March 30, 2009

Leaders from the Council for World Mission (CWM) and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) have shown solidarity with their member church in Madagascar by making a special visit to its headquarters in the capital, Antananarivo.

CWM general secretary Rev Dr Des van der Water and general secretary of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa Rev Dr Jerry Pillay visited the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) to show support and unity to those affected by weeks of violence and a change of government.

They also took part in a 70,000-strong church-led rally and service of worship to pray for a peaceful, more democratic process of reform in the country.

The country's former president, Marc Ravalomnanana, was forced from government by the capital's former mayor Andy Rajoelina on 17 March. Rev Lala Rasendrahasina, president of the FJKM, was briefly detained by the military soon after Ravalomnanana stepped down.

During their visit to Antananarivo the delegation called on the new government to allow the people of Madagascar the freedom to express their democratic and constitutional rights.

They also called on the global ecumenical community to increase their support for the churches and people of Madagascar who are working for unity, peace and justice in the country.

CWM head Rev Dr Des van der Water said: "We have engaged with people of God in Madagascar and with the FJKM in particular. We have listened to their stories of hurt and hope."

He added: "We have seen and experienced events of both great concern and of much encouragement. We have prayed with them, asking for the grace of God to be felt keenly and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to come upon the people in Madagascar in a special way at this time of turmoil and crisis."

Rev Jerry Pillay, who is also president of the Alliance of Reformed Churches in Africa said: "Our mission for this visit was to journey with the church through these difficult times. We were there to show solidarity, to offer what assistance we could and to report back accurately on the situation there."

The general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Rev Dr Setri Nyomi, said the visit to Madagascar by the joint WARC and CWM delegation sends a clear signal message of ecumenical support.

"We see this visit as an important means of letting the people of Madagascar know that we are with them in these challenging times," he said. "We encourage Madagascar's churches to pursue their commitment to the process of national reconciliation that is so urgently needed."

Read the CWM-WARC delegation's full statement on the solidarity visit to Madagascar at http://www.cwmission.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1447:statement-on-madagascar&catid=17:statements&Itemid=495.

The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) is the largest Protestant church in Madagascar and is a member of WARC and CWM. Founded in 1968 as a Reformed Protestant denomination, the FJKM today has 2.5 million members in approximately 5,800 congregations across the country.

Former Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana is a member and elected lay vice-president of the FJKM.

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together 75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries – united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled world. The WARC general secretary is Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. WARC's secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

World Alliance of Reformed Churches and Council for World Mission