Geneva/Bern, 28 September 2007 (World Alliance of Reformed Churches, WARC; Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, FSPC):
On 28 September the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC) officially launched the Website for the Calvin-Jubilee-Year 2009.
The interactive portal features information all around the 500th anniversary of the reformer Jean Calvin - and in four languages: www.calvin09.org . (To access the English page, click "EN" in the top right-hand corner of the home page.)
Jean Calvin was born in 1509; in 2009, Protestant churches worldwide will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Genevan Reformer with numerous events. In April of this year, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches initiated a meeting to start joint planning procedures including the set-up of an Internet portal.
On 28 September the FSPC launched this official webpage as to the Calvin-Jubilee. When clicking on the address www.calvin09.org the portal features information in four languages on Jean Calvin, including an interactive element around the 500-Year-Jubilee and an event calendar that compiles the events that will take place worldwide. It is also possible to download free of charge different material to prepare for the jubilee as well as documentations as to the various events.
To celebrate the launching of the Internet portal, calvin09 announces two competitions. The first involves finding an official anthem for the Calvin-Jubilee. Interested musicians are invited to send in their compositions. The second is a competition to find the best and most suitable sermon for the occasion. The most exciting sermon will win - which is at the same time rich in content and shares a surprising perspective as to the relevance of Calvin in our time. The conditions to participate as well as the prize to win can be found on the Internet portal.
The website has been put under the patronage of the committee of patrons of calvin09, including 18 representatives from the world of science and church - chaired by the president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Clifton Kirkpatrick.
Kirkpatrick calls reformed churches all over the world to participate in the calvin09-Internet portal: "We want Calvin to come alive for the people of our time through this website. Therefore we are eager to receive information that can be shared through this website concerning the various events being planned all around the world to mark Calvin's 500th birthday. We hope and dream that calvin09.org will be as stimulating and relevant for the 21st century as the theology of John Calvin itself!"
