May 28-29, 2008
By the time we gathered for our fourth meeting, two realities had become very clear. First, we had come to know and relate to each other very well so that we found ourselves eager to see each other and work together. And second, we had a better grasp of both the diversity of opinion in the CRC on this subject, and also the healthy vitality with which many churches were approaching it.
We are very eager for our first “report” to the Synod of the CRC in June. We believe that our plan to engage them in “table talk” during their Tuesday lunch break will introduce them to the new approach we are taking to the task, will harvest many interesting insights for us, and will also lay the groundwork for similar conversations in Classis meeting and other locations in the near future.
Though we are barely completing the first year of our work on a very large and complex task we found that we were ready to begin writing some documents that would express our theology, our understanding of some of the issues involved, and would point the way to issues the church should consider, study, and discuss. “Affirming Baptism” will become a very significant document which will direct the church in reassessing how rich our baptism is, how it is to be affirmed life-long and how it becomes the reason for all faith-formation efforts. We are pleased that our soon-to-be-coming Website will provide an opportunity for interested persons and churches to become more familiar with our work.
Over dinner, we had a stimulating and rewarding conversation with four CRC Church Planters. Our aim was to listen to their concerns and experiences, and try to get a better grasp of how the subjects we deal with will be able impact their ministries in the most wholesome way. The rapport we experienced together was heart-warming and we gained a new appreciation for the work of Church Planters.
We will soon be contacting approximately 50 leaders in different capacities in the CRC to serve as “Pastoral Correspondents” with us. These key people, all actively involved in some area of pastoral or agency ministry, will be able to consult with others in their area on selected questions and issues and give us reliable feedback. We hope they will become our eyes and ears throughout the denomination. We are convinced it is vitally important that we remain constantly engaged in dialog with the churches and their leaders.
As our work continues, we find that we not only are able to identify the issues more clearly, but we also come to understand our own need for further study in certain areas. Two areas of study seem key to us at this point: the issues associated with the proper understanding of I Corinthians 11, and the issues associated with faith development in children and youth. These two areas will receive concentrated attention in the near future.
Howard Vanderwell, Secretary
