The 27th General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) convened in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 14 October under the theme “Persevere in Your Witness.” The gathering brought together more than 400 participants from around the world.
Held once every seven years, the General Council is the WCRC’s highest decision-making body. This year’s event, hosted for the first time by the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT), also marks the 150th anniversary of the WCRC. The WCRC traces its roots to the founding of the Alliance of Reformed Churches in 1875, which later merged with Congregational and other Reformed bodies to form the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) in 1970. WARC then united with the Reformed Ecumenical Council in 2010 to create today’s WCRC.
Today, the WCRC represents more than 100 million Christians from over 230 member churches in 109 countries across the globe.
In his opening address, Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi, WCRC General Secretary, declared, “We work with a cloud of witnesses,” as he invited delegates from each region to stand – symbolising the breadth and diversity of the global Reformed family.
The Council for World Mission (CWM), a close missiological partner of the WCRC, attended the event as a mark of support and solidarity with the WCRC’s ongoing and future mission.
In his address, Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, CWM General Secretary, reflected on the deep theological and missional ties between the CWM and the WCRC: “We are two communions flowing from the same wellspring… bonded by ecumenical partnership, solidarity, and missional vocation.”
Emphasising that faith and justice are inseparable in the Reformed tradition, Keum added, “Our partnership is not merely organisational; it is a covenantal expression of our shared commitment to God’s mission of justice, peace, and transformation.”
The General Council runs from 14 to 23 October. During the event, participants will engage in worship, Bible study, and discussion groups to wrestle with pressing global issues and discern the WCRC’s direction for the next seven years.
