World Reformed Fellowshi Thomas & Laurie Vanden Heuvel In Jesus' High Priestly Prayer recorded Recently, Dr. Whitlock invited Dr. Preamble for us inJohn 17, we hear Jesus praying Kim, Dr. K. Eric Perrin and Dr. Paul With gratitude tenderly for "those which you (the Gilchrist to partidpate in the dedication to God, the Intemational Reformed Father) have given me " who are in of the new facility of Reformed Fellowship joined the World the world but not of it. But not only Theological Seminary (RTS) in Fellowship of Reformed Churches in does Jesus pray for those living at October 2000 which then changed that time, but He goes on to say, "I the name to World Reformed pray also for all who will believe in me Fellowship. through their message that all of them may be one." Both fellowships were formed in the early nineteen nineties to In the last century, orthodox seek to promote the Reformed Christians have looked on with dismay faith as a witness to the world of while ecumenical organizations the sovereignty of God in the such as the World Council of redemption of his people Churches, the National Council of Dr. Luder Whitlock through the Lord Jesus Christ. Churches, and even the World Orlando, Florida, and at that time This people of God, with diversified Alliance of Reformed Churches have the 4 men discussed the possibility of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, compromised their commitment to joining the Latin America fellowship are one in Christ. God has the truths of the Word of God. The and the Asia fellowship together, and enabled us to express the unity of WCC is now suggesting that enlarging it to include Reformed the church in the bonds of peace membership be opened to non­ work throughout the world. through cooperative agreements, Christian groups. The NCC has having the same biblical, evan­ announced that it anticipates a $1.8 A meeting was called for October 24­ gelical and missionary vision. million deficit for the first six 27, 2000 in Orlando, Florida at the Thus, believing that these are but months of 2001. WARC suffered a Reformed Theological Seminary expressions of a well-thought-out leadership credibility crisis when its campus and the nearby Canterbury Reformed perspective, we would former president, Rev. Alan Boesak, Retreat Center. General Assembly invite other Reformed churches, was jailed for embezzlement and fraud. moderators, stated clerks, seminary agenCies, institutions and professors and pastors representing Is it really possible in this fractured individuals to join with us under hundreds of congregations in 5 world the following principles. world, to achieve the unity for regions - Latin America, Asia, which Jesus prayed in John 17? The North America, Europe, and Africa The World Reformed Fellowship answer is "yes"! If the Lord has - met to join the two existing makes the distinction of being a commanded unity, He can make it organizations and bring on new fellowship, not a council. World possible to achieve. world regions to form the World Reformed Fellowship recognizes In 1994 the World Fellowship of Reformed Fellowship as a visible that barriers of distance, culture Reformed Churches began with the expression of the Reformed faith. and language often make it difficult goal of uniting resources and vision The Preamble to the By-Laws adopted for a church to develop and for the whole world, beginning by the Fellowship, enunciates its maintain binding ties with a with Central and South America. purpose: church or churches of another Dr. K. Eric Perrin was the president of the movement, and Dr. Paul Gilchrist was the secretary. In 1998, Rev. Bill Green was appointed Executive Secretary of WFRC. About the same time, Dr. John E. Kim met together with Dr. Luder Whitlock, and Dr. W. Robert Godfrey to establish International Reformed Fellowship (lRF), a ministry to unite Reformed people in Asia. country, which is essential to the 3) To provide a network for To obtain a membership application, conciliar model. A fellowship communication and the sharing please write to: provides the context in which of ministry resources; World Refonned Fellowship churches, ministries and institu­ 4) To provide a forum for dialogue 5637 Bush River Road tions may become acquainted Columbia, South Carolina 29212 with each other, and where their on current issues; leaders may develop friendships 5) To offer direction to the evan­ and trusting relationships leading gelical Reformed community; The Conference to closer, mutually beneficial Day One cooperation. Members of a 6) To promote global evangelization fe llowship are not obligated formally in the basis of Reformed tradition; On Tuesday afternoon, October 24, to be responsible for one another's 7) To maintain, strengthen and the conference convened at positions or actions, but in an defend the sound doctrines Reformed Theological Seminary in atmosphere of free association, and biblical-theological tenents Orlando, Florida. It began with a may lovingly influence each that distinguish us as Reformed worship service, Dr. K. Eric Perrin other toward greater consistency Christians. presiding. Dr. Luder Whitlock, president in biblical faith and witness. of RTS seminary, preached on the World Reformed Fellowship will subject, "Reformed Vision and To assure the greatest possible unity promote its ministry with creativity, Mission." Pointing to an unfinished in doctrine, the new organization flexibility and efficiency. Our painting of four great reformers, Dr. adopted the following doctrinal basis: mission goal should drive our Whitlock explained that the We affirm the Scriptures of the structure and administration as painting was not finished and never Old and New Testaments as the we adapt to the opportunity and will be because "the Reformation is authoritative God-breathed and needs of the hour. We should unfinished." We have as Reformed inerrant word of God. We stand proactively seek out individuals Christians, not yet achieved that in the mainstream of the historic who can help WRF attain its oneness of which Paul speaks in Christian faith in affirming the objectives. Ephesians 4:4-6: "There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were catholic creeds of the early To help achieve these goals, we will church such as the Apostles' Creed, be retiring as editors of The Outlook the Nicene Creed, and the magazine, having served for eleven Chalcedon Creed. More specifical­ years in that capacity, to become the ly, we hold to one or more of the new Directors of Communications historic expressions of the for World Reformed Fellowship. Reformed faith such as the Details of the plans that have been Westminster Confession of Faith developed to begin to meet the and the Catechisms, the Heidelberg objectives stated above, will be Catechism, the Belgic Confession, presented toward the end of this article. and the declarations of the Dr. Iyortyom Achineku and Canons of Dort, the Thirty Nine Although about 80 Reformed leaders his wife, Rachel (Nigeria, Africa) Articles, the Second Helvetic from around the world gathered in Confession, and the Scots Confession Orlando in October, membership in called to one hope when you were of1560, the 2nd London Confession WRF remains open to everyone who called - one Lord, one faith, one of1689, the Gallican Confession, and will subscribe to the doctrinal basis baptism, one God and Father of all, the Savoy Declaration. and share the vision. Membership is who is over all, and through all, and open on various levels and voting priv­ in all." The speaker emphasized two As a refined statement of its purpose, ileges will be assigned proportionately. things: 1) We need to know the right­ the World Reformed Fellowship ness of our theology and then confess adopted the following: 1) Church denominations may join; it boldly in this day of liberalism The purpose of the WRF shall be to 2) A congregation of a nonparticipating and postmodernism (no absolute promote understanding and denomination may join; truth). Reformed theology, unlike cooperation in the following ways: much of modern evangelicalism, 3) Educational institutions and mission strongly adheres to a biblical world 1) To promote Reformed thinking agencies which have no denomi­ and life view, and that is the answer and a Reformed world and life view; national affiliation may join; to the tragedies of today's world. We need to spread this Gospel; build 2) To inform and encourage 4) Individuals who may not other­ wise be a representative of any of others up in this Gospel, and support churches and people who each other. 2) We need to have Paul's embrace the Reformed faith; the above organizations may join as members. concept of God. Today's emphaSis in evangelical circles is that we need to "'""c'''''''', accept God. Really, we need to be expressed the need to focus on the The Reformed Presbyterian acceptable to God. Whitlock expressed local church and its leaders, training in Myanmar, represented by a deepened appreciation of John of lay leaders, elders, deacons, lay Disciple Training Center - Yangon, Calvin who started with knowledge pastors, and evangelists. He urged reported that December 1, 1995, this of who God is, and then moved to the new fellowship to promote the Reformed church was born. There how I relate to this God. God only is work of Reformed theological are now 16 churches. Nine pastors great. Whatever we do for Him is seminaries, creating a network in and 7 missionaries have been significant only because of who He order to share information, news trained at the RTS Disciple Training is. We need to obey His Great bulletins, articles from professors; Center. They are drawing people to Commission, and He will take our providing the relationships neces­ the Bible, to the Westminster feeble efforts and multiply their sary to eventually share professors Confession and the systematic theology effect as He did in the miracle of the between institutions, promoting of Louis Berkhof.