Second Word: Communion

Second word: Communion
When churches agree to form a communion with each other − as they did when they launched the World Communion of Reformed Churches in 2010 − it signals that they want to be more closely linked than the members of an association or network would be. By making this commitment to each other, they are evoking the unity of the faith expressed by sharing bread and wine at Christ’s table. They are accepting both the validity of each others’ traditions of celebrating holy communion and recognizing the legitimacy of ordained clergy from sister denominations.

When the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) was launched in 2010, its 230 member churches affirmed that there can be no communion (unity) without justice and no justice without communion. At the same time they recognized there were important questions about the meaning of communion for member churches that would require further thinking. Will the communion of Reformed Churches decide what it is to be Reformed? Does being in communion imply a sharing of resources between wealthy and poor churches? Does the communion speak for its member churches? The most important question is whether churches can have great differences in doctrine and still be part of the same communion. These are all challenges that WCRC is exploring as the communion takes shape and life in 108 countries worldwide.

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