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World Reformed Fellowship

(Redirected from International Reformed Fellowship)

The World Reformed Fellowship (WRF) is an ecumenical, Christian fellowship that advances partnerships among confessional Reformed churches around the world.[1]

World Reformed Fellowship
TypeFellowship
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationConfessionally Reformed
Origin2000; 24 years ago (2000)
Members7,281,955
Official websitewww.wrf.global

History

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The World Fellowship of Reformed Churches was formed in 1994 by the Presbyterian Church in America, the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico, and the Presbyterian Church of Brazil, as well as member churches mainly from Latin American countries and from India, East Africa and the United States.[2] The International Reformed Fellowship (IRF) was formed also in 1994 with Calvinist churches in Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, and from all part of Asia.

The World Fellowship of Reformed Churches and the International Reformed Fellowship united on October 24, 2000 to form the World Reformed Fellowship. The WRF is now an international body represented in seventy-nine countries.[3]

Work

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The WRF operates commissions that serve its global membership, focusing on evangelism and missions, theological education, and theology. These commissions facilitate dialogue for better partnership between member denominations and organizations, produce and provide resources for the church, operate as theological and ministerial forums between WRF members, and serve as platforms of engagement from the WRF towards other organizations. The theological commission has produced several documents, such as the WRF’s Statement of Faith, a narrative statement on Reformed identity, and a statement on ecclesiology, all designed to facilitate greater theological partnership across cultural and intra-Reformed theological differences.[4] The commissions of the WRF sometimes facilitate larger forums, such as partnering with the Lausanne Movement to host a consultation on theological education in 2014 in São Paulo[5][6] and a theological consultation on Christian ministry among Muslims in 2011 in Istanbul.[7][8] The WRF partners with both the World Evangelical Alliance, of which the WRF is an affiliate member,[9] and New Growth Press for book publishing.[10][11]

The WRF hosts a global general assembly approximately every four years. These assemblies review and direct the work of the WRF’s commissions, are a time of networking and fellowship for the membership of the WRF, and are where the WRF’s membership hears about major issues facing the global church in order to consider and address them.

WRF membership is also divided up into regional boards for planning and implementing fellowship for ministries within their own larger, geographic area.[13] These boards are more contextualized than the general assembly, both in composition and in the nature of their work.

Governance

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Governance of the WRF is held by its membership voting at general assemblies. Oversight and operations are carried out by a board of directors and an international director (CEO).

Chairmen of the Board,

International Directors,

Membership

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The WRF is similar in theology to the International Conference of Reformed Churches and more conservative than the World Communion of Reformed Churches, though several member churches of the WRF are also members of either the ICRC or the WCRC. The WRF primarily differs from these other groups in that it is a fellowship, not a council, and so includes in its membership not only denominations, but individual congregations, pastors and theologians, and non-ecclesial organizations (e.g. theological seminaries). It conceives of its existence as facilitating dialogue and sharing of resources between the different global branches of Reformed Christians.[16] Unlike the WCRC, which officially supports the ordination of women,[17][18] and the ICRC, which prohibits denominational members that ordain women as pastors,[19][20] the WRF as a confessional fellowship recognizes the diversity of positions among its members regarding the ordination women.[21] There are a total of 82 denominational members of the WRF and 155 organizational members, as of July 08, 2023.[22][23] The majority (75 of 83, as of September 15, 2023) of WRF member denominations prohibit women from being ordained as pastors, elders, or deacons.

The WRF has a Reformed, confessional basis for membership. Members have to agree with:

  • The statement that "The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are without error in all that they teach."
  • At least one of the following historic Reformed Confessions – The Gallican Confession, The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Thirty-Nine Articles, The Second Helvetic Confession, The Canons of Dort, The Westminster Confession of Faith, the London Confession of 1689, the Savoy Declaration, or the WRF Statement of Faith.[24]

The largest churches as of 2023 are (membership of 100,000 or more):

  1. National Presbyterian Church in Mexico (2,800,000)[25]
  2. Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) (2,351,896)[26]
  3. Presbyterian Church of Brazil (702,949)[27]
  4. Presbyterian Church in America (393,528)[28]
  5. United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (250,000)
  6. Christian Reformed Church in North America (189,753)[29]
  7. ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (127,000)[30]
  8. Evangelical Presbyterian Church (121,058)[31]

Denominational members

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Countries with member denominations and former members of the World Reformed Fellowship

As of June 2024, there are 84 member denominations:[32][33][34]

Country Denomination Number of congregations Number of members Year
South Africa Christian Reformed Church in South Africa 19 2,500 1984[35]
South Africa Reformed Churches in South Africa 382 76,812 2022[36]
Angola Presbyterian Church of Angola 100 60,000 2023[37]
Argentina Orthodox Episcopal Anglican Church (Buenos Aires) - - -
Argentina ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (Argentina)^ - - -
Australia Presbyterian Church of Australia 546 54,000 2006
Australia Westminster Presbyterian Church of Australia - - -
Australia Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia 16 719 2016[36]
Bangladesh Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh 26 - 2011[38]
Bangladesh Bangladesh Presbyterian Church 13 - 2017[39]
Bangladesh Grace Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh - - -
Bangladesh Smyrna House of Prayer Church - - -
Bangladesh Isa-e Church 125 6,000 2015[40]
Bangladesh Thyatira Church Trust Bangladesh - - -
Bangladesh Evangelical Reformed Church of Bangladesh - - -
Bangladesh Bangladesh Evangelical Reformed Church of Bandarban, Tripura - - -
Brazil Presbyterian Church of Brazil 5,420 702,947 2021[27]
Brazil Christian Church Nations For Christ - - -
Burundi Christian Reformed Church in Burundi - - -
Burundi Holy Spirit Revival Church - - -
Canada Reformed Church of Quebec 5[41] 400[36][42] 2018[36]
Colombia United Church of Christ in Colombia - - -
Congo United Presbyterian Churches of Congo - - -
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kivu Presbyterian Church - - -
Democratic Republic of the Congo Reformed Community of Katanga - - -
Egypt Gospel Peace Church of Egypt - - -
Ethiopia Raisin Power Baptist Church of Ethiopia - - -
Germany Reformed Free Church in Germany 2 - 2024[43]
Haiti Union of Churches of the Christian Community of Haiti - - -
Hungary Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe 25 370 2022[36]
India Council of Reformed Churches of India - - -
India Telugu Baptist Church Council - - -
India Celitic Cross Ministry Dioceses of India - - -
India Christian Reformed Fellowship of India 300 - 2019[44]
India Malankara Evangelical Church - - -
India Reformed Church of India - - -
India Presbyterian Reformed Church in India 10 - (2022)[45]
India India Christian Mission Church - - -
India Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed) 50 10,000 2015[46]
India Reformed Presbyterian Church of India 10 3,000 2004[47]
India Reformed Presbyterian Church India - - -
India Reformed Presbyterian Church North East India 105 11,376 2021[36]
India Evangelical Reformed Church of India 84 - -
India United Church of India - - -
Indonesia Indonesian Reformed Evangelical Church 74 7,000 2011[48]
Italy Evangelical Reformed Baptist Churches in Italy 14 500 2020[49]
Kenya Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church 100 22,000 2020[50]
Liberia Emmanuel Temple (Sinkor, Monrovia) - - -
Lithuania Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania 14 7,000 2008[51]
Madagascar Protestant Church of Ambohimalaza-Firaisiana - - -
Malawi Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi and Mozambique 90 15,000 2016[52]
Mexico National Presbyterian Church in Mexico 6,000 2,800,000 2010[25]
Myanmar Biblical Reformed Church in Myanmar - - -
Myanmar Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar 50 5,000 2004[53]
Myanmar Community of Reformed Churches in Myanmar - - -
Myanmar Reformed Evangelical Church of Myanmar 40 7,000 2010[54]
Myanmar Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar 35 2,500 2021[55]
New Zealand Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand 25 - -
Pakistan United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan 200 250,000 2018
Pakistan Sutlej Reformed Church of Pakistan 20 - -
Poland Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Poland 4 - -
Russia Evangelical Reformed Church of Russia 15 350 2010[56]
Senegal Presbyterian Church of Senegal 20 800 2017[57]
South Korea Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) 11,920 2,351,896 2022[26]
Sri Lanka Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka[58] 41 3,000 2014[59]
Sudan and South Sudan Sudanese Reformed Churches 34 6,000 2023[60]
Uganda Presbyterian Church in Uganda 87 3,047 2019[36]
Uganda Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda 12 5,000 2004 [61]
Uganda Community Worship Presbyterian Church - - -
Uganda Covenant Reformed Church in Uganda - - -
Uganda Greater Grace Ministry (Kampala, Uganda) - - -
Uganda King's Church (Kampala, Uganda) - - -
Uganda Reformed Presbyterian Church in Africa (Uganda) - - -
Uganda New Life Presbyterian Church of Uganda - - -
United Kingdom Associated Presbyterian Churches 9 200 2021[62]
United Kingdom Free Church of Scotland[63] 112 5,400 2016[36]
United States Presbyterian Church in America 1,934 393,528 2023[28]
United States Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church 273 30,649 2021[36]
United States Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States) 629 121,058 2023[31]
United States Evangelical Reformed Church in America - - -
United States ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians 400 127,000 2022[30][64]
United States Christian Reformed Church in North America[65] 1,000 189,753 2024[29]
United States United Episcopal Church of North America 26 - -
Uruguay Presbyterian Church of Uruguay 2 150 2023
World Total 30,448 7,281,955 2004-2024

References

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  1. ^ WRF Case Statement
  2. ^ Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie
  3. ^ "Global Membership of the WRF". World Reformed Fellowship. 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  4. ^ "WRF Commissions". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  5. ^ "WRF/Lausanne Global Theological Education Consultation". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  6. ^ "2014 Consultation on Global Theological Education". Lausanne Movement. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  7. ^ "WRF Resources for Ministry in the Context of Islam". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  8. ^ "Our Muslim Neighbors: Improving Student Knowledge of the Diversity of Islamic Faith and Practice" (PDF). Reformed Theological Seminary. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  9. ^ "WEA Congratulates New International Director of World Reformed Fellowship". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  10. ^ "New Growth Press: World Reformed Fellowship". New Growth Press. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  11. ^ "The Decalogue Project: Disciples from Six Continents Engage God's Ten Commandments, Latest Book in WEA World of Theology Series Available Now". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  12. ^ "The General Assembly". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  13. ^ "WRF Regional Boards". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  14. ^ The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is not a denominational member of the WRF; Sam Logan held an individual membership with the WRF.
  15. ^ "WRF Executive Leadership". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  16. ^ "WRF Case Statement".
  17. ^ "The WCRC Considers A Call For Its Members to Accept the Ordination of Women". World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  18. ^ "A Declaration of Faith on Women's Ordination" (PDF). World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  19. ^ "Reformed Churches in the Netherlands Suspended by the International Conference of Reformed Churches for Adopting Women's Ordination". The Aquila Report. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  20. ^ "ICRC: GKV Membership Terminated". Wes Bredenhof. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  21. ^ "WRF State on Ecclesiology". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  22. ^ "WRF Denominational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  23. ^ "WRF Organizational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  24. ^ "WRF Case Statement". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  25. ^ a b "Report on the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico 2010" (PDF). Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong)". Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil in 2021". Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Statistics of the Presbyterian Church in America 2019-2023". Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Statistics of the Christian Reformed Church in North America in 2024". Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  30. ^ a b "ECO Membership". Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  31. ^ a b "Statistical Report of the 44th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church" (PDF). June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  32. ^ "List of member denominations of World Reformed Fellowship". Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  33. ^ "Word Reformed Fellowship: List of Members". Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  34. ^ "WRF Denominational Members". World Reformed Fellowship. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  35. ^ "Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America: Interchurch relations of the Christian Church Reformed in South Africa" (PDF). 12 June 1984. p. 179. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Minute of the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church" (PDF). June 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  37. ^ "Igreja Presbiteriana wants to help vulnerable families". June 13, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  38. ^ "Interview with Rev. Edward Ayub, founder of the Presbyterian Church of Bangladesh". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  39. ^ "Presbyterian Church Bangladesh has 13 churches and 20 pastors in 2017". Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  40. ^ "History of Isa-e Church". September 25, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  41. ^ "List of churches in Quebec Quebec Reformed Church". Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  42. ^ "History of the Reformed Church of Quebec" (PDF). Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  43. ^ "History of the Free Reformed Church in Germany". Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  44. ^ "History of the Presbyterian and Reformed Fellowship of India" (PDF). November 1, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  45. ^ "List of churches of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in India". Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  46. ^ "History of the Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed)". Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  47. ^ "Reformed Presbyterian Church of India". October 21, 2004. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  48. ^ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Indonesia". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  49. ^ "Reformed Baptists in Italy". 2013. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  50. ^ "CRB: Evangelical Presbyterian Church Africa". Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  51. ^ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania". April 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  52. ^ "Floods affect members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Malawi and Mozambique". December 18, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  53. ^ "Christian Reformed Church in Myanmar". February 27, 2004. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  54. ^ "History of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Myanmar". Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  55. ^ "Reformed Presbyterian Church in Myanmar". June 25, 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  56. ^ "History of the Union of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Russia". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  57. ^ "WRF Report on the Presbyterian Church of Senegal" (PDF). January 1, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  58. ^ "Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  59. ^ "Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka". Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  60. ^ "2023 Annual Report of Sudanese Reformed Churches". April 10, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  61. ^ "Reformed Presbyterian Church in Uganda". Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  62. ^ >"Congregations of Associated Presbyterian Churches". Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  63. ^ "General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  64. ^ Cameron Shaffer (March 19, 2024). "What the EPC Can Learn from the PCA". Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  65. ^ "Ecumenical Relations of the Christian Reformed Church in North America". Retrieved December 15, 2015.
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