Interview with Dr. Nyomi of World Alliance of Reformed Churches

Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), was in India last week for the biennial meeting of the Presbyterian Church in India.

The Ghanaian theologian heads one of the oldest confessional bodies that unites Presbyterian, Reformed, Congregational, Waldensian, and some United Churches, serving more than 75 million Christians in about 107 countries.

Dr. Nyomi became the first non-European to head the Alliance in 2000. Under his leadership WARC developed the pivotal 2004 "Accra Confession" that lambasted the "current system of neoliberal economic globalisation" and called for a conscientious change of lifestyle among Reformed Christians.

Incidentally, in June, next month, a historic merger is to take place between WARC and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC), a body of Reformed and Presbyterian denominations from around the world. Both the organisations will meet to form the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In an exclusive conversation with Christian Today, the renowned Evangelical Presbyterian theologian talks of the merger, WARC's contributions and the need for Christians to be transforming social agents.

What is your reflection on Christians in India and the growth of Church?

This is my fifth trip to India. It is a really great feeling coming to this country. I think the Church here is very active. It has been faithful in bringing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ to the people of India and additionally to that the Church here is doing a great job building the faith of Christians in order that they may impact the society where they live. I am really grateful to God for giving me an opportunity to witness the effective ministries of the Presbyterian Church and Church of North India, which I visited during my trip.

Do you find the Presbyterian or the reformist churches diminishing in size or strength in contrast with the vitalized revivalist groups in India?

My attitude here is Biblical. Whether my family of the Church is growing is not as important considering the fact that the Church as whole is growing. For me numbers in a congregation do not matter. It is insignificant. Growing in depth rather is my concern. Churches should stop counting the numbers and start worrying about the faith of people. How deep is their faith? Are the faithful walking their daily life with Jesus Christ? And how is it making a difference in their life so that they can be the salt and light for the communities where they live in. It is not that I am saved and I will go to heaven. But the question here is how I am building myself and how useful I am to others. Mainly how prophetic are we to the communities. So numbers do not matter. Whatever congregation or denomination grows, we are one body of Christ.

After being elected as the new general secretary you had said that God was calling and shaping an Alliance which like salt in food can make a difference. How has the WARC so far made a difference?

As Christians, if our life is not making a difference to others then it is just like the salt that has lost its saltiness. If our society is facing challenges we need to address them and expose the evils of the society. We should live by our examples. For instance there is financial crisis or food crisis in one hand. If the Christian community is just living for themselves and not looking at the poverty generated by these crisis then we are doing nothing. The economic globalisation today has led to an increase in unemployment and poverty. Taking the Word of God we should make a difference in the lives of such people. Society ought to see that it is because of Christ we are bringing this difference. We should stand for the poor...so that they get education, they have better health facilities and proper food to eat. That is when our Lord will say, you clothed me when I was naked, you fed me when I was hungry and you visited me when I was in prison. Lastly, we should serve not because we are social agents but rather because of our faith.

So how has the WARC fulfilled this or has addressed the challenges of global economic inequalities?

Our analysis since 1980 has led to the fact that unless churches speak out, we will continue to see an unjust world with a greed-driven global economic system that only generates more poor. In India we can clearly see how poor are at disadvantage. Through a process the WARC came up in 2004 with the Accra Confession where we have indicated that any economic system that does not offer the gifts of God freely to people is wrong. The world continues to amass wealth at the expense of the poor. This is against the will of God. The Church cannot be silent. The 24th General Council at Accra in 2004 adopted a confession of faith that stated "the integrity of our faith is at stake if we remain silent or refuse to act in the face of the current system of neoliberal economic globalization." It has been the subject of much attention and study within churches.

How has been the response from churches after the Accra Confession?

We continue to mobilize churches and urge congregations to look critically at what we are called to do so that we can expose the injustice of the economic world. So that the resources of the world that belong to God are equally distributed among all people. Many of our churches in Global South found the Confession very empowering specially the countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We really needed a resource developed from a faith perspective that helps us to expose those evils that continue to oppress people, destroy communities, and put at distance the education of young people. However churches in North America and some European countries had resisted this for many reasons. But today many are beginning to see the importance of the Accra Confession. As we are gearing up for our next general council, we are already seeing churches asking how they could build upon the Accra Confession. I do not hear voices anymore discrediting or disagreeing.

Won't justice be more effective and evident when Gospel is first shared among people or communities?

Yes, sharing the Gospel is important for justice to happen anywhere. The fact here is that justice is brought because of Christ. Justice in the world is from the Gospel. We in fact have to realise that we are saved not by our works but by His grace. Justice is the heart of the Gospel. That is what the WARC believes and stands on. Another way of putting it theologically would be, justification by faith. Justice comes from the same root just. We are justified so we can be a community of God that can bring the same transformation in others lives as well.

In the next general council to be soon held, a historic merger is to take place. Could you mention its significance?

Our Lord prayed that all would be one. WARC exists since 1875. It is one of the oldest. We will be merging with Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) that is in existence since 1946. Together this union will be called the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The significance of this is that we are obedient to our Lord's teaching of unity. Together we will be a stronger force, a better witness, a better example to a world where there is too much division and greed. Even CNI and CSI in India have shown great example of unity.

Why REC? Will there be merger of more organisations?

REC and WARC are of same reformed family. And moreover this is just one step. There always needs to be a beginning. We are indeed open to more in future. Incidentally, Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council (DECC), an international body founded in 1979, will also be joining the union. So we have three bodies on the same path. It is really very historic.

What next after merger?

We decided that the first few years of World Communion of Reformed Churches, we would focus on communion and justice. Especially focusing on how we live together in the union and how we can represent the body of Christ faithfully. And secondly justice in the world. Justice in participation of women and men in the ministry, justice in economy, justice in environment and justice for all people, races, castes and shades.

You would be speaking on Calvin at tomorrow's seminar. Would you be touching anything specific?

Calvin is a very interesting character who lived in the 16th century. He lived and died long ago but the more you read about Calvin you see that the things he said 500 years ago are still so relevant today. Especially how we apply our faith in dealing with societal issues was something Calvin was talking about in the 16th century. I hope to cover these during my presentation.

There has been major criticism on Calvin's doctrine of predestination. Would you be talking on that?

No. Am not going to talk about predestination. I know predestination has been identified with Calvin so much. Yes sometimes it seems that Calvin's writings seeks to almost negate freewill. However, I happen to believe that this is because he was exposing the sovereignty of God. For us reformed people, Calvinists, the sovereignty of God is very important. What Calvin intended or wished was that no human being will take credit for himself for anything. He wanted the complete sovereignty and rule of God. I did it not by myself, but because of God's grace…to glorify God. And to take this point further, Calvin interpreted it this way. God has already chosen at will who to save and who not to. This is because of the emphasis on the sovereignty of God. After Calvin there has been many theological interpretations and not many reformed people will now say human will or human activity has no place. When you however look at it historically, it makes a lot of sense. I can't for instance say that if I die in 10 years that is because it was predestined. I cant predict that. But when I look back at my life until now, I can say there is nothing I achieved by myself. It is all by the grace of God. So Christians do not have to look at it this way that what they will become is predestined. They can rather look back and say whatever I am now is by God's grace.