January 25, 2010

A bible study guide on the theme of church unity from the perspective of the Reformed church movement is set to be published online in February and available in print in March.

The guide takes its title, Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, from the text in Ephesians 4.3 that is the theme of the Uniting General Council (UGC) which is to be held in June in the American city of Grand Rapids. The event will mark the merger of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) to form the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).

The five bible study sessions in the guide were written by an international group of theologians and edited by WARC's Executive Secretary for Theology and Ecumenical Engagement, Douwe Visser.

"The booklet is designed to assist study groups to develop a biblical perspective on the call of the WCRC to be a communion of churches committed to justice," says Visser.

Delegates to the UGC will use the bible study guide for their morning study sessions in small groups that are intended to build fellowship among the more than 400 registered delegates. As well, in the months leading up to the UGC, delegates are invited to prepare for their role in the historic council by engaging in bible study with their local congregations.

Visser notes that the booklet is designed to serve as an ongoing resource and includes guidelines for its use in congregational bible study groups. The Dutch theologian encourages congregations to engage in the study in the months following the UGC as they prepare for active participation in the WCRC.

Illustrations for the booklet were made by children in Geneva, Switzerland who attend the Church of Scotland or the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Geneva. Both congregations have members from all parts of the world.

Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace will be available in PDF format 19 February at http://www.reformedchurches.org/ The print edition will be distributed by post to WARC and REC member churches in the third week of March.

World Alliance of Reformed Churches