We believe a North American regional fellowship would be a force for unity and mission. Separated as we are by denominational and other divisions, it is often difficult to work together. The WRF brings together brothers and sisters who share a commitment to the Reformed tradition in its various manifestations but who otherwise might have little fellowship with one another. The sharing of ideas, dreams, ministry models, stories, etc. is a powerful tool for the mission of the church. Hence, the WRF fills a need not met by the more broadly-defined interdenominational organizations (such as the NAE) nor the more narrowly-defined organizations (such as NAPARC).

Harvie Conn, in his magisterial work Eternal Word and Changing Worlds, said, “The Third World church will find its greatest struggle in learning to be a teacher of the West. The Western church will find its greatest agony in being taught to be a learner.” We North American Christians need our brothers and sisters in the developing world more than they need us; we have much to learn. We do, however, want to see the WRF in North America serve the church in the developing world out of the abundance of resources with which we have been blessed. For example, many from North American participated in the 2006 General Assembly in Johannesburg, while many from Africa were unable to attend due to limited financial resources. We want to work to see more of our brothers and sisters from the developing world participate in the 2010 General Assembly in Scotland.

1.  We intend to communicate with a number of individuals—men and women, ordained and lay, from the mainline and “separated” churches, and from Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Reformed ecclesial backgrounds—to help form a steering committee for a North American regional fellowship. Much of this will be done by phone and email, although it is hoped that a face-to-face gathering can take place.

2.  We intend to hold events which will connect pastors who have the potential of influencing and sharpening the effectiveness of the entire Reformed Church in North America.  We are also considering the possibility of gathering the leaders of Reformed seminaries and colleges [in coordination with the WRF Commission on Theological Education] and the leaders of Reformed missions agencies and ministries [in coordination with the WRF Commission on Missions and Evangelism] to discuss ways in which we all may together work toward building the influence of evangelical Reformed theology on the North American continent.

3.  Under the leadership of several of our members (Dr. Diane Langberg, Dr. Phil Monroe, Dr. Sam Logan, Mrs. Susan Logan, Rev. Richard Tyson, and Mrs. Bethann Tyson), we have been working for the better part of two years toward the development of resources for ministerial leaders in crisis. When 18,000 ministers of the Gospel in the United States leave the ministry each year, the church has a problem. And the problem is not restricted to those in pastoral positions. All kinds of ministry leaders seem under attack. We intend to work toward the creation of a program and a facility which will provide assistance to ministry leaders - before, during, and after times of actual crisis. Consultations with such organizations as Focus on the Family, the Association of Theological Schools, the Lilly Endowment, and numerous specific denominations have been done -- and continue.  An ever-widening network of people and organizations are becoming involved.  Weekend retreats/consultations for ministry couples were held in 2011; others are planned for 2012.

4.  The ministry of Women in the Word: A Workshop continues!  The sixth annual Workshop was held on October 14 and 15, 2011 at Calvary PCA in Willow Grove, PA.   The seventh Workshop will be held on October 12 and 13, 2012 at the same location. 

In January 2011, under the direction of the Women's Ministry staff at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, the first Dallas version of Women in the Word Workshop was held!  The second will occur on January 27 and 28, 2012.

The History:   Information about the British conference on which Women in the Word is modeled may be found at  http://www.proctrust.org.uk.  A dozen American women participated in that U.K. conference over several years and, in 2006, some of these women worked together to offer the first “American version” of the U.K. conference. Sixty women from across the U.S. participated in 2006. In October of 2007, ninety-six women participated in the American conference. In March of 2008, the WRF Board of Directors approved the recommendation of the North American Regional Ministry Advisory Board that the WRF assume sponsorship of  the annual American conference.   This expanded the potential for training more women from a wide variety of evangelical Reformed denominations in the United States and Canada.  

The 2011 Workshop was well-attended, with about 80 women participating.   Women came from NJ, PA, DE, TX, MI, VA, Canada, and Ghana. This is the second year that the Workshop aimed to help not only Bible teachers but also those who want to be better Bible "students!"

Women in the Word is committed to helping women learn to "correctly handle the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15) so that God's Word can bring joy, understanding, and revival to their hearts, and to others.  The purpose of Women in the Word: A Workshop is to help women who love God's Word improve their ability to interpret, apply, and present Scripture.   The preparation that is required of participants before the Workshop is actually part of the whole Workshop experience!

During the Workshop, Plenary Sessions and small Study Groups are interspersed so that women experience and practice the skills of sound interpretation. 

The next "Women in the Word Workshop" will be offered at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Willow Grove, PA, on Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13, 2012.  Click here to get a downloadable version of the brochure.  Also see the the Bible Teaching section of  the WRF "Resource" tab for content  and schedule of the Workshop.

Go to the Bible Teaching section under "Resources" for must-read articles and details about the recordings from the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Workshops.   Or, click here to access those recordings.  You'll want to have your Bible in hand as you listen!

For further information, contact Dr. Craig Higgins.