URCNA Synod-16, Emeritation of Ministers

The September 15, 2010 issue of Christian Renewal carried my final report about the actions of the URCNA's Synod London 2010. This report deals with the appointment of a committee to study ministers' retirement. I'm numbering this post to follow the last Synod report I posted on August 9.

URCNA Synod London 2010:
Committee to study Emeritation of Ministers

by Glenda Mathes


In addition to forming a study committee on missions, Synod London 2010 established a study committee regarding the emeritation (or retirement) of ministers.

The study committee was appointed in response to an overture from Classis Southern Ontario. That overture requested changes to Article 10 of the Church Order, which requires each church to provide adequately for its minister and family and to contribute toward his retirement needs.

The overture suggested one wording change and an addition. The proposed amendment was in a sentence stating that these men should retain the title and dignity of their office and suggested changing Those who have retired from active ministry to Ministers Emeritus. The additional sentences were: The emeritation of a minister shall take place with the approval of his Consistory and with the concurring advice of Classis. The ministerial credentials of a minister emeritus will ordinarily remain with the church which granted his emeritation.

Grounds for the overture explained that the Church Order does not currently address the matter of ministerial credentials relating to emeritus ministers. The overture additionally argued that Classis ought to be involved in the process and that a standard procedure that would avoid confusion within the federation, particularly in cases of Article 11 dissolutions or geographical moves.

The advisory committee’s initial recommendation was determined to constitute a substantial change to the overture, and the matter was recommitted to the advisory committee.

The advisory committee later presented a recommendation that an ad hoc committee be formed to study and report on the emeritation of ministers. The suggested study committee’s mandate consisted of seven parts: the status of ministerial credentials, the status of membership upon emeritation, the roles of Consistory, Classis, and Synod, the financial support of emeriti ministers, the bearing on these matters of a potential Article 11 dissolution or a geographical move, review of previous synodical decisions and the Church Order, and how all these matter related to each other.

Synod approved the formation of the committee with that seven-fold mandate. Synod then approved the following as members of the committee: Rev. Harold Miller (chairman), Elder Mark Van Der Molen, Rev. Hank Van der Woerd, Rev. Joel Dykstra, Elder Art Miedema, and Rev. Dennis Royall.

Rev. Miller notes that although the URCNA federation currently has a “preponderance of younger ministers,” it also has a “fair number of men nearing the age of emeritation.”

“Eventually we could have a significant number of men nearing that milestone,” he says, “and it will be helpful to know soon what are the parameters of the shared responsibilities for such a change for the particular man, his family, and his congregation.”

“It should be noted,” he adds, “that this line of questioning does not necessarily imply that the URCNA is considering the implementation of a federation directed ‘retirement system.’ Since this ground is already significantly covered in Article 10 of the Church Order substantive change to our current system would likely have to be suggested from a discovery in the realm of principal rather than a pragmatic concern.”
A budget was not set for the committee since it is anticipated that most of its work can be conducted via telephone and email. The committee is to report to Synod 2012.

URCNA Synod-15, Chaplaincy

Thanks for your patience during my busy last week! What follows is the report I submitted to Christian Renewal regarding Synod London 2010's actions related to the armed forces chaplaincy.


URCNA Synod London 2010
Armed Forces Chaplaincy: Protecting those who protect

by Glenda Mathes


Synod affirmed its Kuyperian belief that Christ’s lordship extends to all of life with a vote to send a letter to U.S. armed forces officials urging them to maintain the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy.

Although the Clinton era policy was received with misgivings when first introduced, it effectively forbids homosexuals from serving openly in the armed forces. The current administration is advocating its elimination, which may have far-ranging ramifications for Christian military chaplains.

The URCNA has an ordained minister who serves as a military chaplain: Rev. Andrew Spriensma, Associate Pastor of Faith URC in Beecher, IL. And Synod Schererville 2007 approved URCNA associate membership in the Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel (PRJCCMP, or PRJC, for short).

Synod 2007 also appointed the consistory of Faith URC in Beecher, IL, to send observers to PRJC meetings and report to the next synod.

That report was included in the agenda for Synod London 2010 and contained a few recommendations, the most important of which was the request to send a letter urging U.S. armed forces officials to maintain the DADT policy.

Attached to the URCNA report in Synod’s agenda was a copy of the PRJC petition (addressed to assemblies of member denominations) outlining its concerns and a sample letter to be sent to military officials.

The advisory committee dealing with this issue recommended that the Stated Clerk be instructed to send the letter. That recommendation came before the assembly as a motion.

Dr. Brian Lee spoke against the motion, saying that he felt “uncomfortable” with the church sending such a letter and that it shouldn’t be involved in “politics.” He asked rhetorically if the church would also send letters about abortion or other political issues. Citing his work experience with the Department of Defense, he expressed his belief that the possible consequences would not be as serious as those mentioned in the report.

Rev. Todd Joling spoke in favor of the motion to send the letter.

"The men on the PRJC Committee have a great deal of experience in military and chaplain service and are very concerned that this could be detrimental for the service of orthodox Christian chaplains,” he said. “Faithful chaplains could be forced to choose between compromising their beliefs and exiting the chaplaincy."

He also referenced a letter from the Department of Defense Comprehensive Review Working Group to the PRJC, which requested input on how this repeal would impact chaplains’ service (including worship, pulpit ministry, and counseling).

The motion to send the letter and a second motion to use the sample letter provided in the agenda passed overwhelmingly with only a few dissenting votes.

In related actions, Synod voted to provide the PRJC with contact information for URCNA churches and appointed Faith URC to send an observer to a PRJC meeting in two years, reporting again to the next synod.


This and other Synod reports will appear in the next issue of Christian Renewal. Thanks for reading!

URCNA Synod-14, Point of Personal Privilege (2)

I'm home! I arrived home just before midnight on Saturday night. I confess that, in spite of a great sermon in which I was genuinely interested, I had a difficult time staying awake during Sunday morning worship. After a long nap Sunday afternoon, I was more alert for the evening service. I usually can't get to sleep if I've had a long afternoon nap, but I had no problem last night.

Wow! It's really great to type on a full-size keyboard with a mouse! If there are typos and some incoherence in my previous Synod posts, please bear in mind that I was working from a laptop without a mouse and most were typed between 10:00 PM and midnight when my mind was about to shut down.

I'll return to my Synod report posts later, after I've had an opportunity to look over my notes, but there are some more personal observations I'd like to make. In this post, I'd like to explain why I didn't get home until nearly midnight.

Since booking a round-trip flight from Kansas City to Detroit was almost half as expensive as flying directly from Des Moines to London (Ontario), I traveled with the delegates from Kansas City. My husband drove me to Kansas City on Sunday afternoon and I flew out on the same flight as the delegates on Monday morning. We had a brief layover in Chicago and then flew on to Detroit, where they rented a car and we drove on to London.

On the return trip, we waited for an hour and a half in a long line at the border. We had to gas up the car, return it to the agency, take a shuttle to the airport, and walk to the check-in counter. We explained the situation to the airline representative and she got on the phone to check the status of our flight, which was VERY close to departure time. As soon as she got on the phone, we heard our names announced with a last call for boarding. We hadn't even checked our bags, let alone go through security and walk to our gate, so that loud speaker announcement was like a death knell for making our flight. She hung up the phone and said, "It's too late, the door is closed."

I think there's an analogy in there somewhere, but I haven't thought it through enough to go with it.

We knew the airline had several other flights to Chicago, so we were disappointed, but not too worried. Until she said, "Unfortunately, we run a reduced schedule on Saturdays so there's only one more flight to Chicago and it's overbooked."

We were placed an standby and prayed that somehow there would be seats for us. If there would be only one seat available, the kind men were going to let me have it since my daughter was in Kansas City for a wedding that afternoon and planned to pick me up at the airport and drive me the four hours home.

I called my husband to let him know we were on standby. He told me my daughter's car had spring a major radiator leak on the way to Kansas City, but that she was back on the road. He planned to borrow my Dad's trailer and head for Kansas City in case he needed to haul her car home.

When the flight was almost completely boarded, we heard our names announced. We waited in line and finally received our boarding pass. There was one more person who boarded after us. We were all very thankful that we made it on the flight, in spite of its having been overbooked.

We arrived in Chicago and had about 40 minutes before our flight, so we had time to quickly eat something before our "C" section began to board. I spoke to my husband and learned that he'd noticed a leak by a radiator hose on his Jeep before he left home, so he was installing a new clamp when the entire neck connection broke off and sprayed hot fluid over his left forearm and hand.

I had texted the flight number to my daughter (who was at the wedding) and understood the arrival time as "7:50" but we touched down at 7:20 (I may have misunderstood "7:15"). As soon as we touched down, I called my husband. He was in Kansas City. He had met my daughter and her friend and they had just ordered food, but they ordered it "to go" and drove to the airport. By the time I picked up my luggage and walked outside, they were there: my husband in my van, my daughter and her friend behind him in my daughter's car.

We drove home with one stop for gas. Green anti-freeze was puddling under my daughter's car and spurting out the front grill. I was so thankful my husband was with us. He produced a big container of anti-freeze and filled the radiator. (He's like that, always prepared for emergencies, we travel with a hydraulic jack and tool box.) We drove the rest of the way home without incident.

Stay tuned for more on Synod!

URCNA Synod -13, Point of Personal Privilege

It sometimes happens during a major ecclesiastical assembly that a delegate will request a "point of personal privilege." Generally the delegate wishes to convey some personal sentiment that doesn't directly address the issue at hand, but is nevertheless important for the body to hear.

Before I leave the campus where Synod was held and spend a long day driving and flying home, and before I write more reports about Synod actions, I'd like to take my own moment of personal privilege.

Over the last ten plus years, I've observed as a writer for Christian Renewal major ecclesiastical assemblies of the RCUS, the OPC, the CRC, and the URCNA. On the basis of carefully studied reports and extensive communication with officers and other attendees, I've written about major assemblies of other federations, such as the CanRC, the RPCNA, the PCA, and the RCA (to name just a few that come to mind).

It's been interesting to compare and contrast the different atmosphere and functioning at these assemblies. I have often spoken and written of the URCNA as a child whose growing maturity I witnessed at the previous two Synods. This year it seemed to me that the URCNA was an awkward teenager, stumbling over its own feet.

Fraternal observer Rev. Peter Kloosterman, from the RCNZ (or "RCNZed" as he says), used the same teen analogy when he addressed the brothers at Synod. Additionally, he made some great points about teens' desire for independence and their tendency to see the crisis of the moment as the crisis of their lifetime.

This "awkward teen" Synod went through some of the most excruciating growing pains I've ever witnessed at a major assembly. Those who have attended CRC Synods know that they function like a well-oiled machine. OPC and RCUS assemblies function efficiently also, but have entirely different dynamics. This Synod did not function well through no fault of the Chairman, who repeatedly brought speakers back to the subject at hand, explained exactly where Synod was in its deliberations, and frequently had to spend time telling advisory committee reporters how to do their job.

Synod took a baby step to address this issue by asking that the convening consistory choose experienced men as chairmen and reporters for committees and provide them with resources to help them efficiently perform their tasks. But the real responsibility lies with each delegate. Prior to Synod, each delegate ought to be familiar with Robert's Rules of Order as well as the agenda. Delegates know their pre-advice committee assignments ahead of time; they ought to be very familiar with the issues they will be addressing. Reporters must know how to type up a helpful report that summarizes the issues and presents recommendations with grounds. They ought to know how to present it on the floor and do so quickly.

Reporters shouldn't have to constantly ask, "Do you want me to read this, Mr. Chairman?" Delegates should clearly state that they rise to speak either for or against an issue. I've never heard so many delegates preface remarks with "I'm not sure..." or "I just question..." If a delegate questions wording, he ought to come forward with a proposed amendment that Synod can vote up or down. He shouldn't stand at the mic while delegates try to figure out how to say what he himself isn't quite sure he wants to say.

Part of this awkwardness is because the URCNA is a young federation, part of it may be because the URCNA only meets once every three years, and part of it may be that many delegates have never attended a Synod before. But whatever the reasons, it is not an efficient way to conduct the business of the church and delegates ought to take the responsibility to become better educated in church polity and to be better prepared before rising to speak.

Synod was blessed for four extraordinary officers: Chairman Ralph Pontier, Vice Chair Ronald Scheuers, First Clerk Doug Barnes, and Second Clerk Bradd Nymeyer. These men fulfilled their roles admirably. Revs. Pontier, Scheuers, and Nymeyer often demonstrated the amazing amount of church order and polity knowledge they store in their minds.

There were many other good things about this year's Synod. Synod did some very good work that will greatly benefit the churches. As usual the cammaraderie among delegates who came from all over North America, as well as fraternal observers from all over the world, was amazing. Some of these men are very isolated in their ministry or mission work. Some struggle against overwhelming obstacles. It was a blessing for all attendees to gather with like-minded brothers to do the business of Christ's church.

URCNA Synod-12, Federal Vision

The issue of most interest to me was the report from the committee studying Federal Vision and Justification. As I mentioned in my earlier post on the "Nine Points" that were adopted by Synod Schererville 2007, I have been following this issue since observing the RCUS Synod at which their report was adopted. I witnessed the discussion at Classis Michigan regarding an overture to adopt that statement for the URCNA, and I sat in on the pre-advice committee at Synod Schererville.


Recognizing the theological knowledge and ecclesiastical acumen of the men appointed to the study committee, I was not surprised when it produced what I considered to be a very fine report. Having seen the strong level of commitment to the gospel demonstrated repeatedly at URCNA classis and other meetings, I anticipated very little opposition to the report. My heart warmed at the compassionate manner in which the pre-advice committee at Synod 2010 handled the concerns expressed in an overture that sought to avoid creating extra-confessional documents of a binding nature. My spirit rejoiced at the careful attention to biblical truth and the spirit of cooperation evidenced with the pre-advice committee.


When the recommendations from the pre-advice committee came before the body, I was confident of strong support.


Synod adopted the following without dissent: "That Synod urge all office-bearers to repudiate Federal Vision teachings where they are not in harmony with the following articles from the Three Forms of Unity (which was followed by a listing of nine confessional quotations that were drawn directly from the overture).


Synod then affirmed 15 teachings of Scripture and the Three Forms of Unity, most of which were nearly the same as those that appeared in the study committee's report (pages 491-492 of the Proposed Agenda).


Only the first two affirmations had been rewritten in the pre-advice committee to reflect the referenced confessional teaching with wording that sought to address the language and emphases of Federal Vision teachings. The first two affirmations had originally been direct quotations from the confessions, and the pre-advice committee sought to carefully separate the direct confessional teachings from the affirmations applying those teachings.


The first two affirmations as revised:


1. In God's unchangeable purpose, He elects His chosen ones to salvation and effectively draws them into fellowship with Christ through His Word and Spirit, granting them true faith in Christ, justifying, sanctifying and preserving them in Christ's fellowship until He glorifies them (Canons of Dort, 1.7).


2. The election of God is of one kind only, and is to everlasting life, and not to a mutable relationship dependent on the good work of man, which can be forfeited (Canons of Dort, 1.8). Those who finally fall away have not forfeited their election, but demonstrate they never were elect, though members of the covenant community (Canons of Dort, 5.7).


Several minor editorial changes were made to some of the other affirmations, but none of those changed the substance of the affirmation. Those few edits only made the finished product clearer and stronger.


The following four grounds were adopted with the recommendation:


1. Clearly distinguishing direct quotations from the Confessions from the formulations of the 15 points respects the binding nature of our Confessions as our doctrinal standards. The Scriptures, Ecumenical Creeds, and Three Forms of Unity alone may serve as grounds in matters of discipline.

2. Moving the affirmations as proposed in Overture 1 diminishes the weight of the statements addressing the Federal Vision errors.

3. Overture 1's proposal to move these affirmations to summary statements would disrupt the coherence and logical flow of the report.

4. The churches have a responsibility to address contemporary theological errors in a language that is applicable to those errors.

The motion regarding the recommendation with its grounds and 15 affirmations carried without dissent. Immediately after the vote, delegates broke into spontaneous applause.

There was some debate about the next recommendation, which asked Synod to "reaffirm the reminder" of Synod Schererville and quoted its statement about encouraging individuals to follow proper Church Order procedure when an office-bearer is suspected of "deviating from or obscuring the doctrine of salvation as summarized in our Confesssions...."

Some delegates questioned the wisdom of reaffirming reminders. They felt that this minimized the original statement. The introductory phrase was deleted and Synod passed only the quotation from the Acts of Synod 2007, Art. 67.4.

A recommendation regarding what actions Synod should take to widely distribute the report passed without dissent.

A recommendation to publish the study committee report was defeated; however, a new motion that gives the convening consistory permission to allow a secondary organization to publish the study report was adopted.

The final recommendation to thank the study committee for its excellent work passed without dissent.

After the vote, Chairman Pontier used a point of personal privilege to express his hope that "we can address those with whom we have differences in a way that will promote the truth and the glory of God and will not create shame and disgrace because we are biting and devouring one another."

It is good to be reminded of the need for compassionate and careful handling of accusations against others. Some of those who oppose Federal Vision teachings can quickly become inflamed and accusatory. It's important to be sure of the offense before accusations are made. Doctrinal accuracy is of paramount importance, but doctrinal accuracy can be implemented in a compassionate manner that reflects the love of Christ.
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URCNA Synod-11, Doctrinal Commitment

Synod Schererville 2007 had appointed a study committee to explore the issue of doctrinal commitment necessary for membership and that committee reported to this year's Synod.

The six-member committee was evenly split into Position 1 (Membership Access with Stipulations) and Position 2 (Membership Access with Full Assent). The Advisory Committee presented a Majority and Minority reports. After some discussion, the motion was made and carried to recommit the matter to the study committee, members of which were present at Synod and expressed their hope that they could come to a more unified decision before presenting a revised report to the next Synod.

A motion to add a seventh member to the study committee was defeated.

For more on this and other synodical decisions, see the next issue of Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod-10, Missions

Earlier in its deliberations, Synod had voted to "evaluate the need for a part-time/full-time or 'volunteer' URCNA mission coordinator position and to appoint a study committee to evaluate the need for a mission coordinator.

Last evening Synod adopted a mandate for the study committee "to develop a proposed set of federational mission policies and guidelines." The committee is to take into consideration the possibility of a missions coordinator position and was given several recommendations to guide its direction. Those appointed to the committee are: Rev. Michael Brown (chair), Rev. Jody Lucero (Clerk), Rev. William Boekestein, Rev. Harry Bout, Elder Paul Wagenmaker, Rev. Richard Anjema, and Rev. Kevin Efflandt. Alternates are: Rev. Steve Arrick, Rev. Alan Vander Pol, Rev. Reuben Sernas, and Elder Harry Kooistra.

Many delegates privately expressed the encouragement and joy they felt about the URCNA moving toward a more unified front on the mission field.

More reports and details will be available in the next issue of Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod-9, The Nine Points

Appeal #1 came from Hills URC and took issue with the procedure used by Synod Schererville 2007 when it adopted the item of pastoral advice that has become known as the "Nine Points."

The appeal and presenters made clear that the theological content of the "Nine Points" was not the issue; the procedure was. The gist of the appeal was these points did not come from a consistory and that the churches did not have an opportunity to study the theological statements prior to Synod 2007.

This item was of interest to me since I observed the work of the advisory committee that eventually recommended these points at Synod 2007. The same advisory committee recommended the establishment of the study committee whose report on the Federal Vision comes before Synod 2010.

The advisory committee recommeded sustaining the appeal, believing that proper procedure had not been followed. Delegates were divided over the issue; some argued for the importance of following appropriate procedure and allowing consistories to study such statements prior to their adoption. Others argued that this piece of pastoral advice was crucial for the federation.

Because Chairman Pontier wished to speak to the issue, he turned the chair over to Vice-Chair Scheuers.

"I believe that in this case we have to recognize that we procedurally erred," Rev. Pontier said. "We're not rejecting the doctrine."

When Vice-Chair Scheuers wished to speak to the issue at the end of debate, he resigned the chair to Second Clerk Nymeyer.

"If Synod can't give pastoral advice on an issue, we might as well just send in our votes," said Rev. Scheuers. "I would plead with you that we not accede to the recommendation."

The recommendation, and therefore the appeal, was defeated. The Nine Points remain as pastoral advice for the churches.

URCNA Synod Reports-8, Ecumenical relations (CERCU)

This morning Synod decided to enter into Phase 2, Ecclesiastical Fellowship, with the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ), but tabled indefinitely a recommendation to move to Phase 2 with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA). According to synodical guidelines, a motion to table indefinitely can be made when it is "wise and prudent to avoid a direct vote on a matter without deciding either positively or negatively."

Although both denominations currently ordain women deacons, the practice has been steadily decreasing in the ERQ. Ordaining women deacons has been a longstanding (about a hundred years) practice in the RPCNA, however, and delegates seemed to desire more information about the RPCNA's current practice before making a decision. Tabling indefinitely seemed like a good way to hold off on the decision without casting a negative vote.

Synod also voted to consider all those member denominations of NAPARC with which the URCNA is not already in either Phase 1 or Phase 2 relations to be in Phase 1, Corresponding Relations. Those five federations are: Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Heritage Reformed Congregations, Korean American Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in America, and Presbyterian Reformed Church.

Be sure to read the full report in the next issue of Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod -7, Website oversight

As the evening wore on, delegates flew through recommendations regarding website oversight. Rev. Talman Wagenmaker, reporter for the pre-advice committee, read the committee's recommendations so quickly that Chairman Pontier asked if he could preach a two-hour sermon in twenty minutes.

His quick, but articulate, reading set the pace for Synod's actions on the 15 recommendations.

Regarding a webmaster, Synod declared that the Stated Clerk and the Webmaster "may or may not" be the same person. Synod granted the Website Oversight Committee (WOC) authority to "establish and maintain" the duties of the Webmaster "with the approval of the Oversight Consistory." Synod also granted the WOC authority to appoint a webmaster, with the approval of the Oversight Consistory, if Synod does not appoint a webmaster. The webmaster must be a voting member of the WOC. Synod set the webmaster's annual remuneration at $3,000 and specified that it not be taken from the website fund.

Chairman Pontier expressed warm appreciation to Mr. Bill Konynenbelt for his years of service to the committee and Synod gave him a round of hearty applause.

Synod also thanked Grace URC of Waupon for its consistory's oversight of the WOC, voted not to set a term limit for a consistory's service as the Oversight Consistory, and reappointed Grace's consistory as the Oversight Consistory until the next Synod.

Each Classis has been submitting $200 per year to the WOC fund and Synod agreed to the WOC's request to reduce that to $100 per year since the WOC has a current balance sufficient for three years.

Synod thanked Covenant URC of Kalamazoo for transferring ownership of the urcna.com and urcna.net internet domains.

The WOC produces a directory for download, available as a PDF on the password-protected side of the website. Synod mandated that the WOC continue this practice.

The Oversight Consistory had requested a name change to the "Partnering Consistory," but Synod did not approve that change. The name will remain "Oversight Consistory."

The duties of the Oversight Consistory were refined to include acting as a "legal entity" when necessary and acting as the "responsible ecclesiastical assembly" between Synods.

Finally, Synod asked the Liturgical Forms Committee to come up with new introductions for the Canons of Dort, Confession of Faith, and Heidelberg Catechism on the website.

More information on Synod London 2010 will appear in the next issue of Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod-6, Theological Education, Overture 13

The issue of concluding the work of the unity committees (the three committees that have been working toward unity with the CanRC) was tabled temporarily until after dealing with the report regarding the Theological Education Committee.

Synod declared that the Theological Education Committee's mandate has been fulfilled and dismissed the Committee with thanks. Synod did not adopt the "hybrid" model proposed by the Theological Education Committee.

Synod then returned to the discussion about concluding the work of the unity committees. Now that the work of the Theological Education Committee has been concluded, the wording was changed to the "remaining" unity committees (the songbook and joint church order committees). But an earlier action continued the work of the PJCO.

A motion was made to reconsider the seven recommendations made earlier today regarding the PJCO as the declared answer to Overture #13. That motion failed.

Recommendation 5 was back on the floor. The vote on it failed. This means that Overture #13 was not answered.

It was moved that the Synod pick up Overture #13, and then that Synod recommit this matter to the pre-advice committee. The matter of Overture #5 was also recommitted to the committee.

For more on these issues, see upcoming articles in Christian Renewal.

URCNA Synod-5, PJCO, Overtures 3, 5, 13 & 18

Discussion on the floor of Synod finished the report of the advisory committee dealing with the songbook and liturgical forms. It is now discussing the Proposed Joint Church Order.

Those recommendations asked that Synod "accept for continued study" the PJCO 2010, that Synod instruct the churches that suggested changes to the PJCO 2010 should be addressed by way of overtures to Synod, and that Synod reappoint the current committee to continue working with the Canadian Reformed sub-committee to address unfinished matters.

Synod then declared this its answer to Overture #18. There were concerns expressed that delegates were not aware that approving the recommendations was considered the answer to Overture #18. Chairman Pontier ruled that reporters must read entire recommendations to avoid future misunderstanding.

Regarding the Majority and Minority reports from the PJCO, Synod voted to withhold action on these reports since the PJCO has not yet been adopted.

Synod acceded to Overture #3 regarding a change to Article 66 of the Church Order, dealing with two-thirds ratification required before changes take effect. Ratification will be at a time frame determined by Synod.

Overture #13 had requested the conclusion of the current mandate of the unity committees. Synod adopted a recommendation reaffirming "our conviction that the Canadian Reformed Churches are a federation of true and faithful churches of Christ, whom we love and respect as fellow-workers in the kingdom."

Synod encourages churches to facilitate further opportunities of interaction with Canadian Reformed Church by implementing "the essential work" of building "organic, heartfelt unity."

Synod accedes to a recommendation stating that "challenges and concerns remain" regarding the relationship with Canadian Reformed Churches.

Several delegates have spoken against the recommendation that Synod NOT accede to the request of Overture #13. So far only three speakers in favor of the recommendation. Discussion has ceased on this matter until after the order of the day.

More later.

URCNA Synod-4

I'm typing from the auditorium where the second plenary session of the day will begin soon. This morning Synod met briefly before delegates were dismissed into their advisory committees. Several committees have now presented reports that will be considered this afternoon and--no doubt--late into the evening.

URCNA Synod-3, Canadian Night

When Synod went back to plenary session this evening, Chairman Ralph Pontier joked that the initial reports coming from Advisory Committees would be designated in honor of our Canadian hosts and the country in which we were meeting, for example, "Six, eh" (6-A).

It's not unusual for these initial reports to be referred back to committee for additional work and that happened to a recommendation advocating the formation of a study committee to evaluate the need for a part-time/full-time or volunteer missions coordinator. Synod asked the committee to formulate a mandate for the study committee and include budget recommendations.

The recommendation to extend terms of service for CECCA members was tabled temporarily until an overture dealing with rules of procedure has been addressed, since that overture could have implications for the recommendation.

The Advisory Committee recommended and Synod acceded to the request to relieve Cornerstone URC of Hudsonville, MI, from the responsibilities associated with publishing a federational missions newsletter. The Stated Clerk will draft a letter thanking Mr. Don Van Dyke and Mrs. Cheryl Doll as well as the council of Cornerstone for their work on "The Trumpet." Synod immediately sought a replacement and accepted West Sayville's offer to take over the responsibility of publishing a federational mission newsletter.

Discussion ramped up when the Advisory Committee dealing with the Report of the Psalter Hymnal Committee recommended: "Synod 2010 affirms that the official songbook will be purchased and used by all URCNA churches."

Several verbs proposed as amendments to replace "will be" were ruled out of order by the chair since they significantly altered the intent of the recommendation. Rev. Joel Dykstra judged that the recommendation "contravenes Art. 39 of the Church Order." The Chair ruled that it did not do so and that his motion was out of order.

Jon Bouwers offered the amendment that was finally accepted: "Synod 2010 affirmd production of a new songbook which will be purchased and used by all the churches."

After less than two hours of work, delegates paused in their consideration of Advisory Committee recommendations to hear the CanRC fraternal delegate, Rev. Den Hollander, urge the brothers to "continue to keep the unity of the Spirit" and keep focused on "continued commitment to ecclesiastical unity."

Following his speech, Dr. Gerhard Visscher and Dr. Jason Van Vliet (professors at the Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches) answered questions that had been previously submitted from URCNA churches and then answered questions from the floor.

Chairman Pontier concluded the evening by relating that he'd had very little interaction with Canadian Reformed people for the first thirty years of his ministry until he accepted the call to Neerlandia. Now his auto mechanic, his plumber, and the clerks in the store are all warm, godly people who are members of Canadian Reformed congregations.

Synod will meet again in a brief plenary session at 8:00 AM, followed by Advisory Committee meetings for the remainder of the morning. Regular plenary session is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

URCNA Synod-2, Getting Down to Business

Rev. Royal opened Synod this morning at 8:00 with reading from Hebrews 12 and leading the assembly in singing "O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing." Because some motions were made addressing procedural issues, it took a while for Synod to be declared constituted, but it eventually was and four new congregations were welcomed into the federation. The body ratified the previously provisional memberships of Covenant in Carbondale, PA; Trinity in Visalia, CA; First in Oak Lawn, IL; and Redeemer in Regina, SK.

Adopting the provisional agenda generated some discussion regarding appeals that had not been put on it. Motions carried to consider two appeals that had not been included on the agenda. Motions were made to remove certain overtures from the agenda, but those motions were defeated. The provisional agenda was adopted with the addition of the two appeals.

CERCU's request to allow Canadian Reformed brothers the privilege of the floor for an hour this evenings was approved.

Officers were finally elected at about 10:30. Rev. Ralph Pontier is chairman; Rev. Ronald Scheuers is vice-chairman; Rev. Doug Barnes is first clerk; Rev. Bradd Nymeyer is second clerk.

The new officers took their places before the assembly and the chair dismissed the advisory committees to their respective meetings places.

Since I was present at the RCUS Synod that adopted that body's report on Justification, at the Classis Michigan meeting that passed the overture to adopt that report, and at Synod Schererville when it responded to the overture, I was interested to follow the progress of the study report on the Federal Vision and sat in on that committee as it deliberated for its first hour of work.

I don't believe it's appropriate to comment on its actions while the committee is still working out its recommendations to Synod, but I can say that there appears to be unity of purpose.

More later, the Lord willing.

URCNA Synod-1

After a weary day of traveling, I'm in my room at the URCNA Synod 2010 and I have internet access. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way (four hour drive yesterday, security check, two flights, and over two hour drive today), my wireless mouse bit the dust. Thankfully, I have a new laptop with a keyboard that works far better than my old one. Unfortunately, I had an entire blog typed up when I realized that blogger had inexplicably reversed the order of my blogs on my dashboard and I had inadvertently posted on my personal family blog. Even more unfortunately, none of the several methods I have tried will allow me to simply copy and paste the information into the correct blog. So I'm starting over.

The best thing about Synod is the fellowship with friend that one hasn't seen in some time, sometimes years, and meeting electronic aquaintances. It's great fun to put a face with a name. I've already had several opportunities to greet old and new friends.

The next best thing about Synod is the singing. My own praise swells when I hear all those strong male voices laud God.

At tonight's service, Rev. Dennis Royal spoke on "The Wide-Open Gates of Zion" from Psalm 87. He began by stressing the necessity of the church for salvation and noted how the Psalm anticipates Pentecost, when Babel was reversed. He said that although those 3,000 converts may have seemed like a small pebble rippling the surface of the sea of humanity, Christ's church has turned into a tsunami.

He noted that the United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA) began with a passion for preaching and expressed the prayer that God would maintain that commitment.

He alerted hearers to the beautiful imagery of all our "springs" being in Christ and urged delegates to remember, "God loves His Zion. He loves His true church. Keep this foremost in your mind; it's His church."

I've been awake since 3:45; it's now after 10:30, which is far too late for me to hope to type coherently--particularly without a mouse!

Delegates begin meeting tomorrow morning at 8:00. Most of the day will likely be spent in advisory committee meetings. Please pray for delegates as they meet to deliberate on important issues in that part of Christ's church we know and love as the URCNA.