Upon receiving the prayerful recommendation of the Commission on Evangelism and Missions, and consistent with the Lord’s command to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), the Sixth General Assembly of the World Reformed Fellowship,

Blessed by the gracious condescension of our Lord Jesus Christ who has chosen to place the wondrous treasure of the gospel and the call to missions in such jars of clay, we affirm that the surpassing power that transforms rebellious sinners into repentant disciples is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7),

Obedient to the command of our Lord to take the message of salvation to all peoples, calling all to repent and believe the gospel and teaching all who believe to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow him (Matthew 16:24),

Upholding the oneness and catholicity of the church of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who prayed that we would be one as he and God the Father are one, so that the world would believe in him (John 17:21-22),

Celebrating our common embrace of Reformed Theology and our determination to promote a Christ- centered, Bible believing, worldview,

Recognizing that our fellowship aspires to promote understanding, respect, and mutual support among the membership,

Confessing that as a spirit of courtesy, coordination, and cooperation strengthens our collective witness as we seek to reflect the light of Christ in a world that denies him, while a worldly spirit of competition can diminish our witness and dishonor our Lord,

Acknowledging the blessing that the diverse cultures within our global fellowship aid in effectual and faithful contextualization of our mission efforts,

Affirming that Christian Missions are to the glory of God and not for the glory of any individual, organization, congregation, or denomination,

Prayerfully Embraces this Affirmation of Comity in Missions and humbly commends the following guiding principles to all of the members of the World Reformed Fellowship in the hope of promoting courtesy, coordination, and cooperation in our various and collective endeavors in evangelism and missions as we carry out our Lord’s command to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) and remain true to the aim of our fellowship, “that the strengths of some might become the strengths of all in the service of Jesus Christ.”

Principle 1 -

As a matter of Christian courtesy and to strengthen the connection we share through the WRF, member organizations, institutions, congregations, or denominations considering sending missionaries and ministers to establish ministries and/or plant churches in a targeting geographic area are encouraged to be sensitive to, and respectful of, existing WRF member ministries that may be indigenous to, or already established within, the geographic region and to attempt to reach out to the established local WRF member ministry in the target area prior to launching a mission.

 

Principle 2 –

If a WRF member entity finds one or multiple WRF member entities indigenous to, or previously established within, an intended missional target area, it is recommended that, at minimum, an effort be made to communicate, coordinate, and potentially cooperate with the established local WRF member entity or entities for the purpose of launching new mission endeavors or, if warranted and mutually agreed to, for the purpose of supporting and enhancing those missions or endeavors already established. Such an effort is especially encouraged when those entities involved have commonality regarding the diversity of polity and non-essential matters within our commonly held Reformed Tradition.

 

Principle 3 –

WRF member entities are encouraged to aspire to form partnerships with one another in evangelizing unreached areas, and to acknowledge and respect those WRF partners who are indigenous to, or are already established within, the targeted areas for their contextual insights and connections that can be crucial in guiding effective mission planning and execution.

 

Principle 4 –

Because of the urgent need to evangelize the lost and strengthen the saints in a world that is hostile to the gospel, WRF member entities, whether already present and active or seeking to initiate new mission activities in a targeted mission area, are encouraged to embrace each other as allies, aspire to collaborate, blessing one another with the diverse gifts and resources given by the Holy Spirit for the building up of the Body of Christ, mindful that such cooperative engagement testifies to our common Faith and glorifies our Lord.