Remember the 73 ...

The opening worship of the World Communion of Reformed Churches started with drum beats and alleluias from various parts of the world, with a gentle and joyful dancing procession of particpants waving scarves.

Then came the banner ... "Remember the 73" ... Susan Davies of the WARC executive offered strong words of sadness at the injustice of the 46 delegates excluded because their visas had been denied, "May their voices thunder amongst us".

All of those who have visas denied come from the Global South - Asia, Africa, Latin America - we will need to try even harder to make their voices heard.

We are diminshed without them, our communion is lessened. We will have to work harder for justice and pray even more that the spirit will one day unite us in true bonds of peace.