This week, in Soest (NL), the European Conference of Reformed Churches (ECRC ) instead. Reformed churches throughout Europe imagined and thought about the challenges and opportunities of today.
I must admit that I was never prepared so bad at a conference. On Tuesday morning, I knew just where we are headed - to the Netherlands. I was surprised to, in what I'm here, stumbled at the invitation of Dutch friends. Suddenly I was in the middle of pastors from all over Europe. Although my English is getting back to his limits pushed (which for me is not very surprising), it was to find very interesting and informative, what about the Reformed Church in Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Poland or Ukraine . Surprisingly (at least to me) that the Reformed meet almost anywhere in very small communities (the Netherlands is probably the great exception here in Europe). made in his presentation, Dr. Maris (Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands) point out that the theologians at the time of the Reformation had a lively exchange. Today there is unfortunately just in German-speaking Europe often a Eigenbrötlertum. Everyone seems to be busy with its own problems and disputes. Encouraging contact between the churches, pastors and theologians, unfortunately, remains on track. It is astonishing that should surely have had their problems, the Reformers (the Church's history is probably sufficient information) and it still without modern means of communication managed to encourage each other to help and advise. Apparently they knew rather that the international connection is absolutely necessary.
The church does not end at the end of our members and also not on the border of our city. We can not speak of a universal Christian church and continue to do so as otherwise there would be no one who shares our faith and connected to our Lord. It is imperative that the Reformed churches and people know with Reformed convictions of each other. is supported only way we can help each other to be, so that the Reformed concern that we share.
What can we do?
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