The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) is the largest association of Reformed churches in the world and the fifth largest Christian communion in the world, after the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion and the World Methodist Council. It has 229 member denominations in 108 countries, together claiming 80 million people. This ecumenical Christian body was formed in June 2010 by the union of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC).
Among the biggest denominations in the WCRC are the Presbyterian Church of Africa, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, United Church of Canada, Presbyterian Church USA, Reformed Church in Hungary, Reformed Church in Romania, Protestant Church in Indonesia, and Church of Scotland. Its member denominations on the whole could be considered more liberal than the member denominations of the International Conference of Reformed Churches or the World Reformed Fellowship, which are also large ecumenical Reformed organizations.
The WCRC traces its origins to 1875, with several unifying Reformed organizations emerging in London, England.
After a two-day meeting ending on 1 February 2006, Douwe Visser, president of the Reformed Ecumenical Council, and Clifton Kirkpatrick, president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, said in a joint letter to their constituencies, "We rejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit which we believe has led us to recommend that the time has come to bring together the work of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council into one body that will strengthen the unity and witness of Reformed Christians."
After first calling the potential body "World Reformed Communion", this was modified into "World Communion of Reformed Churches".
A Uniting General Council of the WCRC, bringing the organization into existence, took place from 18–26 June 2010 at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The council focused on the "Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace" mentioned in Ephesians as its main theme, setting a tone of true mutual understanding and acceptance amongst member churches and associates, laying aside differences and other issues as they embark on this shared journey with one another as each seeks to discern the will of God and continue their struggle for justice and peace in the world.
The 2010 Uniting General Council stated that the WCRC should be "called to communion and committed to justice." Its two main program offices are thus focused on these aspects, with theological work included with communion. The Theology and Communion office serves as coordinator for official dialogues with other religious organizations, organizes a bi-annual Global Institute of Theology, and brings Reformed theological scholars together for various discussions. The Justice office promotes economic, ecological and human justice, basing much of its work on the Accra Confession, a statement adopted at the 2004 General Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and re-endorsed at the 2010 Uniting General Council.
The WCRC also has a General Secretariat which includes the general secretary's office, the communications office and other organizational responsibilities. The current general secretary is Chris Ferguson, a minister from the United Church of Canada. Through the General Secretariat, the WCRC is able to promote dialogue between churches, advocate for causes on a global scale and support the activities of its member churches through various means.
The global headquarters of the WCRC are located in Hanover, Germany, with a North American non-profit subsidiary based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Originally based in Genava, Switzerland, which played host to John Calvin and earned a reputation as the "Protestant Rome", the group's Executive Committee announced on 8 November 2012, that they would relocate the headquarters to Hanover, Germany, by December 2013, due to overbearing financial strains caused by the high value of the Swiss franc.
Rev. Chris Ferguson is a pastor, theologian and social justice advocate from the United Church of Canada. He was elected to the post of general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in May 2014, entering office on 1 August 2014, for a seven-year term. Previously Ferguson served as the international ecumenical advisor for the Programme for Ecumenical Accompaniment in Colombia (2011–2014), the World Council of Churches representative to the United Nations (2006–2010), the World Council of Churches' representative to Jerusalem (2004–2006) and the executive minister of the United Church of Canada's Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit and ecumenical officer (2002–2004).
This is a list of members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches as of February 2016:
Algeria
Protestant Church of Algeria/Eglise Protestante d'Algérie
Angola
Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola/Igreja Evangélica Congregacional em Angola (IECA)
Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola/Igreja Evangélica Reformanda de Angola (IERA)
Argentina
Evangelical Church of the River Plate/Iglesia Evangélica del Rio de la Plata
Evangelical Congregational Church in Argentina/Iglesia Evangélica Congregacional
Australia
Congregational Federation of Australia
Uniting Church in Australia
Austria
Evangelical Church of the Helvetic Confession in Austria/Evangelische Kirche HB (Reformiert) in Österreich
Bangladesh
Church of Bangladesh
Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bangladesh
Belgium
United Protestant Church in Belgium/Eglise Protestante Unie de Belgique/Verenigde Protestantse Kerk in Belgie
Bolivia
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Bolivia/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana en Bolivia
Botswana
Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana
Brazil
Evangelical Reformed Churches in Brazil/Igrejas Evangélicas Reformadas no Brasil
Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil/Igreja Presbiteriana Independente do Brasil
United Presbyterian Church of Brazil/Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil
Bulgaria
Union of Evangelical Congregational Churches in Bulgaria/Evangelaska Kongreschanska Zewrkwa
Burkina Faso
Association of Reformed Evangelical Churches of Burkina Faso/Eglise evangelique reformee du Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Africa Protestant Church/Eglise protestante africaine
Evangelical Church of Cameroon/Eglise évangélique du Cameroun
Presbyterian Church in Cameroon/Eglise presbyterienne camerounaise
Canada
Christian Reformed Church in North America
The Presbyterian Church in Canada/L'Église presbytérienne au Canada
Reformed Church in America
The United Church of Canada/L'Église unie du Canada
Central African Republic
Protestant Church of Christ the King/Eglise Protestante du Christ-Roi
Chile
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Chile/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana en Chile
Presbyterian Church of Chile/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Chile
China, Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China
China, People's Republic of
China Christian Council (associate member)
Colombia
Presbyterian Church of Colombia/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia (Synodo presbiteriano)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Evangelical Community in the Congo/Communaute evangelique du Congo
Presbyterian Community in the Congo/Communaute presbytérienne au Congo
Presbyterian Community of Eastern Kasai/Communaute presbyterienne du Kasai oriental
Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa/Communaute presbyterienne de Kinshasa
Presbyterian Community of Western Kasai?/Reformed Presbyterian Community in Africa/Communauté presbytérienne au Kasai occidental/Communauté presbytérienne réformée en Afrique
Reformed Community of Presbyterians/Communauté Réformée des Presbyteriens
Congo, Republic of the
Evangelical Church of Congo/Eglise évangélique du Congo
Costa Rica
Costa Rican Presbyterian Evangelical Church/Iglesia Evangélica Presbiteriana Costarricense
Croatia
Reformed Christian Church in Croatia/Reformirana Krscanska Crkva U Hrvatskoj
Cuba
Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba/Iglesia Presbiteriana-Reformada en Cuba
Czech Republic
Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren/Evangelische Kirche der Böhmischen Brüder/Ceskobratrská Cirkev Evangelická
Denmark
Reformed Synod of Denmark/Den reformerte Synode i Danmark
Dominican Republic
Christian Reformed Church in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Evangelical Church/Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana
Egypt
Evangelical Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile)/El-Kanisah El-Injiliyah
El Salvador
Reformed Calvinist Church of El Salvador/Iglesia Reformada Calvinista de El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea/Iglesia Reformada Presbiteriana de Guinea Ecuatorial
Ethiopia
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus/Ye Etiopia Wangelawit Betakristian Makane Yesus
France
Malagasy Protestant Church in France/Eglise Protestante Malgache/Fiangonana Protestanta Malagasy
National Union of Protestant Reformed Evangelical Churches of FranceEglises protestantes réformées évangeliques de France (UNEPREF, formerly EREI)
Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine/Eglise Réformée d'Alsace et de Lorraine
United Protestant Church of France/Église protestante unie de France
Germany
Church of Lippe/Lippische Landeskirche
Evangelical Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany (Synode evangelisch-reformierter Kirchen in Bayern und Nordwestdeutschland)
Reformed Alliance/Reformierter Bund
Evangelical Old-Reformed Church in Lower Saxony
Ghana
Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana/Presbyteria Nyanyui Hame le Ghana
Presbyterian Church of Ghana
Greece
Greek Evangelical Church/Helliniki Evangeliki Ekklesia
Grenada
Presbyterian Church in Grenada
Guatemala
National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala/Iglesia Evangélica Nacional Presbiteriana de Guatemala
Guyana
Guyana Congregational Union
Guyana Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church of Guyana
Honduras
Christian Reformed Church of Honduras/Iglesia Cristiana Reformada de Honduras
Hungary
Reformed Church in Hungary/Magyarországi Református Egyház
India
Church of North India
Church of South India
The Congregational Church of India (Maraland)
Evangelical Church of Maraland
Presbyterian Church of India
Reformed Presbyterian Church, North East India
Indonesia
Christian Church in Central Sulawesi
Christian Church in Luwuk Banggai
Christian Church in South Sulawesi
Christian Church of Southern Sumatra (GKSBS)
Christian Church of Sumba (GKS)
Christian Churches of Java
Christian Evangelical Church in Bolaang Mongondow?
Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa
Christian Evangelical Church in Timor
Church of Toraja Mamasa (GTM)
The East Java Christian Church
Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera
Evangelical Christian Church in West Papua
Evangelical Church in Kalimantan
Indonesia Christian Church
Indonesian Protestant Church in Buol Toli-Toli
Indonesian Protestant Church in Donggala
Indonesian Protestant Church in Gorontalo
Javanese Christian Churches (GKJ)
Karo Batak Protestant Church
Pasundan Christian Church
Protestant Christian Church in Bali
Protestant Church in Indonesia
Protestant Church in the Moluccas
Protestant Church in Southeast Sulawesi
Protestant Church in West Indonesia
Sangihe-Talaud Evangelical Church
Toraja Church
Iran
Synod of the Evangelical Church in Iran
Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Italy
Waldensian Evangelical Church (Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches)/Chiesa Evangelica Valdese
Jamaica
The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
Japan
Church of Christ in Japan/Nippon Kirisuto Kyokai
Korean Christian Church in Japan/Zainichi Daikan Kirisuto Kyokai Sokai
Kenya
Presbyterian Church of East Africa
The Reformed Church of East Africa
Kiribati
Kiribati Protestant Church/Ekaretia ni Boretetanti i Kiribati
Korea, Republic of
Presbyterian Church of Korea
Presbyterian Church in Korea (ChanYang) (Reformed Church of Korea]])/Chan Yang (inactive)
Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDongChunTong)/Hap Dong Jeong Tong/Hap Dong Chung Tong
Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea/Ki Jang
Presbyterian Church in Korea (Daeshin)/Dae Shin
Latvia
Reformed Church in Latvia/Evangeliska Reformatu-Braju Draudze
Lebanon
National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
The National Evangelical Union of Lebanon/Al-Ittihad Al Injili Al-Watani Fi Lubnan
Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East/Մերձաւոր Արեւելքի Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցիներու Միութիւն
Lesotho
Lesotho Evangelical Church/Kereke ea Evangeli Lesotho
Liberia
Presbyterian Church in Liberia
Lithuania
Evangelical Reformed Church in Lithuania/Unitas Lithuaniae/Lietuvos Evangeliku Reformatu Baznycia
Luxembourg
Protestant Reformed Church of Luxemburg H.B./Protestantisch-Reformierte Kirche von Luxembourg H.B./Eglise Protestante Réformée du Luxembourg
Madagascar
Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Eglise de Jésus-Christ à Madagascar/Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara
Malawi
Church of Central Africa Presbyterian
Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Harare Synod
Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Nkhoma Synod
Malaysia
Presbyterian Church Malaysia/Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Reformed Congregational Churches
United Church of Christ - Congregational in the Marshall Islands/Jarin Parik Dron
Mauritius
Presbyterian Church of Mauritius/Eglise presbytérienne de Maurice
Mexico
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Mexico/Iglesia Presbiteriana Asociada Reformada de México (IPAR)
National Presbyterian Church in Mexico, A. R./Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México, A. R.
Presbyterian Reformed Church of Mexico/Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada de México
Morocco
Evangelical Church in Morocco/Eglise évangélique au Maroc
Mozambique
Evangelical Church of Christ in Mozambique/Igreja Evangelica de Cristo em Mocambique
Presbyterian Church of Mozambique/Igreja Presbiteriana de Moçambique
Reformed Church in Mozambique/Igreja Reformada em Mocambique
United Church of Christ in Mozambique/Igreja de Christo Unida em Mocambique (Ex-Missao American Board)
Myanmar
Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Myanmar
Independent Presbyterian Church of Myanmar
Mara Evangelical Church/Evangelical Mission Myanmar/Mara Evangelical Awnanopa
The Presbyterian Church of Myanmar/Kawlram Presb Kohhran
Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar
The Netherlands
Covenant of Free Evangelical Congregations in the Netherlands
The Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PCN)/De Protestantse Kerk in Nederland (PKN)
Remonstrant Brotherhood/Remonstrantse Broederschap
New Caledonia
Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands/Eglise evangélique en Nouvelle Calédonie et aux Îles Loyauté
New Zealand
Niue Niue Church/Ekalesia Niue
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
Niger
Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger/Eglise évangélique de la République du Niger/Ekklisiyar Bishara Ta Kasar Niger
Nigeria
Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria
Church of Christ in the Sudan Among the Tiv/Nongo u Kristu u ken Sudan hen Tiv (NKST)
Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ
Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria
United Church of Christ in Nigeria/Habaddiyar Ekklisiyar Kristi a Nigeria
Pakistan
Church of Pakistan
Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
The Philippines
Christian Reformed Church in the Philippines
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
United Evangelical Church of Christ (Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Cristo)
Poland
Reformed Evangelical Church in Poland/Kosciol Ewangelicko-Reformowany w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
Portugal
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal/Igreja Evangélica Presbiteriana de Portugal
Romania
Reformed Church in Romania (Oradea)/Kiralyhagomelleki Reformatus Egyhazkeruelet (Oradea)
Reformed Church in Romania - Transylvanian District/Romaniai Reformatus Egyhaz - Erdelyi Egyhazkerület
Rwanda
Presbyterian Church in Rwanda/Eglise presbytérienne au Rwanda
Samoa
Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa
Congregational Christian Church in Samoa/Ekalesia Fa' apotopotoga Kerisinao I Samoa
Senegal
Protestant Church in Senegal/Eglise protestante du Sénégal
Serbia, Republic of, and Montenegro, Republic of
Reformed Christian Church in Serbia and Montenegro/Reformatska Hriscanska Crkva u SFRJ
Singapore
Presbyterian Church in Singapore
Slovakia
Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia/Reformovaná Krest. Cirkev na Slovensku
Slovenia
Reformed Church in Slovenia
Solomon Islands
United Church in the Solomon Islands
South Africa
Dutch Reformed Church (DRC)/Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK)
Dutch Reformed Church in Africa (DRCA)/(NGKA)
Dutch Reformed Church of Africa/Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA)
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa
Peoples Church of Africa/Volkskerk van Afrika
Presbyterian Church of Africa
Reformed Church in Africa, South Africa
United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa/ Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider Afrika
Maranatha Reformed Church of Christ
South Sudan
Sudanese Reformed Churches
Spain
Spanish Evangelical Church/Iglesia Evangélica Espanola
Sri Lanka
Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka
Presbytery of Lanka
Sudan
Presbyterian Church in Sudan
Africa Inland Church Sudan
Swaziland
Swaziland Reformed Church (SRC)
Sweden
Uniting Church in Sweden or Equmeniakyrkan (founded 2011 by member church Mission Covenant Church of Sweden and two other denominations)
Switzerland
Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches or (Schweizerischer Evangelischer Kirchenbund, Fédération des Eglises protestantes de Suisse, Federazione delle Chiese evangeliche della Svizzera, Federaziun da las Baselgias evangelicas da la Svizra SEK-FEPS)
Tahiti
Maòhi Protestant Church/Etaretia Evaneria no Porinetia Farani/Église Protestante Maòhi
Taiwan
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan/Tâi-oân Ki-tok Tiúⁿ-ló Kàu-hōe
Thailand
Church of Christ in Thailand
Togo
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Togo/Eglise évangélique presbytérienne du Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Tuvalu Christian Church/Te Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu
Uganda
Christian Reformed Church of East Africa
Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda
Reformed Presbyterian Church in Africa (Uganda)
Ukraine
Reformed Church in Sub-Carpathia/ Reformed Church in Transcarpathia/Karpataljai Reformatus Egyhaz
United Kingdom
Church of Scotland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church of Wales/Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru
Union of Welsh Independents/Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg
United Free Church of Scotland
United Reformed Church
United States of America
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (provisional member)
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Hungarian Reformed Church in America
Korean Presbyterian Church in America
Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church/Lietuviu Evangeliku Reformatu Baznycia-JAV
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Reformed Church in America
United Church of Christ
Uruguay
Waldensian Evangelical Church of the River Plate/Iglesia Evangelica Valdense de Rio de la Plata
Vanuatu
Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu/Presbiterian Jyos Blong Vanuatu
Venezuela
Presbyterian Church of Venezuela/Iglesia Presbiteriana de Venezuela
Vietnam
Presbyterian Church of Vietnam
Zambia
Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Synod of Zambia
Reformed Church in Zambia
United Church of Zambia
Zimbabwe
Reformed Church in Zimbabwe
