ICRC 2026: Press Release Day 3 (Oct 19)
The third day of the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC) began with devotions led by Rev. Dr. Karlo Janssen from Romans 15:4–6. He emphasised the centrality of God’s Word and the call to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us.
The conference continued receiving member church reports, hearing from the Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea (KPCK), the Reformed Churches in New Zealand (RCNZ), the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia (PCEA), the Evangelical Reformed Churches in India (ERCI) and the Calvinist Reformed Churches in Indonesia (GGRCI). The reports highlighted challenges facing churches in different contexts, including declining church membership, secularisation, ideological divisions, shortages of ministers and the need for theological education and church planting. Delegates also heard of expanding mission work in India, Nepal and Indonesia, and were encouraged to strengthen cooperation among Reformed churches and invest in training future church leaders.
The Diaconal Committee presented its report, outlining its work since ICRC 2022 and introducing its new publication, The Deacon’s Toolbox, a practical resource for deacons and diaconal ministry. The committee encouraged churches to distribute and translate the book. Delegates expressed appreciation for the publication and discussed the relationship between diaconal ministry and the work of elders, as well as the role of women in ministries of mercy. The conference received the report with gratitude.
The conference also considered the mandate of the Regional Conference Committee. A proposed revision adding a sixth region to the existing five regional divisions, namely Oceania, was adopted.
The afternoon session continued with member church reports from the Sudanese Reformed Churches, the Reformed Churches in South Africa (GKSA), the Presbyterian Church of Uganda (PCU), the United Reformed Churches in Congo (URCC), the Free Church of Scotland – Continuing (FCC) and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales (EPCEW). The reports highlighted both encouraging developments and significant challenges. These included the continued growth of churches amid conflict and humanitarian hardship in Sudan and South Sudan, the establishment of new theological training initiatives in South Africa, evangelism and church planting in Uganda and the challenges and opportunities of ministry in Congo. Reports from Scotland and England and Wales highlighted the pressures of secularisation, the need for church planting and ministerial training, and challenges to church unity. Delegates were encouraged to pray for the protection of Christians in areas of conflict, faithful gospel proclamation, theological education, and the provision of future church leaders.
The day concluded with an academic presentation by Rev. Dr. Davi Gomes, titled Doing good hermeneutics of Scripture and culture: How to apply the lens of Scripture to look at cross cultural communication, followed by a panel discussion.