Almost one hundred pastors, one hundred elders, and many others will travel to Sioux Centre, Iowa, this week for the annual Synod of the Christian Reformed Church. One of the delegates is Brian, chairperson of Hope Fellowship’s Vision Leadership Board, who will sleep in the dorms of Dordt College where Synod 2015 will meet from June 12-18.
There are forty-eight classes or groupings of regional churches in the CRC, eleven in Canada, thirty-six in the U.S. and one on both sides of the border. Each classis sends two pastors and two elders. Brian is going as a first time delegate after being elected to go at the January meeting of Classis Quinte.
It’s an honour to represent your church and your classis at a Synod. It’s also a big responsibility. “I received a big book in the mail,” Brian told the Vision Leadership Board recently. “It turned out to be the Agenda for Synod!”
This 456 page “book” contains reports from all the boards and agencies of the CRC, study reports on issues facing the church, and fourteen overtures from as many Classes covering a variety of recommendations including the appointment of female advisors to Synod because of the low percentage of female delegates (7% at last year’s Synod) and the admonishment of two churches in Grand Rapids for their membership in All One Body, a group that promotes the full participation of Christians who are in monogamous, committed same-sex relationships.
Brian will especially have to familiarize himself with this year’s two biggest issues: the complete restructuring of various boards into one big board that will supervise all the agencies and ministries; and the recommendation that deacons also be delegated to synod beginning next year.
Since Synod is meeting in Iowa this year, Brian will have to fly instead of driving to Grand Rapids, Michigan, the usual location. Will the travel and full days of meetings be worth it? Absolutely, because delegates tend to gain a greater appreciation for the internal organization and the external impact of the Christian Reformed Church as it brings the good news of God’s love to the world.
- Pastor Peter
There are forty-eight classes or groupings of regional churches in the CRC, eleven in Canada, thirty-six in the U.S. and one on both sides of the border. Each classis sends two pastors and two elders. Brian is going as a first time delegate after being elected to go at the January meeting of Classis Quinte.
It’s an honour to represent your church and your classis at a Synod. It’s also a big responsibility. “I received a big book in the mail,” Brian told the Vision Leadership Board recently. “It turned out to be the Agenda for Synod!”
This 456 page “book” contains reports from all the boards and agencies of the CRC, study reports on issues facing the church, and fourteen overtures from as many Classes covering a variety of recommendations including the appointment of female advisors to Synod because of the low percentage of female delegates (7% at last year’s Synod) and the admonishment of two churches in Grand Rapids for their membership in All One Body, a group that promotes the full participation of Christians who are in monogamous, committed same-sex relationships.
Brian will especially have to familiarize himself with this year’s two biggest issues: the complete restructuring of various boards into one big board that will supervise all the agencies and ministries; and the recommendation that deacons also be delegated to synod beginning next year.
Since Synod is meeting in Iowa this year, Brian will have to fly instead of driving to Grand Rapids, Michigan, the usual location. Will the travel and full days of meetings be worth it? Absolutely, because delegates tend to gain a greater appreciation for the internal organization and the external impact of the Christian Reformed Church as it brings the good news of God’s love to the world.
- Pastor Peter
Comments
Post a Comment