The leaders of the two worldwide Reformed Church groups, which represent more than 80million Protestants, have called for a new global body to be created called the “World Reformed Communion”.

The leaders testified that this was a “major step forward in unity”, after the unanimous recommendation was given in Michigan, USA, where representatives of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) had met for two days at the end of January.

Clifton Kirkpatrick, President of WARC, and Douwe Visser, President of REC released a joint statement to their constituencies, saying, “We rejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit which we believe has led us to recommend that the time has come to bring together the work of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council into one body that will strengthen the unity and witness of Reformed Christians.