The report, "The Alliance in the nineties" was initiated by the executive committee several years ago in preparation for the 22nd general council (Seoul 1989). It was designed to respond to the questions: What role should WARC play in the coming years? How can it better serve the Reformed churches and nurture their life and witness in the nineties and beyond?

The member churches were consulted for their ideas. Several responses were received and studied by the executive committee. The report (found in the study booklet From Ottawa to Seoul, pp.107-123) is, therefore, a composite of the original proposal, the input of member churches and the further reflections and refinements of the executive committee.

Policy reference committee I commends the report on the Alliance in the nineties to the general council for approval.

Faced with today's challenges, the general council recognizes the need of the Alliance to move in the direction recommended in the report on the "Alliance in the nineties", and endorse it, in principle, with appreciation and enthusiasm

Programme emphases

Department of theology

Confessing the faith today

The Alliance should continue to be a clearing house for the churches in their effort to witness to the gospel today. Special attention to be devoted to the understanding of the authority of scriptures and their interpretation in different cultural settings; an effort should be made to facilitate and share theological articulations emerging in different contexts in which the Reformed churches are placed, e.g, feminist theology, liberation theology, black theology, Minjung theology.

Mission and unity

How can the understanding of the missionary mandate be deepened among Reformed churches? How can solidarity and partnership in mission be promoted? How can communion among Reformed churches be promoted?

Relation to people of other living faiths and persuasions

How do we understand our relationship to other faiths? churches be assisted in this respect?

Ways of worship in the Reformed family

How do we understand worship in the Reformed family? What is the place of the Lord's supper in our spiritual life? In many churches now initiatives are taking place in the field of worship. How can we share them among the member churches?

Contacts with Reformed seminaries

How can a Reformed network of seminaries be established? How can translation of relevant Reformed publications be promoted?

Participation in and promotion of the ecumenical movement

The commitment of the Alliance to the ecumenical movement should continue to be manifest in joint reflection, common witness and collaboration with other churches. With regard to dialogues with other confessional traditions primary emphasis should be given to implementing the findings and recommendations which have been obtained.

Conciliar process on justice, peace and the integrity of creation

The Alliance, having participated in launching this process, bears a special responsibility for it. Attention should be given in the coming years to ways of constructively contributing to this common endeavour. In particular, a concentrated effort is required to highlight the threats to creation.

Department of cooperation and witness

The subcommittee on cooperation and witness referred to the following documents, in its discussion

From Ottawa to Seoul, Chapter IV;
Reports from the department of cooperation and witness from 1985 to 1988;
Report of the department secretary, 1988-1989;
A proposal by the ad-hoc committee on publications, appointed by the executive committee at its meeting in Belfast in 1988.

Publications

Policy reference committee I recommends that

The general council welcomes the proposal of the ad-hoc committee on publications and refers it to the new executive committee for refinement and further development. In the discussion, the following suggestions were made

We believe that member churches should be urged to direct appropriate persons on their staff to arrange for translating WARC publications (with the exception of news releases) into their working languages, and to share the translations with the WARC office. It is imperative that publications of the Alliance reflect as far as possible the voices of the Reformed family.
There should be one series of publications, instead of the proposed two, which serves to inform both the member churches and other church and secular audiences about issues taken up by the Alliance.

To summarize: Reformed Press Service would be replaced by news releases: the format and content of Reformed World would be drastically changed to present a kind of "family portrait" of the Alliance, and articles on programmes or issues among member churches would be written for Reformed World mostly by persons other than the staff, and reprinted (or translated) in newsletters, periodicals or magazines of the member churches.

Women's issues and human rights

We would like to express our gratitude to the department of cooperation and witness for its commitment over the past seven years in the area of human rights and women's issues. We reaffirm the department's work and make the following recommendations

That the general council request the executive committee to consider the creation of a full time position to address women's issues. The committee believes that the concerns of women in the Reformed family cannot be adequately addressed in the present staff arrangement.
That WARC make every attempt to increase and make more effective its witness regarding human rights at the United Nations in Geneva, and through the offices of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in New York.

Networking

Although several programmes come under this heading, we were able to discuss only one of them, namely, the "special services fund".

The purposes of the fund were reviewed and reaffirmed. The general council delegates are urged to study the report below about the fund and share its contents with the member churches. (See also From Ottawa to Seoul, pp.120-123.)

Special services fund

There is need to set up networks for closer relations between WARC member churches which would allow them to reach objectives which they themselves would have set. For this purpose the department has at its disposal several means, such as the special services fund.

Due to lack of time the projected redefinition of the fund could not be carried out in a satisfactory manner. Nevertheless the following remarks have been made concerning the policy of making use of the fund

that this fund helps the member churches to take up matters of concern for them, whether at the level of a country, a world region or on an international level.
that it helps organize visits from church to church, the initiative of which could come either from the WARC offices in Geneva, or from an area of the Alliance, or from a group of churches from a given region.
that it helps to revive the idea already suggested several times of a "skills bank", ie of persons known as competent of accomplishing a certain number of tasks in the service of the churches of the Reformed family.

This fund will not serve automatically in each of those cases where it is necessary to establish relations - and especially when the budget of the department will not be able to cover the expenses of the programme. Its use should be limited to emergency cases where the ordinary budget would be insufficient.

Other matters

It seems to us that another way of promoting a better knowledge among the members of the Reformed family would be to organize at world level a network of families willing to welcome in their homes persons from other parts of the world in order to help them gain a better understanding of the welcoming country and its local churches.

Youth rally report

Policy reference committee I received the report (see Appendix 4) with appreciation, and forwards it to the general council with the recommendation that the general council refer the youth rally report to the new executive committee for study.

Policy statement on refugees

Policy reference committee I agreed to receive the report of the special taskforce on refugees, for inclusion in the report for the information of the general council (Appendix 3), to request the new executive committee to give it serious attention with a view toward its implementation, and to arrange for its publication and wide distribution.

Need for a new study booklet

The study booklet Called to Witness to the Gospel Today has been a useful instrument in the period since the last general council. The general council recommends that a similar booklet should be produced for study in churches and congregations. It should be translated into as many languages as possible and serve as a rallying point for the churches. It should summarize the main convictions arising from this general council and give the basis for exchange and discussion.

Finances

Report of the finance committee

After the appointment of Rev David Nesbitt as secretary, the moderator of the department of finance, the treasurer, and the chair of the "financial development group" gave their reports.

The moderator, who was warmly thanked for his twelve years of work, essentially referred to the written report in chapter seven of From Ottawa to Seoul. He emphasized especially that the expectations of Ottawa have to a large measure not been fulfilled. A larger deficit was only avoided by reducing certain areas of work, as eg through the vacancy created in the position of theological secretary. In the last years, almost a third of the member churches have not sent any contributions.

The treasurer presented a survey of the investments of the restricted funds. He made several suggestions which were partially incorporated into the recommendations which follow below.

The chair of the financial development group stated that many of their proposals had been inadequately implemented. In going about fundraising, the diverse financial structures of the churches would require more careful attention. He supported the continuation of the work of this group.

It became clear in the discussion within the finance committee that a total budget of CHF750,000 (1989) would not suffice to support the demands placed upon the World Alliance. The committee fully concurred with the presentation of the general secretary when he said that the work capacity in Geneva must be strengthened, but that the financial responsibility must not be delegated to a few member churches. The consequences, which are described in the report, "The Alliance in the nineties", ie the establishment of three additional positions for assistants to the general secretary and to the two secretaries of the departments of theology and cooperation and witness, including the necessary secondary costs, will result in a total budget of at least CHF1.2 million.

The finance committee proposes this expansion under the two conditions as set out in recommendation 4 (a and b).

All delegates to this general council are asked, upon their return home, to conduct intensive discussions about finance with the appropriate groups within their churches, in view of the survey of the member contributions from 1986 to 1989 and the decisions of the general council. While doing this, they should also report the fact that, in the current year, only CHF320,000 of the foreseen CHF750,000 in member church contributions has been received. In addition, they should inform the member churches that the budget for 1990, already approved by the executive committee, which obviously has not yet taken account of the additional suggestions in the document, "The World Alliance in the nineties", will have a deficit of CHF130,000 if the member contributions received in 1988 are taken as the basis of calculation. It must also be made clear to the member churches that membership in the World Alliance in the future will also mean that some kind of annual contribution must be paid in.

Before presenting the concluding recommendations, it is appropriate to thank, in the name of the finance committee and certainly on behalf of all of you, those churches which have supported the World Alliance with staff and finances in a variety of ways, whether through the provision of paid or voluntary staff, through increases in their contributions, through special financial gifts, or through the assumption of travel costs and other expenses; and so on. It should not be forgotten that some churches are currently experiencing financial difficulty, and other churches would like to make contributions but their currency situations do not permit it.

Concluding recommendations

Be it resolved that

The general council receive the financial report, thank the general treasurer (see his report, Appendix 5), the staff and the moderator of the department of finance, for their work, and discharge the treasurer and staff in respect of the 1988 accounts.
The general council adopt the following addition to section VII of the by-laws to the constitution: "Membership of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches implies that each member church is ready to support the work of the Alliance through an annual financial contribution reflecting the resources of that church or, where that is impossible, through comparable support in goods and services, or through the support of partner churches."
The general council notes with approval the creation of the financial development group and encourage it in its task.
The general council

notes the present financial situation;
endorses the desirability of reaching the staff pattern outlined in chapter V section 8.3 of From Ottawa to Seoul, and, in addition to that seek the secondment of a woman for a full-time position to implement the recommendations concerning the community of women and men already approved by the council;
urges the executive committee to move toward the above staff pattern (including necessary provisions for programme) as the financial situation permits, on the following conditions:

The new posts will be blocked, that is to say, appointment of staff can only take place as and when corresponding resources are available. Decisions regarding the unblocking of these positions will be the responsibility of the executive committee.
Priority in the provision of these posts will be given to both the seconded position and to an assistant to the general secretary. This new assistant should primarily be responsible for questions of financial policy and should pay particular attention in dialogue with member churches, non-member churches, church organizations, non-church foundations and individuals to the provision of the necessary financial resources. Until the appointment of this assistant the financial development group and the finance department should undertake this task.

urges each church to state its commitment for the years 1990 to 1993 as soon as possible, and make its payments at regular intervals.

The general council authorizes the launching of the Reformed churches partnership fund on the basis of the outline given in chapter V section 8.4 of From Ottawa to Seoul.
The general council urges the executive committee, whilst making every effort to encourage contributions for the work of the Alliance, to keep expenditure within budgeted limits and avoid deficits.

Amendment of the constitution and by-laws

In addition to the amendment to the by-laws in the preceding report of the finance committee, the following amendments are recommended to the general council

To the constitution of WARC

Article XII - amendments

Present text

2. The by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the delegates in attendance at any meeting of the general council.

Proposed amendment

2.(a) The by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the delegates in attendance at any meeting of the general council."

New proposed paragraph

(b) Between meetings of the general council, by-laws may be amended by

approval by a malority vote at a meeting of the executive committee.
referral to the member churches and approval by a majority of the member churches in the year following;
ratification by a majority vote at the subsequent meeting of the executive committee.

To the by-laws of WARC

General council

a) Composition

1. The member churches of the Alliance will be entitled to representation in each general council on the following basis

Churches with	Delegates
up to 300 congregations	2 delegates
301 to 500 congregations	3 delegates
501 to 1000 congregations	4 delegates
1001 to 2000 congregations	5 delegates
2001 to 3000 congregations	6 delegates.
3001 to 4000 congregations	7 delegates
4001 to 5000 congregations	8 delegates
5001 to 6000 congregations	9 delegates
6001 to 8000 congregations	10 delegates
8001 or more congregations	11 delegates

New proposed paragraph

One-half or more of the delegates of each church shall be laymen, laywomen or young persons under thirty-five years of age. where the church is entitled to three or more delegates, one-third or more of the delegates shall be women.

VII Finances

Paragraph c)

Present text

c) The general treasurer and general secretary shall submit through the department of finance an annual budget to the executive committee for action .

Proposed amendment

c) The general treasurer and general secretary shall prepare an annual budget for consideration by the department of finance which shall then present it to the executive committee for action.

i Any proposals for the disbursement of any funds relating to the Alliance, other than disbursements included in the annual budget, shall be referred to the department of finance for review and for recommendation to the executive committee for appropriate action.
ii Nevertheless, in case of emergency the general secretary shall be permitted to act after consultation with and approval of any two of the following: the president, the general treasurer, the moderator of the department of finance.

Appendix 1: Report on dialogues with other confessional traditions

Background: "Mission and Unity", pp.69-83.

The Alliance has engaged in dialogues since 1973 and more intensively since the general council in Ottawa (1982). Almost all these dialogues have already fulfilled their mandate. The general council receives the reports with satisfaction; it recognizes the enormous amount of work which has been achieved in the past years and expresses gratitude to all those who have been involved in these efforts.

1. Relations with Reformation traditions

The findings of the dialogues with representatives of traditions which emerged directly or indirectly from the 16th-century Reformation are particularly encouraging. The reports indicate that with these churches a large degree of mutual recognition already exists.

In many countries Reformed churches have already found it possible to come together with churches of these traditions in united churches.

In the light of this the general council suggests that these families should meet to discuss together such issues as

What is the significance of declarations of mutual recognition in bilateral dialogues?
What are the implications of the dialogue findings for the churches in each place? In what ways can unity and common witness be promoted together?
What role do the families which emerged from the Reformation have to fulfil in the ecumenical movement?

The general council makes the following recommendations on individual dialogues.

a) God's reign and our unity (Anglican-Reformed)

The general council welcomes the strong emphasis of this report on the "unity of the human race as the goal of the Christian gospel" (p.14) and shares in the conviction that "the church is to be understood...as a pilgrim people called to a journey whose goal is nothing less than God's blessed kingdom embracing all nations and all creation, a sign, instrument and foretaste of God's purpose to sum up all things with Christ as head (Eph 1.10)." It is only in this missionary and eschatological perspective that the question of unity can rightly be raised.

The general council recommends that a small group be appointed to work together with representatives of the Anglican Consultative Council on the implications of the report.

b) Baptists and Reformed in dialogue

The general council notes with satisfaction the considerable progress in mutual understanding which has been achieved through this dialogue; it believes that now a follow-up at the local level is required and recommends that a joint programme be worked out together with the Baptist World Alliance.

c) Relations with Disciples of Christ

In several countries Reformed and Disciples of Christ have come together in united churches and in many others are engaged in union negotiations. In recent years an international dialogue has been held between the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council leading to the common recognition that there are no theological or ecclesiological issues which need to keep the two traditions divided. The general council rejoices in this development and gives thanks to God for healing a division which has now existed for almost two centuries.

The report of the dialogue was shared with the member churches; on the basis of the response received the general council feels entitled to make its own following declaration:

"The Disciples of Christ and the Reformed churches recognize and accept each other as visible expressions of the one church of Christ. Acceptance of this declaration presses us beyond our divided histories toward a common ecumenical future. We believe that this declaration has several specific implications. It implies sufficient consensus between our two traditions on the meaning of the gospel, on baptism, the Lord's supper, and ministry to enable our churches to recognize and accept each other's members and ministries, to share reciprocally the Lord's supper, and to engage in common mission, evangelism, and service in the world. The acceptance of each other as churches also implies our commitment to remove other obstacles which keep us from sharing full fellowship and mission in the name of Christ."

The general council instructs the executive committee to pursue the dialogue with the aim of

deepening the mutual understanding; and
finding ways of implementing the consensus and giving fuller expression to the communion existing between the two churches.

The report mentions areas which require further clarification, eg, the place of creed in the life of the church, the nature of the church, baptism, and the ministry, especially the ministry of elders. In order to advance on such issues the general council suggests that the Disciples of Christ should be invited to contribute on a regular basis their experience and insights to the study work of the Alliance.

The general council endorses the suggestions on future relations between the Alliance and the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative council and, in addition, invites the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative council to participate in the work of the Alliance by naming a permanent consultant to the executive committee.

d) Toward church fellowship (Lutheran-Reformed)

The general council welcomes and draws particular attention to the central recommendation of the report.

79. In light of the discovery that nothing stands in the way of church fellowship, we urge Lutheran and Reformed churches throughout the world who are members of the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches to declare full communion with one another. By this we mean:
80. Acknowledging that the condemnations pronounced upon one another in former times are no longer to be regarded as applicable in today's situation.
81. Establishing full pulpit and altar/table fellowship, with the necessary mutual recognition of ministers ordained for word and sacrament.
82. Committing themselves to growth in unity through new steps in church life and mission together.

The general council recommends that the report be distributed to the member churches and that they be urged to send in their response by December 31 1990; as soon as possible official discussions should be initiated with the Lutheran World Federation to clarify the implications of the report for Lutheran-Reformed relations.

e) Relations with Mennonites

The general council gives thanks to God for the new relations which have developed in the past years with Mennonite churches; it looks forward with anticipation to common witness with them in the future, particularly in the framework of the "conciliar process for justice, peace and the integrity of creation".

The heritage represented by the Mennonites is alive in many respects within the Reformed tradition, especially in the churches which trace their origin to the "First Reformation" and the Congregational churches. Dialogue with Mennonites also contributes to clarifying their place within the Reformed tradition.

The general council declares that, in its judgment, the condemnations of Anabaptists found in some older Reformed confessions of faith are not applicable to Mennonite churches; it recalls with shame and deep regret that they have served in the past to justify persecutions, executions and banishment; it joins in the prayer: "Lord, our God, show us now your grace and mercy. Forgive us and help us to begin afresh together today through the power of reconciliation and love, so that the wounds may be healed and fellowship between us grow and deepen. Lord, have mercy upon us."

The general council endorses the joint appeal "for a dialogue at the local level" and suggests that the findings be summarized in a general report.

f) Reformed and Methodist in dialogue

The general council rejoices in the affirmation of the report that those doctrinal matters on which there has traditionally been tension "ought not to be seen as obstacles to unity between Methodist and Reformed".

The general council recommends that a small joint group be appointed to survey the present state of relations and to suggest ways and steps for advancing towards a fuller expression of unity.

g) Contacts with Moravians

The general council welcomes the contacts made with the Moravian Unity Board and encourages the executive committee to explore the possibility of further steps towards closer links.

2. Dialogue with the Orthodox Church

After extended preparatory conversations, agreement was reached on setting up an official dialogue between the Alliance and the eastern Orthodox Church. The first meeting was held in spring 1988; in their first stage the conversations aim at formulating a common witness to the trinitarian faith of the church; they will also seek to develop a common approach to the filioque issue.

The general council expresses satisfaction with this initiative and looks forward to increased exchange and fellowship with the Orthodox churches.

With regard to the filioque clause it offers to the member churches the following guidelines

a) Historically speaking, there is no doubt at all that the original form of the Nicene Creed as approved at the council of Constantinople in 381 did not include the filioque ("from the Son"), which is a later insertion and one only made in the western churches, not in the east. There seems to be nothing, in principle, to prevent any church from returning to the original wording and affirming in the creed simply that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father".

b) This does not of course settle the underlying theological question: Is the filioque clause correct in affirming that the Spirit proceeds "from the Father and the Son"? Are other expressions preferable? Or is any assertion on the relations between the Spirit and the Son even necessary?

c) To deal with this question requires a full ecumenical debate between the churches, including both those which have subscribed to the filioque and those which do not. The general council wishes to encourage Reformed churches to take part in such deliberations regardless of whatever decision they may adopt on the wording of the creed.

3. Relations with the Roman Catholic Church

In accordance with the mandate given by the general council of Ottawa, a second round of conversations was held with the Roman Catholic Church from 1984 to 1988. It dealt with the theme of the church. The findings which will be published soon show a surprising degree of agreement in the understanding of Christ's unique mediatorship but point at the same time to continuing disagreements in the understanding of the church. The report comes to the conclusion that despite these disagreements a new relationship has become possible: the polemics of the past should be replaced by the commitment to "live for one another" and by mutual support in witnessing to Christ.

Relations with the Roman Catholic Church vary from country to country. While in some places official dialogue with far-reaching implications have been conducted, in other places contacts hardly exist. While in some places common witness has become a matter of course, in other places the stage of polemics has hardly been overcome. In the light of the findings in two rounds of conversations the general council feels that the relationship to the Roman Catholic Church should become a matter of concerted exchange among Reformed churches at the national and regional level.

4. Relations with Evangelical movements and groups

The multitude of Evangelical movements and groups presents the Reformed churches with a particular challenge. What is the role of the Alliance in promoting unity and common witness with them and among them?

The general council feels that particular attention should be devoted in the coming years to entering into contact ,with Evangelical movements and groups as well as with Pentecostals with a view to new forms of fellowship and common witness.

Clearly, there is great diversity among them. Some movements have their theological roots in the Reformed tradition; others have only indirect links with it. Some represent worldwide movements and are open for dialogue and exchange; others are sectarian in character and reject any form of cooperation. Accordingly, a flexible approach is required.

5. Relations with the World Council of Churches

The general council reaffirms its commitment to close collaboration with the World Council of Churches; it reiterates its conviction that the causes of unity and witness in today's world can best be promoted by the churches joining in a fellowship anticipating the unity which they are called to manifest together. Unity will only be achieved by praying, worshipping, living and witnessing together. The general council gives thanks to God for the common witness which has become possible through the WCC

At the same time, the general council feels that the purpose and the structures of the WCC need to be re-examined today. Much has happened since the foundation of the WCC. The ecumenical movement has dramatically expanded and new factors have appeared on the scene. New orientations of the vital forces of the ecumenical movement and restructuring may be required to maintain the WCC's role as "privileged instrument" of promoting the ecumenical cause.

The general council recommends that the Alliance enter into conversations with the WCC on this question.

6. Themes for reflection and further work arising from the dialogues

The Trinitarian faith
Confessions and confessing
Understanding of Scripture in different cultural contexts
The understanding of the church
Baptism
Eucharist
Ministry, in particular the ministry of elders and the ordination of women.

Appendix 2: Publications proposal

Introduction

The executive committee, meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from October 19-26 1988, recognized the urgent need to review the two major vehicles of the Alliance - RPS and Reformed World - and instructed the department of cooperation and witness to submit a feasibility study on publications and to present a proposal that, if accepted, would apply to the years between Seoul and the general council following (Minutes, Belfast, 1988, Appendix 17, pp.134-136).

The executive committee also appointed two members of a three member committee to draw up the proposal, with right to coopt. They are: Rev Jan J van Capelleveen, appointed as media director at the Seoul general council; and Rev William A McComish, director of the WARC financial development group.

An informal initial meeting was held on November 29 1988. Present were: Rev Jan J van Capelleveen, Rev William A McComish, Mr David Bramley, editor-in-chief of the information bureau of the Lutheran World Federation, and staff, Rev Jill Schaeffer. In preparation for the meeting, Rev Capelleveen had drawn up a detailed critique of the WARC publications, looking at the entire spectrum of print produced by the World Alliance in an effort to help us arrive at a coherent publications' strategy Rev Capelleveen's contribution also included suggestions for future publications of WARC and was the basis for discussion. What follows is a working document upon which to construct the final proposal.

Overview

The objectives of a publications strategy

Present a credible image of WARC worldwide.
Inform member churches and others of the activities of WARC and of the ministries and witness of the member churches.
Generate solidarity among member churches by involving them in prayer and personal and material support.
Provide an "archival memory" for WARC

The variety of member churches and the many and varied kinds of issues which affect and concern them call for a diversified publications' programme. In addition the work of WARC has increased dramatically since the general council at Ottawa (1982), increasing the need for an expanded publications programme. At the same time, limited funds restrict the Alliance's ability to meet communications' needs in any sophisticated way. We must start simply.

A. Image

One primary ingredient for building a credible image of WARC is consistency, something perceived to be lacking in all WARC publications. Content and appearance - whether in RPS, Reformed World, or in the blue series varied too much and seemed haphazard.

Another ingredient is clarity of purpose. The two major communications vehicles - RPS and Reformed World seem to have multiple objectives and no precise audience. A blurred image is conveyed.

B. Informing member churches and others

The two primary vehicles. RPS and Reformed World try to carry too much for too few at too high a cost. We need to convey such information as news, theological issues, dialogue proceedings and reports, human rights concerns generally and those especially affecting member churches, developments in ecclesiology and the churches' ministries. RPS cannot be an efficient carrier of "news" nor can Reformed World reach its intended audience (general WARC membership) when the content of the first seems too muddled and the second too academic. Also, much is being done either at a world level or among the member churches themselves, and there is as yet no consistent way to communicate their activities. The blue series appeared to have mainly a theological slant, but, also somewhat abruptly, published material on human rights. The need is to direct each vehicle towards a target audience.

C. Generate solidarity among the member churches

There has yet to be a clear and consistent means by which member churches are called to support one another and WARC. Both RPS and, in some instances, Reformed World, albeit indirectly, are used for these purposes but cannot do so consistently.

D. The memory

Reformed World and RPS are not designed to produce thematic records of WARC's activities.

Policy requirements

In order to meet the above objectives, two levels of decision-making on publications need to be created and implemented

A. Policy-making body - executive level

Members: president of the Alliance, moderators of departments, general secretary and executive staff.

Purpose: Decides what will be published and the themes which publications should address. Decides on all policy and legal matters. Sees that materials produced are in line with WARC policies and programmes.

Frequency: Annually, before or after every executive committee meeting.

B. Enabling committee: executive staff level

Members: general secretary and members of executive staff plus coopted consultants and chairperson of finance committee or that person's delegate.

Purpose: Decides how material will be published and in what vehicle. Supervises the publication of special material, sets prices, screens material, assures consistency, executes policy of executive committee.

Frequency: Four times a year.

C. Other matters

For legal reasons, the general secretary should be designated as the publisher of all WARC publications and not the editor. If the general secretary acts as editor, he or she is vulnerable to lawsuits.

The editors are

secretary for department of theology and moderator for the blue series.
secretary for department of cooperation and witness and moderator for the green series.

An outside editor for Reformed World being paid an annual honorarium for his/her service.

Avenues of communication

The committee proposes the following

Articles for denominational magazines and newsletters.
RPS replaced by occasional news releases.
A renewed Reformed World.
"Blue" series and "green" series.

Occasional articles

Occasional articles on major issues or events could be submitted for publication to be targeted to church magazines and newsletters.

RPS replaced by news releases

In consultation with the general secretary, the executive staff person assigned to press would write and send out publicity releases to press agencies, church and secular, especially those with a religious desk. These are telexed or telefaxed, or put in the mail, depending upon the urgency.

Reformed World (Reformed Family)

Aimed at a general WARC audience, including internationally and ecumenically inclined church members and theological students, the initial readership would at first be limited to church leaders among member churches and general secretaries of related councils and committees. In other words, we need to build up circulation and income before launching a more ambitious project.

The contents would include such material as the following

Activities of WARC
Developments in member churches
Events affecting member churches
Explicit messages for support - prayer, personal, material
Simple biographical profiles of church leaders in the Alliance
Lists of publications
Editorial by general secretary

Funding: Subscription fee includes cost of sending copies free to third world churches and churches in blocked cash countries. The higher cost itself is in advertisement.

Frequency: Four times a year

Format: "small magazine format" (16.5 by 24 cm), two-colour, photos. Colophon for an editorial column giving overview of contents: 32 pages

Advertising: Prepare blurbs for church newspapers and magazines on series and Reformed World, ie a boxed notice announcing "The Eighth Day" to hit off the renewed format of Reformed World. Efforts would be undertaken to increase the number of subscriptions by libraries, especially of seminaries and theological schools.

"Blue" and "green" series

Two series - each indicated by a colour and same type faces (ie consistent format) would be devoted to issues arising out of the department of theology and might read, "Blue series: Studies from the department of theology of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches"; and another series from the department of cooperation and witness called "Green series: Studies from the department of cooperation and witness of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches".

These two series provide the "archival memory" of the work and witness of the Alliance, could accommodate lengthy documents and carry reports and studies of each department's activities.

Format: Same as blue series but with consistent type faces, stock, layout, etc.

Audience

Theological studies to be aimed at a professional and/or pastoral audience. By "professional" is meant both academicians and church professionals and laypersons interested in theological issues.

Practical or praxis issues to be aimed at a wider group including laypersons and spilling over to a secular audience.

Fundraising: Letters to libraries and seminaries inviting them to subscribe to the entire series and offering, with a subscription, back issues. Advertisements in theological journals, church magazines.

Translations

Reformed World

Until income is sufficient to warrant translations into the working languages of the Alliance, Reformed World (or Reformed Family) would appear in English. Documents requested in other languages may be offered as photocopies of typewritten translations.

Summaries of articles (synopses) appearing in Reformed World could be provided in at least French, and may appear in non-English language newsletters.

"Blue" and "green" series

Printed first in English and French; if demand calls for it, other languages as well.

Publicity Releases

Four languages.

Appendix 3: Policy statement on refugees

At the present time there are approximately 15,000,000 refugees wandering over the face of the earth. The greater numbers are in the third world, are among the world's poorest and move transcontinentally from south to north or within their own continents. In addition to refugees fleeing from one country to another, the numbers of refugees within countries seems to be on the rise. Once called "displaced persons", their situations are exactly the same as those of refugees; they are fleeing from possible persecution and insecurity, danger or actual violations of their basic human rights. The suffering of refugees is incalculable. Malnourished, ill or suffering from disease, refugees cross borders primarily to escape the unendurable. Once they enter a country of asylum, particularly in the north or the "developed" countries, they are confronted by legal procedures the concept of which is more than likely unknown to them. The average refugee is a woman with a child, for instance, neither of whom is often in a position to offer "legal" proofs that their human rights have been violated.

In the past 15 years, the notorious decline of hospitality in some receiving countries, notably in western Europe and North America, and the lack of hospitality in others, have not only increased the amount of suffering and uncertainty which refugees endure, but have added several dimensions to that suffering: One is the advent of the refugee in flight, a person or a family turned away by one country after another. Yet another is the overt hostility of receiving countries towards the refugee who is vulnerable to psychological and sometimes physical abuse, treated more like a parasite than a human being. A third is discrimination endured by a refugee who has gained the legal status of "refugee". Often refugees are kept apart from the rest of society, left alone either to integrate with or remain isolated from the receiving community.

Background

Biblical considerations

The Bible recognizes the existence of the refugee and commands the people of God to provide hospitality. Critically, however, there is no distinction in the Bible, neither in the Old or New Testament, between the political refugee and the economic refugee. Nor are the people of God instructed to discriminate between the refugee of an ally or an enemy. Strictly speaking, the "refugee" has no biblical equivalent. Rather, the stranger, the sojourner, the wanderer in one's midst is that person to whom Israel must show mercy and compassion. In the passage of time, the God of the Old Testament, a territorial God whose laws are for Israel and restricted to Israel becomes an unbound and unbordered God, whose law is the same and whose application lies everywhere. For the Christian, the gospel mandates that a faithful follower of Christ express this universality and show no preference to those requiring justice and mercy. Territoriality cannot divide or rank God's justice.

The duty of individual Christians and churches is clear. God's law to show hospitality to the stranger must be manifested without regard to nation states and their interests, and to persons whatever their race, sex, religion, socio-economic background, political proclivities, or cultural heritage.

International juridical standards

The international community has developed a set of standards in order to ensure that refugees' basic human rights are respected. It is presumed that a refugee is fleeing from a situation of actual persecution and violence or threatened persecution or violence and, therefore, has had his or her basic human rights violated. These standards are to be found in the United Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Final Act of the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Status of Refugees, and the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Resolution 2198 (XXI) adopted by the United Nations general assembly and the 1967 Protocols relating to the Status of Refugees and the Declaration of Territorial Asylum. Basically, these inform governments of their duty towards the refugee. Chief among these standards is the principle of non-refoulement: you cannot send a refugee to a country where he or she will be persecuted or in danger. In the past ten years, however, these principal safeguards are being by-passed, ignored or abrogated by receiving countries. Procedural backlogs leave a refugee's legal status in a host country in doubt for months, sometimes for years. Political interests between nation-states often lead to turning away refugees at the borders or refusing them the legal status of "refugee" and deporting them to the country from which they fled. The decline in hospitality among western nations in particular had led only to increased suffering for an untold number of persons who are seeking relief from fear, if not death. Specifically, these factors include

Increasing numbers and kinds of refugees seeking asylum create a burden upon receiving countries, leading 10 an administrative load which existing procedures are ill-equipped to handle.
The entry of persons from other cultures and races into primarily western countries has generated xenophobia, a fear of strangers.
There is a reduced and often ambiguous understanding of the special needs and situations of the refugee along with a tendency to identify him or her with an economic migrant and thus legally treating the refugee as an ordinary alien.
Political interests often result in refugees being denied entry or deported summarily.
Fear of terrorism leads the public to viewing refugees as potential terrorists.
Decline of unemployment opportunity in western countries generates hostility towards the refugee.

Strategies

It must be emphasized that principal standards of protection express the international community's recognition that a refugee is someone in need of special help and consideration. The intention of these standards presumes that those subscribing to them do so out of justice and compassion for another human being. When this intention is ignored or wilfully exploited, the international community, in this instance, the public, needs to be made aware of ways in which these standards can be met by their governments.

The application of existing protection principles should be strengthened by national laws, legislation or administrative instructions. Where existing laws seem to be inadequate or legal definitions too restrictive. governments should be encouraged to adopt a humanitarian approach vis-à-vis persons whose status does not neatly fall within existing legal categories. If necessary, formal legal procedures on behalf of such persons should be initiated.

A major effort should be directed to bringing about a renewed public understanding of the situation in which refugees find themselves. Misconceptions about refugees need to be corrected, these today acting as major inhibitors to the granting of asylum or humane treatment of refugees once they have been legally granted refugee status.

In addition, long-term solutions need to be sought in order to help prevent the phenomenon of refugees from escalating into a world on the run. The international political and economic climate not only creates refugees but prevents them from finding a place of refuge. The public needs to be shown that refugees want to go home and would, if the situation allowed, but cannot return unless the refugee's basic human rights would be protected in his/her country of origin. The improvement of relations between east and west should provide a better atmosphere for addressing some of the root causes that produce refugees.

The churches

Many churches in the Reformed family have taken the stranger, the wanderer into their midst. Some, like the Presbyterian Church of Central Africa, work along with the Malawian government on the borders between Mozambique and Malawi, where upwards of 600,000 Mozambican refugees have come across the border seeking asylum. Others, like the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda, have resettled refugees from Burundi along with other Christian communions and, at the same time, worked with their sister churches in Burundi to help find political solutions to Burundi's conflicts so that the refugees can return home to peace and safety.

In a related situation, the Presbyterian Church in the Sudan, working hand in hand with the Sudan Council of Churches, has been offering whatever help it can to the thousands of displaced persons fleeing from starvation and war in the south.

In other cases, churches such as the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America have congregations who give comfort to refugees from Central America whom the American government has rejected. This action has brought at least one congregation into direct conflict with the Federal Government of the United States. Congregations in Switzerland, too, have hidden refugees from the government fearing correctly that deportation to their countries of origin will result in almost certain persecution or death.

Individual acts by churches or church members also have placed them at risk if not directly with their governments then with their societies. The Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, for instance, in its Rainbow Project, has offered shelter to young women running away from prostitution rings that "own" them. While that runaway is not a "refugee" in the internationally recognized sense of the term, she is "homeless" and fleeing from a situation of persecution and danger.

What these churches and church members have in common is a fundamental appreciation of the right of every human being to be free from fears of persecution and danger. Expressing through obedience to the gospel the universally shared and deeply cherished value of hospitality, these Christians have demonstrated that their ultimate loyalties are to Jesus Christ and not to the human powers of the age.

Strategies for individual Christians and their churches

There are many ways to obey the gospel on the subject of refugees. Firstly, churches can read this document and engage in further study, becoming acquainted with the refugeee situation in their respective countries. Secondly, persons in a particular place must decide on what they should do not only with respect to their own situation but that encountered by other churches throughout the world. Thirdly, when a church decides to act on behalf of refugees, other churches need to be informed of their decision and honour it. In some cases. such commitment would entail spiritual, moral and financial support and advocacy.

In order to engage members of the Reformed family in the refugee situation individually and to build solidarity and support among the Reformed family for churches involved in the issue, the working group on sanctuary and asylum proposes that the 22nd general council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches adopt the following actions

Approve this policy statement and urge member churches and their congregations to study the Policy Statement and the accompanying booklet.
Urge governmental authorities, national and regional to implement existing laws regarding the rights of refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced persons insofar as they are consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to work for improvement in laws where needed.
Urge member churches and their congregations to establish, par1icipate in, suppor1 and strengthen denominational, institutional, economic and other programmes for the protection of refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced persons and to welcome such persons into their fellowship and into their community.
Urge that member churches, their congregations and individual Christians study their nations' law regarding the reception of persons in their communities and also the manner in which that law is being applied and implemented.

If as a result of such study, a member church, congregation or individual Christian finds that the law as formulated, interpreted or applied needs amendment or correction, to work independently or in association with others to achieve that amendment or correction.
If such amendment or correction proves inadvisable or unachievable, urge the member church, congregation or individual Christian to consider whether or not resistance to the law as administered is appropriate in spite of the known risks.
If the member church, congregation or individual Christian concludes (for good or sufficient cause) that it is unwise or impossible to resist or to participate in such efforts as the Sanctuary Movement, to honour and support throuah prayer and practical means those who do and to seek ways to engage in effective activities with refugees in their midst.

Encourage member churches to develop models for their response to the needs of refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced persons and communicate to WARC regarding their actions and their evaluation of this policy statement.
Commend member churches who are engaged in programmes responding to the needs of refugees and pray for refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced persons and for those who work to alleviate their needs, (and pray also for those who are involved in administering the laws).
Direct the department of cooperation and witness to assist member churches in their response to this Policy Statement and to disseminate information from time to time regarding its implementation.
Establish a fund within the Special Services Fund to assist member churches in implementing this Policy Statement and invite contributions to this fund by member churches, their congregations and individual Christians.
Where possible and useful, encourage and facilitate networks of communications between churches in countries which are receiving refugees and in countries from which those same refugees are fleeing, and urge churches involved in sanctuary and asylum to begin discussions with those who are not.

Appendix 4: Youth rally report

We, the participants of the youth rally, came together from all over the world to exchange, share and learn from each others' experiences as Christian youth. We were also joined by representatives of ecumenical youth and student movements (Christian Conference of Asia-Youth and World Student Christian Federation Asia-Pacific Region) and the World Council of Churches-Youth Furthermore, we were able to glimpse at the energy and the strength of the ecumenical youth movement in divided Korea.

In the two-day pre-general council programme we were challenged by the theme of the WARC general council, "Who do you say that I am?", and the gathering of youth from diverse contexts.

In our exchanges and sharing, indeed, we were introduced to a diversity of experiences, feelings, activities and faith-praxis of Christian Youth. We must admit that we began to sense a threatening reality in that this diversity may reflect an underlying division among ourselves. Regional reports showed a great concern for social situations youth live in and, in this concern we felt united in Jesus Christ who showed us the way. It is our conviction, that this social and so-called "political" concern is also a deeply spiritual one.

We were struck with the urgent, powerful and, at the same time, explicit challenges of youth who identify themselves as part of an Asian/third world ecumenical youth movement. They confessed: "We hear and see the call of Jesus in the cry of starving and malnourished people; in the thousands of political detainees; in the struggles of millions of exploited workers and peasants." (Statement of the World Student Christian Federation Asia/Pacific Region to the WARC youth rally). Furthermore, they declared: "To be able to act against exploitation we need to understand the principalities and powers which cause it. [We have undertaken analytical categories to take on this task.] These categories include race, gender and class which are in turn related to an analysis of the specific forms of capitalism, neo-colonialism and imperialism" ("A Reflection on the Asian Ecumenical Youth Movement", presented to the WARC youth rally.)

They proclaimed also that" Jesus Christ here and now is living as a worker who receives low wages below the minimum cost of living; as a peasant who worries about the burden of debt caused by the import of foreign agricultural products; as an urban poor who is driven out of his home; and as the person imprisoned in the struggle for Justice... Jesus Christ is now at this moment incarnate as the suffering people and is alive in the midst of our life ...He will rise through the rising of the Minjung." (Presentation of the Korean ecumenical youth movement, entitled. "Christ Incarnated in the Life of People" to the youth rally.)

The ecumenical youth movement is, on the basis of the above confession, a concrete response to the challenge of Jesus: "Anyone who wants to be a follower of mine must leave self behind Whoever cares for their own safety is lost; but, if a person will let themselves be lost for my sake and for the gospel, that person is safe" (Mk 8.34. "A Reflection on the Asian Ecumenical Youth Movement"). "The [objective of the ecumenical youth movement lies in making] the church fully part of the [peoples'] movement, a people's church. People's movement [is] a conscious purposive effort to bring changes in the existing society to obtain a just and democratic society. [The people's movement] brings oppressed [people] to power so that they can control their lives and their economy, creating just and participatory structures." ("A Reflection on the Asian Ecumenical Youth Movement", adapted from WCC-CCPD Network Letter, April 1982).

European youth confessed a lack of optimistic belief and fear of war and nuclear armaments, family break up, competition, lovelessness, over-demand and loneliness. "Right now, the longing is so great, to be seen, to be someone, to be loved and important." In this time of apprehension and anxiety, "laughs, the games, real love is needed... The love that we can understand that Jesus Christ wants to give to us." This is the basis of the outcry: "The church is needed. Our church is needed." "The wish to evangelize means to see people. Jesus was observant. In the crowd he saw individuals and their [individual] needs." (Reflection on "Who do you say that I am?", from Sweden, presented to the youth rally.)

Youth from Czechoslovakia expressed "a gratitude towards the Soviet Union after it liberated us from the German occupation." There is, said the Czech youth representative who shared with us, a growing resentment among the Czech people for being torn away from the western European civilization by being integrated with the so-called eastern bloc. There is also a hesitant hope and apprehension for the changes taking place in the Soviet Union and in the world initiated by the Soviet Union. The church is also plagued by the spectre of "historical guilt of the church" and the challenge to "understand Marxism in its best intentions, in its passion for social justice." There is an urgent recognition of the need for the church in socialist countries "to search for the appropriate way of witnessing" and to clarify the orientation and to build the base of the church's critical participation in the society. (quotations from: "Church and Witness in the Context of Socialism" presented to the youth rally by a Czech youth.)

We feel the need to identify and confirm our unity as youth, as Christians, and as members of tile Reformed church community. "We came together out of our diversity to be symbol of the unity we seek through the ecumenical youth movement." ("The Ecumenical Youth Movement and Global Solidarity", WCC-Youth presentation to the youth rally.) However, we are also challenged: ..Jesus was a man who caused divisions When we try to renew society we are confronted by those who do not want to change. There are many such people. Some benefit from injustice and exploitation and do not want to lose these benefits." (WSCF-Asia/Pacific presentation). We recognize that the differences we ourselves feel may signify a deep division among us, in the church, and the world This recognition compels us to either dismiss the value and possibility of unity, or begin to work to find a concrete foundation for/of our unity.

It is here that we feel the importance of the Korean people's movement and the efforts of the Korean churches for reunification in Korea. The aspiration for unity is strengthened by the presiding spirit and will of Yahweh God. "I will gather the people of Israel..., from all sides…, and I will make them one nation in the land… and they shall be no longer two nations" (Ezek 37). The division of Korea - a country in which we hold this 22nd WARC general council - may reflect the division of the world and the division in the church.

We recognize the importance and need for unity. However, this is not an easy task. It will not come about by wishing for it. Seeking unity is a task which requires conscious and purposeful work. It requires persistent sharing, continuously risking pain and endurance in this struggle. We need to work towards building a common confession of faith, beginning with a confession of sin and a confession of commitment. This work of youth is a central force in bringing about the renewal and unity of our Reformed churches' communities. We can celebrate this common understanding. There was a demand to prepare a celebration. However, in the process of the two-day programme we were reluctant to celebrate and anxious in our attempt We must work to build the common ground for celebration. The youth rally represents a beginning of hard work towards our eventual wholehearted celebration in unity and solidarity.

In bringing a hesitant end to the very first gathering of youth of the Reformed community, we declare our commitment towards a common confession of faith and building unity. In order to continue and give momentum to this process, we affirm our need to continue to encounter and challenge each other .

We therefore recommend

That the general council commit itself to fuller participation of women and youth by working towards having 50% of women and 15% youth on all decision-making bodies of WARC, beginning with the executive committee, elected by the 22nd general council, (Youth: young people up to 30 years.)
That WARC create a position of youth secretary to facilitate this work, as a part of building a youth movement of the Reformed church community; to facilitate a full and self-determined participation of youth towards a common confession of faith, faith-praxis and towards the work of renewal and unity.
However, in appreciation of financial and other constraints upon WARC we offer an alternative to the recommendation number 2. We make clear, however, that we feel that number 2 is more preferable. We recommend, as an alternative to number 2 that WARC include in the job description of one of its executive officers specific mention of responsibility for youth work, to help such work become a more recognized aspect of WARC's responsibilities.

Appendix 5: Report of the general treasurer

Mr Jean-François Rochette

It is a pleasure to present you once again with the treasurer's report on the finances of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, this time for the period ending December 31 1988.

If it is with a certain satisfaction that a net profit of CHF1,215.85 (one thousand two hundred and fifteen Swiss francs and 85 centimes) can be reported for the financial year 1988, it also must be remembered that the sum mentioned must be offset against the deficit carried over, alas, from the previous financial year, which amounted to CHF141,586.00.

Taking into account the donations received to make good this deficit (amounting to a total of CHF57,700.00), a deficit of CHF82,670.00 remains in the general account.

It can be seen at once, therefore, that though we are still in deficit, the amount of this has for the first time in many years been appreciably reduced, and is now about 40% less than in 1987.

This is a healthier situation to find ourselves in and it has been a big factor in enabling us to achieve a balanced management of the portfolio without cramping or even preventing steps to reinvest holdings when this was the logical thing to do.

It is up to the member churches of the Alliance to draw the necessary conclusions from the figures given and the comments offered in this report. The purpose of these comments is to encourage the member churches to think together in terms of an increasingly favourable financial situation.

Comments on the portfolio

During the year 1988, the development of the portfolio was once again positive.

While the total amount of holdings at December 31st 1988 approached the CHF600,000.00 mark, it must be remembered that, taking into account the movement of funds (entries and exits), the performance of the dossier attained the 10% (appreciation in relation to the value of the portfolio at the end of 1987).

If this fluidity were disregarded, the performance would be around 19%, a very positive even if approximate result.

Various factors have helped to produce this heartening situation: chiefly the fluctuations in the share market, which behaved well during the year and registered a growth in line with changes in the money market.

Profits due to fluctuations in exchange are considerable: it should be emphasized that the major international currencies strengthened considerably against the Swiss Franc during the year 1988 and that the portfolio benefited greatly from this even though the Swiss Franc is still the main currency of holdings in the dossier (around 50% of them).

Also to be mentioned are new investments successfully negotiated either to take advantage of better returns or to release profits accruing from certain placements.

To illustrate these operations, let me give just one example of what has been done. We sold the shares in the US Treasury Security Fund - made out in US$ - which were reimbursed with a 7% profit on the exchange - in order to invest in a new product of the UOB, the Super Ecu Fund - whose shares are made out in ECU the European monetary unit.

While banking on the 1992 European map, therefore, we are at the same time making the most of a return obtainable from withdrawals issued in strong and stable currencies and placing these resources in top quality bonds.

The situation in respect of disposable funds was thus much better this year since the portfolio no longer suffered problems it had had in the past. This is a very welcome change.

To sum up: the policy in regard to the management of dossier holdings remained faithful to its principles: security and returns remain the key-words in the administrative policy.

There was therefore still no question in 1988 of "playing the share market", since even though there were attractive possibilities in this direction, the warning of the crash of October 1987 remained fresh in mind!

Comments on the year's results

We begin this analysis by saying right away that the various items of expenditure and receipts corresponded this year much more closely to the budget prognostics than was the case the previous year.

The rigour called for as a top priority during the previous year's operation was thus well and truly observed.

By way of example, take some of the results of the different departments

Salaries and social charges: these were considerably down on last year - The 26% reduction in this item clearly shows the effects of the proposed reduction in staff
Expenses for publications - in their various forms - were reduced by about a half. This welcome result must undoubtedly be attributed to effective rationalization in this area.
Travel costs continued to diminish and this is praiseworthy; but this reduction is not likely to be maintained in, the financial year 1989 in view of the amount of travel in connection with the Seoul general council.
Executive committee expenses - these have also been less, even despite the committee's work in preparation for the Seoul meeting.
On the other hand, rent charges have slightly increased (due simply to the rise in property charges) as have also office costs. simply reflecting the indispensable modernization of equipment and the increased cost of living.
In general, therefore, expenses for the year 1988 were about 19% lower than for the previous year.
Under the heading of receipts, the substantial increase in donations calls for special mention, in the order of 30%. Outstanding here are the donations from 'non-member and local churches, a fact which deserves to be underlined.

It should be noted that in 1988, the special donations item was included directly in the accounts of the funds to which it related. We do not take them into account, therefore, in these results.

As for contributions from the churches, there is an improvement by a little over 7% on the previous year. Europe and North America remain to the fore here as the largest contributors.

These much improved figures are indicated prior to their attribution to the funds of the general council and the European area which establish reserves which grow a little more solid every year (to refresh your memory, I note that they amount to 10% of the total of the contributions from the churches).

To summarize: for the year 1988, the item for expenses was largely met by the income received, producing a net profit of CHF1,215.00 for the year after the deduction of the above-mentioned transfers.

Prospects

The appeal made by the general secretary to the member churches in 1987 for increased contributions seems therefore to have been heard. A good beginning has thus been made to the renewal of solidarity among the churches. It is now vital that the efforts of all should continue We must never forget that without the support of the Reformed churches - whether members of the Alliance or not - there is no foreseeable future for the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

1989, moreover, is the year of our appointment in Seoul, for the important meeting of all the Reformed churches of the Christian world. This occasion should be used to spread among its members the message that the existence of a non-profit-making evangelical association essentially depends on the generosity and mutual assistance of all the churches - small or large, national or regional.

Donations for the general council have not reached the level we had hoped. They have hardly increased from those of 1987. This is regrettable. since it means that there are many churches which will have to miss the opportunity of meeting in Seoul because the subsidies needed to enable to send delegates simply do not exist.

This is an additional reason for recognizing the urgent need for an active solidarity at world level - and not one which depends only on the usual cooperators.

Conclusion

1988 appears to have marked a turning point in the history of the Alliance's finances.

Not only have these finances taken a turn for the better but, above all, we have witnessed a growing and fuller realization of the impact which every contribution or donation can make on the final outcome of a financial operation. That is an excellent augury for the future.

On the strictly financial level, we have concentrated on two main objectives

The first was to secure operational results which conformed to budgetary planning: this objective has been attained.
The second and principal objective: to ensure that the Alliance accounts are definitively balanced, without the transfer of a disabling deficit. This still remains to be achieved and will probably take some time.

Nevertheless, thanks to the help of all, convinced that we are pursuing a praiseworthy and essential goal, namely, to spread the Christian faith, it will be possible for us to achieve this objective.

Report drawn up in cooperation with MO Rappard, a professional colleague of Mr J-F Rochette, Treasurer.