June 20, 2010
By Chris Meehan

Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches(WCC), had no intention of missing the recent merger of the Reformed Ecumenical Council(REC)and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) into the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

Tveit was in Grand Rapids wanting to participate as thehistoric union occurred.

"We at WCC have already had a rather strong relationship with WARC and REC," said the church official from Norway. "I expect we will have the same spirit of cooperation." Tveit, whose organisation represents 560 millionChristians, said he expects WCC to continue to work closely with WCRC although their individual churchespursuedifferent missions. The organisations likely can work together in addressing issues of concern, he said.

The merger represents a higher level of ecumenical cooperation in the world, Tveit said, adding,"We now see a more visible unity of Christ in the spirit of fellowship."

Bolstered by the WCRC, ecumenism ismoving forward and is increasingly showing "the strongest expression of this unity in Christ" by bringing more people together around the table,he said.

"Unfortunately, we don't all yet share the Eucharist, but we do live out of the same baptism."

The Uniting General Council 2010 in Grand Rapids, United States (June 18-28) marks the merger of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council to form the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

Uniting General Council 2010