I. Survey question/response detail as of 02/01/07:
816 email surveys sent to pastors
411 responses received
+150 returned as “undeliverable”
Response rate = +60%
II. Survey Questions/Results:
1. Do baptized children in your congregation take communion prior to making public profession of faith?
Yes: 25.1% (103 responses)
No: 74.9% (307 responses)
2. When do children in your congregation ordinarily make public profession of faith?
Lower elementary (grades K-2): .5%
Upper elementary (grades 3-5): 5.6%
Middle school (grades 6-8): 20.7%
High school (grades 9-12): 73.2%
3. If you responded “high school” to the previous question, have you ever had a child make profession of faith before high school?
Yes: 67.9%
No: 32.1%
4. When younger children (before high school) make profession of faith, do you also at some later point publicly mark their “coming of age” and taking adult responsibilities in your church?
Yes: 32.2%
No: 67.8%
Note: Respondents who answered yes were asked to specify how this happens. Answers included:
— Announcements in the church newsletter or Sunday bulletin
— Simple ceremonies at which the young person (usually age 16-18) acknowledges agreement with the doctrines and beliefs of the church and acceptance of adult responsibilities
— Ceremonies of reaffirmation of (prior) profession of faith
— Two-tiered professions of faith, sometimes called by other names, such as:
— First communion/profession of faith
— Children’s profession/official profession
— Covenantal statement of faith/profession of faith
— Profession of faith/profession of discipleship
— Stage 1/stage 2
— Participation in membership classes
5. How has your congregation responded to Synod 2006’s decision to welcome covenant children to the Lord’s Table?
Eager: 13.4%
Somewhat eager: 14.6%
No particular reaction: 49.6%
Somewhat concerned: 10.3%
Concerned: 12.1%
In addition to simply using the five-point scale to indicate their own and/or their congregation’s attitude toward the decision, a large number (176) of respondents added lengthy and thoughtful comments to enlarge on and explain their responses. These comments ran the gamut from excited (“We have been praying and eager for this for a decade”) to upset (“We are very much in disagreement with the decision to impose this change on the denomination. Furthermore, we are convinced it will further divide the CRCNA at a time when we desperately need unity”) to disinterested (“It certainly isn’t a hot topic in our church. Most, I’m sure aren’t even aware of Synod’s decision”) to watchful (“We’ll wait for the task force and synod to consider and act”).
The following comment from a pastor provides a good summary of the apparent disparity of perspectives and emotions surrounding the issue demonstrated in the survey responses: “The Council was largely unaware of the decision until I handed out the summary of the major decisions of 2006 and pointed this issue out to them. While two of them were favorably inclined, the rest were shocked. It really involves a paradigm shift, demanding a break from a centuries old practice. I am personally in favor of this, but also feel the dramatic nature of the change.”
6. What resources have you found helpful in preparing younger children and teens to profess their faith?
Here again, responses were varied, with most pastors reporting that they put together their own teaching resources or used a variety of denominational resources published by Faith Alive.
7. What else do you wish to tell (or ask) the task force as it deals with this significant issue for the church?
The following quotes, excerpted from the 217 written responses, suggest the perceived significance of this matter for the church—and the daunting challenge the task force faced in responding to the issue and providing guidance for the church.
Responses centered around these themes:
a. Provide a theology of communion.
“I was a delegate at the last Synod and served on the committee of pre-advice that studied this issue. I am convinced that Synod acted hastily in making this decision. I would encourage the task force to present a Biblical and Confessional rationale that is thorough, persuasive, and clear. It will need to be so in order to get a positive and supportive response from local congregations.”
b. Provide material that will help congregations discuss and understand the issue.
“Recognize that congregations are all over the map on this one, and maybe guidance for churches in their uniqueness, to move us along in the same direction. Congregation-handy material would be good. Stuff to pass along that makes the whole issue easy to understand in just a few pages—that would be great!”
c. Define (and strengthen) public profession of faith—its purpose and place in the life of the church.
"We need a clearer understanding of what profession of faith means. As we openly welcome children to join in Communion as part of their families (I am assuming without the hybrid children’s profession any more) we also need to be more clear about what the step to adult membership really means with respect to the local congregation, the Church of Jesus Christ as a whole, the person himself, etc. . . . this all needs work.”
d. Give congregations practical help as they seek to implement this decision.
“Go for it. Be bold, give a strong endorsement of Synod 2006’s decision, and give solid practical steps for implementation. Though I know there are some congregations forging ahead already, if our congregation is like many others, we’re looking for leadership on this at a denominational level, not wanting to ‘just go for it independently’; I believe there will be good response in our congregation with some clear steps for implementation.”
e. Proceed slowly and sensitively.
-- “Just be aware of what a massive cultural shift this is. Despite the good intentions of the reformers the CRC has in fact acquired a sizeable works righteousness ethos in its on-the-ground practice in the churches. Comments we hear around here are, ‘Well, this makes it just too easy!” The core fundamental struggle here is to comprehend the far-reaching implications of grace.”
-- “Proceed cautiously!”
-- “Please strive for empathy and clarity . . . it will be difficult to generate consensus around change.”
-- “I would suggest this goal: to affirm diversity of expression, while allowing churches to continue to develop local practices in accord with their history and theological understanding. Unity and unanimity are not the same.”
-- “For those of us fully in favour of moving ahead with this, please do not bind us with all kinds of rules and regulations that keep this from being a simple celebration of God’s grace to his people.”
