Credo ↔ Oratio

The good doctor (in the comments on my post “Synod is Over“) pointed out that I said nothing about the way synod acted regarding the Church Herald.  To make a long story short, they decided to stop assessing for the Church Herald, which means that the RCA will no longer have every-household delivery.

I’ve made further comments on the Church Herald issue and given numbers for 2008 assessments in my response.  You can read it here.

Grace and Peace,

`tim

I hope you’ve been able to keep up with some of the business at synod through my posts. It has been a real joy! Synod is now over (ended yesterday morning with the installation of John Ornee as president and Carol Bechtel as Vice President). The week was capped off with worship and the celebration of Communion.

JJ and I (and, of course, Sophia) are home. The trip went well.

I’d like to publicly thank Ethan Ketelaar who house-sat and took care of our dear dog Carina. He is a great guy and did and awesome job.

So, back to normal blogging…

Grace and Peace,

`tim

Let me be the first to blog it.  The Rev. Dr. Carol Bechtel has been elected the newest RCA Synodical Vice president.  That means that she will be president in two years.

For those who don’t know here, Carol is a professor at Western Theological Seminar, a Harpist, a Writer, and a down-right-good person.

I couldn’t be happier!

Grace and Peace,

`tim

Synod just voted on R17.  Despite several attempts at ammendment, the vote was on the original recommendation:

To instruct the Commission on Theology, in conversation with the General Synod professors of theology, to engage in a study of the historic “marks” of the church, as articulated in the RCA Standards and in light of missional understandings of the gospel, and to consider recommendation of the addition of a fourth “mark of the church, for report to the General Synod no later than 2010. 

Results? R-17 passed.

There will be some kind of study on the marks of the church.  Wow!  Could be VERY interesting!  It’s possible that we could be powerfully engaged, in the next years, with a true study of ecclesiology.  Maybe the RCA will begin re-engaging our standards!
Grace and Peace,

`tim

You may have heard that there was a recommendation to bring Deacons into full participation of the RCA’s assemblies (R-15).  It didn’t go.  However, the following recommendation DID:

To direct the commission on theology to prepare a study on whether there is a theological basis within a reformed an missional ecclesiology for the inclusion of deacons as full members of classes regional synods, and the general synod for report to the 2009 General Synod.

It was moved by Jim Brownson — a good move, I think.

Grace and Peace,

`tim

OK, that may be a little much. But it’s pretty clear that people were not in favor of restructuring in the proposed way right now. Indeed, R-13 and R-14 were resoundingly defeated (without audible dissent!) Instead, R140a (which was amended and includes no visible restructuring language) was approved 93% to 6.7%:

To instruct the executive committee of General Synod to continue the denomination-wide dialogue and data collection with written survey and other means, on the missional purpose and work of the Reformed Church in America, its assemblies and congregations; and further

with all regional synods, all classes, all consistories, and other bodies to facilitate the conversation in order to gather wisdom, share ideas, and encourage experimentation, so that the RCA might discover new means by which to more effectively equip congregations for missions and ministry with measurable outcomes; and further,

to share the results of these actions with General Synod no later than 2010, in order to determine what future steps, if any, might be undertaken.

I like this.

Grace and Peace,

`tim

We’re just getting the missional structures decisions underway.  There’s the potential for major controversy and intense disagreement.  By the end of this afternoon it is possible (although I think unlikely) that we will be entering a time of “open space” to move toward some very dramatic changes in the RCA denominational structure.

We shall see!

Grace and Peace,

`tim

This morning, the delegates voted to provisionally accept the Belhar Confession! It is difficult to imagine a vote that would please me more! I hope and expect this provisional adoption will be akin to the provisional adoption of a liturgy, which means that it will grow in usage and acceptance over the coming years. I also hope that it will, after the 2-year provisional period it will be adopted as a full and equal confessional standard.

This is new ground for the RCA since, as you may know, we have never actually adopted a confessional standard. The three we now hold were in existence when the RCA came into being (i.e. they weren’t adopted later). I sit in a strange middle ground between hoping (and praying) that we will adopt Behlar fully and completely but NOT make it a habit of doing so frequently. A new standard every couple centuries sounds about right to me.

In any case. If you haven’t checked out the Belhar, now is the perfect time to give it a glance. We’ve studied it (and used it!) at Dunningville, but if you’ve lost your copy (or never got one), you can get it at:

The RCA’s Website (English Belhar Link)

Kerkweb.org (Afrikaans Text)

Grace and Peace,

`tim

You may have wondered what’s up with the elections.  John Ornee has officially been elected President of General Synod for next year (no surprise since the vice-president is the only individual on the ballot). 

The vice-presidential nominations (which are always more interesting) have also been tallied – the vote will take place for that tomorrow.  The nominations are a broad group – it will be interesting. 

Grace and Peace,

  `tim

Several people have asked me how to get more involved denominationally and whether it’s worth it.  The second question is easy: YEP!  Consider your interest a suggestion that God may be calling you to participate denominationally as well as locally and regionally.  The first question is a little more difficult: How?!

How?  Start by getting on a commission that interests you.  There are two parts to that (one official, one unofficial).  Officially, You need to fill out a Talent Bank Form (download it here) and send it in.  Everyone assigned (by the committee of nominations) has to have a talent bank form filled out.  The second (and unofficial step) is to contact the people on that commission.  This isn’t required, of course, but it helps.  They cannot “put someone on their commission” but when they start talking about potential members, they can request – and they’re likely to request those people who’ve shown interest.

Hope to see you on a commission soon!

Grace and Peace,

`tim