mgpcpastor's blog

As previously noted, the Directors of the World Reformed Fellowship gathered in Sydney over the past couple of weeks for various functions. As a church which has been humbled by the generosity of welcome which we have received when we’ve travelled abroad, Mount Gambier Presbyterian took the opportunity to invest in welcoming these brothers and sisters.
I had chosen not to make the trip over, and given events here this week that’s been a great decision.
John Wilson, did the lion’s share of the organising and thanks go to him.
Here he provides a report on some aspects of the visit.

We only have relationship with one ecumenical body – the World Reformed Fellowship
As Convener of the Relations With Other Churches Committee for the PCA I am reporting to all congregations on the recent meetings of the WRF in Sydney. Please distribute widely …

I’ve had the most amazing time here for the last eight days in Sydney with compassionate and clear thinking theologians and leaders from around the world. Picture sitting around a 40 seat board table and hearing discussions and prayers and project reports from reformed Christians of different cultures and tongues.
For example, there are Brazilians here – easy to warm to. Really passionate about Christ and reformed faith. They are from one of the strongest churches in Sth America: IPB (Presbyterian Church in Brazil). Mother tongue: Portuguese. One million members – strong allegiance to their confession of Faith … the Westminster Confession. Their personality is WARM, their devotion: strong.
So, for one part of the debate you hear truth expressed with a Latin American nuance, then the South Korean directness, followed by a Texan drawl, Scottish conservatism, then a perspective from Indonesia and, after a pause, a beautiful and heart-felt powerful plea from Uganda. Wonderful mix. I’m enriched by all this. I’m learning more about reformed faith as felt and experienced in Seoul, Kampala, Sao Paulo, Dallas, Dehra Dun, etc.
I have learnt so much about God’s work through the gospel of grace in different places throughout the world. I am strengthened by reminding myself that I am a world Christian. I’m hearing of global strategies and world-wide experiences that assist me in doing the work of the gospel within my own context. Global blessings that strengthen local work. I’ve learnt a new word “glocal” (think about the previous sentence!).
I’m still amazed at the ability of Dr Diane Langberg and her mercy ministries to develop strategies and to plea for the church’s help for those across the world who have been victims of terrible trauma, whether that be the result of sexual abuse, trafficking, natural disasters or cultural madness. At some stage I strongly recommend you listen to Diane’s addresses. Moves me to action. YOU REALLY MUST listen to her address … when the full version is up on the internet, I will let you know where. It should appear on the website for the Presbyterian Church in America website, under Christian Education and Resources page and under Mercy Ministries conference, March 2012, but it’s not up there yet.
There are many other projects which are continuing under the auspices of WRF, and, as they come to completion I will let you know.
The WRF board members, and some wives, have really enjoyed the setting – think Phillip Island CYC campsite  … but on the coast, with fully serviced hotel rooms looking out over the Pacific Ocean. And to think that we had this whole campsite (500 accommodation) to ourselves because of school holidays followed by Anzac Day. So peaceful! Providential timing because I was not aware of this when I booked.
On the final night we held a PCA welcome Dinner at the Nth Sydney Harbourview Hotel. Although there were some last-minute hitches (ask Peter Barnes) … the night went VERY well. We invited about 20 PCA leaders such as the Principal at PTC, 3 former Moderator-Generals, the present Moderator-General, the Assembly Clerk and Deputy, Director of Missions – all with wives – to help make the WRF team feel welcome. They all did a great job and especially Robert Benn who gave a masterful presentation on the life and ministry of John Flynn and the AIM. And David Jones’ preaching to conclude. All the WRF team enjoyed this night and saw it as a highlight of the whole week. I’m sure they have been blessed and strengthened by having spent some time with the PCA. They also enjoyed the fact that it was Anzac Day and they were eager to understand the meaning of it.
Next year the Board will meet in Pretoria and then the whole General Assembly in 2014 will meet most likely in Brazil.
And interesting conversations led to developing relationships and the potential for new ventures. To give you two examples:

1.  The chief representative minster (CEO) – called President – of one million Brazilian Presbyterians and the Convener of their Ecumenical Relations Committee spent time talking with me. They were impressed with the welcome given them and the quality of PCA reformed church leadership exemplified at the Dinner. They want to pursue a path that would lead to mutual inter-church recognition and acceptance and then to seek ways in which this relationship could further the course of Gospel ministry. Things like allowing their missionary ministers who are not strong in English come for English-speaking training in Australia before being sent to other parts of the world. Also mentioned was the possibility of sharing and strengthening the work in Portuguese speaking Timor Leste. We don’t predict how the relationship between the IPB and PCA will develop. These are just ideas … but such a fruitful conversation.
2.  Former President of Chongshin University and Seminary (South Korea) Rev Dr In Whan Kim and his associate Dr Lee sought me out for conversation. They have a burden for Australian Korean Presbyterian leadership, in that there are many “loosely called” Presbyterian Korean congregations in Australia being pastored by largely untrained pastors. Their desire is to see pastors trained here and to see 2nd generation young leadership from their congregations trained. Their concept is to start a theological school here, staffed in part by an approved and qualified Korean lecturer and partly … as an adjunct ministry to one of our PTCs … by PCA personnel.

Now, no one is sure where these two projects will go … but the point I’m making is that the reputation of PCA is such that Presbyterian leaders from overseas are seeking us out to do Gospel work alongside of us and that these developing projects are occurring because of the World Reformed Fellowship. It is WRF that is bringing Christian leaders together with a view to sharing resources so that in some small but significant way, the strengths of some may become the strengths of many.

Thank you to the PCA, the PCV and to Mt Gambier Presbyterian Church, for sponsoring this visit. Money very well spent.

John
(Convener of Relations With Other Churches Committee, PCA)