Concern for justice is at the heart of the biblical message and the Reformed tradition. The passion of John Calvin and other Reformers for social justice left its mark on the witness of Reformed churches. In recent decades, Reformed theology has affirmed the overriding call of God's justice for the poor and the oppressed.

For these reasons, the Alliance chose for its 23rd general council a theme drawn from Isaiah 58.1-12: "Break the chains of injustice". The council took place in Debrecen, Hungary, in August 1997.

Theme presentations

Four keynote speakers discussed the theme from their different perspectives. Elsa Tamez (Costa Rica) swept the delegates off their feet with her use of milk as an eloquent metaphor. Walter Brueggemann (USA) encouraged Christians to challenge the gods of world economy that would obliterate the neighbour question for the wealth and domination of the few. Leonor Briones (the Philippines) highlighted the external debt crisis which has debilitated the economies of the third world for the past two decades. Over a billion people are excluded from active participation in economic life. Aaron Tolen (Cameroon) called on Africa to denounce injustice, but also to recognize its own complicity. To break the chains of injustice in Africa, the church must take on the role of a guardian, protecting the interests of the weak, the vulnerable and the poor.

Covenanting for justice in the economy and the earth

Breaking the chains of injustice requires repentance, careful analysis, global strategy, and common witness. The general council called the member churches of Alliance to engage at all levels of their life in a "processus confessionis": a committed process of progressive recognition, education and confession regarding economic injustice and ecological destruction. In so doing, it adopted a position which elevates these questions from a merely moral or ethical level to the level of confession and faith.

Worship and Bible study

An important pillar of the general council was its worship life. Certainly, the Great Church with its dignified atmosphere has not often experienced such vibrant singing, drum-beating, music, dancing and liturgical gesture. It was a sign that Reformed worship can be attractive, lively and full of enthusiasm.

A second important pillar was formed by the Bible Study groups, where 15-20 people gathered to discuss the biblical passages for the day and to contribute their own stories related to the theme.

Study texts and section reports

For several days, delegates worked in sections, subsections and committees. The section reports need to be studied together with the study texts published in preparation for the meeting. The two sets of papers are complementary.

Women and youth

The general council was preceded by a women's preconference and a Reformed youth forum. The impact that their reports made on the council was a moving witness to the growing weight of two groups which in the past were ignored or marginalized. Women and youth were encouraged to speak up and to participate fully in the life of the Alliance and in their churches back home.

Dutch Reformed Church readmitted

The 21st general council (Ottawa, Canada, 1982) suspended the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) in South Africa from WARC membership, at a time when the DRC sought to defend apartheid ("separate development") and even to justify it theologically. After 15 years it was time to review the position. After lengthy discussions with the representatives of the DRC and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, and taking into account the positions of the WARC member churches in Southern Africa, it was resolved to lift the suspension, on condition that the DRC fulfilled the third and final requirement of Ottawa by rejecting apartheid as sinful in its fundamental nature. This the DRC did at its general synod in 1998.

New member churches

The general council admitted churches in the Dominican Republic and in the Solomon and Marshall Islands to membership and approved the membership of 45 other churches which had been admitted by the executive committee since the 22nd general council (Seoul, Korea, 1989). WARC is a fellowship of more than 200 churches in over 100 countries, but has still some way to go before it may claim to speak for the whole Reformed family.

New areas

The general council approved the recognition of two new area councils: the Association of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Latin America (AIPRAL) and the Northeast Asia area council. Thus, two new regional bodies were added to the already existing three: the Caribbean and North American area council (CANAAC), the European area and the Southern Africa Alliance of Reformed Churches (SAARC).

Mutual commitment

The general council appealed to all member churches to increase their contributions in order to safeguard and develop the work of the Alliance. This financial question has a theological dimension. Is the Alliance a loosely linked association to which churches may be more or less committed as they choose, or are we a communion (koinonia) of churches which care for each other and bear one another's burdens?

Thank you to the Reformed Church in Hungary

The location of the council in Debrecen, with the Reformed College, the Teachers' Training College, the Great Church and the various places of accommodation all in close proximity to each other, was very conducive to the good spirit of the meeting. The courtyard of the Reformed College was full of life from morning till night. The Alliance is grateful to the host church, the Reformed Church in Hungary, and to all who made the 23rd general council possible.