All Christians are called to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout the centuries, Reformed churches in particular have been noted for giving testimony to the gospel through a rich variety of written confessional statements, as well as through other forms of witness. In recent years especially, many churches have produced confessional statements, which seek to bring the message of the gospel to bear on pressing concerns arising from their particular time and place.

Within the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, common concern for faithful witness to the gospel gained clearer focus through two decisions of the Ottawa general council in 1982: (1) the presentation of the booklet "Called to witness to the gospel today" for study and response within all member churches and (2) the declaration of status confessionis in relation to apartheid in South Africa. The Called to witness study gave expression to the ongoing commitment of Reformed churches to re-examine and proclaim afresh our witness to the gospel in and for each new day. The declaration of status confessionis on apartheid sharpened that witness in a particular way in the present day.

Both of these decisions, and the subsequent responses of member churches, lead - seven years later - toward the question of common testimony among the Reformed churches. What common testimony to the gospel of Jesus Christ can, and should, Reformed churches make today? Recognizing the diversity of our individual witnesses, how can we testify together? What is it about the gospel, and about the challenges of the world today, which make the attempt at common testimony compelling and necessary?

The goal of this study section at the Seoul general council is to consider the possibility of a common testimony among Reformed churches. Such a common testimony would not be a confession of faith which touches on all issues of faith in a thorough and systematic way. Nor would it be a statement intended to replace the existing confessions of faith of member churches. Rather, it would be an attempt, as we are gathered in Seoul as Reformed churches, to state together the heart of the gospel which we hold in common, and to identify certain aspects of that gospel which are of crucial importance to us all as we make our confessions today. Whether a common testimony among Reformed churches can occur at this time is an open question. Whatever the outcome in Seoul, consideration of a common testimony, its possibilities and difficulties, will have significant consequences, both for the Alliance as a whole, and for the life and witness of individual member churches.

This preparatory booklet has been designed to aid the discussion of a common testimony at the Seoul general council. Part I of the booklet offers a starting point for the work of the section. It includes (I.A.) a general consideration of the issue of common testimony, and a proposal regarding its possible elements. Part I also highlights (I.B.) three matters which today are of critical significance for any discussion of a common testimony. First, the question of status confessionis. What does it mean in general for churches to declare a status confessionis? What does it mean for the Reformed churches that WARC has made such a declaration regarding the issue of apartheid? How does an understanding of status confessionis affect and bring clarity to our work towards a common testimony? Second, the question of the community of women and men. The Reformed churches differ in their understanding of the role of women in the church. The cultures in which we bear witness also vary as to the place of women in society. How do these differences affect our ability to give common testimony to the gospel? What is it that we can and should affirm together about the community of women and men? Third, the issue of gospel and culture. Reformed churches bear witness to the gospel amid a variety of cultures. How does this diversity affect our ability to give common testimony? What are the challenges and concerns we all face in the encounter between gospel and culture?

Part II of the booklet provides background resources for each aspect of the discussion. These articles are meant to be both informative and thought-provoking. In addition, the report "From Ottawa to Seoul" offers information about the work of WARC and its member churches since 1982. Chapter II of that report details the history of the Called to witness study since Ottawa, including consultations held which addressed the issues of the common witness of Reformed churches, and of gospel and culture. That chapter also contains a report on the response of member churches to the declaration of status confessionis on apartheid. Chapter IV, the report of the department of cooperation and witness, contains more detailed information on the Alliance's activities in the area of women's issues.