgenerationsof theologians (Europe; theGlobal InstituteofTheology)andpublications (ReformedWorld;ReformationSundayBrochure;2017preparatorydocuments forpublicaswellasformemberchurches).Thisvolumeofworkisundergirdedbyestablishedrelationshipswithecumenicalpartners in Geneva,WCC and John Knox Centre,with the justice and partnership office, andwith developingrelationshipswithGermanChurchesandReformierterBund.PartnershipFundThePartnershipFundreportedonprojectsfromKenya,Rwanda,Morocco,Greece,Cuba,Argentina,Philippines,Malaysia,Syria,Egypt,Uganda,Bolivia/SpainandBurma.Projectsincluded:consultationswithchurchesfacinginter-religiousviolence('ChurchesontheFrontline');SouthAmericanconsultationonwaterandclimateissues;capacity-building, storytelling and income generation projects of the Evangelical church amongstmigrants inMorocco; addiction detox centre in Athens, Greece; a home for teenagemothers in Bolivia supported by theSpanishEvangelicalChurch;aPresbyterianprojectforpre-schooleducationforindigenouschildreninMalaysia;women's health, empowerment and peace-making programmewith PCEA inKenya; training inmicro-financeandtraumacounsellingamongstwomeninRwanda;theologicalconferenceinAfrica,emergencysupportfortherefugeecrisistotheNationalEvangelicalSynodofSyriaandLebanonandfortheTyphoonrelieftotheChristianReformedChurchinthePhilippines.Justiceandpartnership

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The10thanniversaryoftheAccraconfession/declarationisbeingmarkedwithRegionalcelebrationsofAccra,andaGlobalConsultationontheAccraConfessioninHannoverNov2-6,2014,tostudythetheological,historical,regional social political and economic impacts, contexts and challenges in the light of Accra, together withanalysis of the AccraDeclaration's assessmentof social reality. Each region's eventwill connectAccra to theStrategicPlanforWCRC,andlaunchaLentenCampaignAgainstHumanTraffickingforusebychurchesin2015andbeyond.CommunicationsExcomwelcomedournewCommunicationsofficer,PhilTanis,[philip.tanis@wcrc.eu]whosefreshapproachtogatheringstoriesandusingsocialmedia,aswellasotherstrengthsintechnologiesandstrategizing,promisetocontinuemakingprogressinmakingWCRC'scommunicationwidespread,usefulandeffective.Request: please provide Phil with contact details of CURRENT person responsible for your church ororganisation'scommunicationsphilip.tanis@wcrc.euRequest:pleaseletPhilknowaboutmembersofyourchurchwhoarebloggers,whomightbewillingtoconnectwithorwritefortheWCRCblog/website.philip.tanis@wcrc.euRequest:pleaseletPhilknowstoriesabouttheactivityorchallengesofyourchurchorsituationwhichcouldbeofinteresttothewidercommunion.philip.tanis@wcrc.euTransitiontoHannoverTheexecutivecommitteewasdelightedtodiscoverthelovelyoffices,convenienceofaccommodationtomeetingroomsandpleasantsurroundingsavailableinHannover.Abarspaceavailablefortheexclusiveuseofexcominthe evenings greatly facilitated much of the informal and cross cultural communication which createsunderstandingandapositiveworkingenvironment.StaffingExcommemberswereimpressedbythequalityandattitudeofthenewadministrativestaffteaminHannover,whohavegivenmanyadditionalhoursinordertofacilitateanefficientmeeting.Inaddition,twovolunteershavegreatly added to the smooth-running of the excom and office administration, aswell as translation and veryusefullocalknowledge.PaulOppenheimisavolunteeronthestaffteam,whoseroleislinkingWCRCtoGermanchurches.GerhardPlenterisprovidingspecialistfinanceandaccountingassistance.Boththesevolunteershavealready contributed constructively and relationally to thewellbeing ofWCRC and, togetherwith all the staff,greatlyencouragedandfacilitatedthefunctioningoftheexecutivecommittee.FinancesThesituationofthefinancesofWCRCwascritical in2011-12,butthankstoTreasurerJohannWeusmannandtheteamandextragenerousgifts,continuestostabilise.Thankstoallwhocontributeasgenerouslyastheycantowards the Communion, in kind or in monies. The new team have worked assiduously to rectify somedysfunctionarisingpriortotherelocation.ThenewsystemsputinplaceinHannoverpromisetogreatlyassistintheaccountingandfinancefunctionoftheoffice,andinclarityforthosetaskedwithoversight,sothatenergycanbeputtowardsWCRC'scorecallingofcommunionandjusticethroughtheGospel,ratherthantomeresurvival.MembershipandconstitutionWewelcomed two SouthAfrican churches intomembership, including theNHKA,whichhadbeen suspendedoverapartheid.Thismarksthesignificantprogressgainedbycourageousleadership.Excomdiscussedformalconstitutionalchangestobarmembersofchurcheswhichunderpayfromnominationtoexcom,butchosetoprioritisethequalityofrelationshipsandtheadvantagesofwholeheartedparticipation intheCommunion.Request:Aspertheconstitution,anumberofchurcheswhichhadnotcommunicatedwiththeOfficesince2010weredeclaredinactive,andexcom,memberchurcheswithintheregionsandtheGSwouldseektoreignitecontactwiththesemembers'toexpressconcern'forthem,to'requestinformationforprayer',inorder'tomaintaintherelationship'andbuildthecommunion.TheonlychurchwithinEuropewhichhasnotbeenincontactistheEv.LuthReformedChurchofLatvia.Memberchurchesmayhoweverhavecontactwiththis,or

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churchesoutsideofEuropewhosemembershipof and senseof connectionwithWCRCcouldbe enhancedbyconversation and friendship with some reading this. Please do also communicate with the office in Hanoverconcerninganysuchrelationshipsasappropriate.CherylMeban