(See Acts of Synod 2007, Article 56, 67, 71, pages 621-659.)
Article 56 (Items presented to Synod as recommendations, but not yet acted upon, see also article 71.)
2. That synod affirm its commitment to the practice of baptizing infants.
Grounds:
a. The practice of infant dedication can never replace the beauty of the expression of God’s covenant of grace communicated in the sacrament of baptizing infants.
b. The practice of baptizing infant is the normative practice prescribed by the Reformed confession (HC Q. and A. 74; BC Art.34; and the Church Order Art.56)
3. That synod strongly discourage the practice of infant dedication.
Ground: any allowance of infant dedication propagates views contrary with the doctrinal positions of the church (Acts of Synod 1964, p.63)
4. That synod mandate the Faith Formation Committee to provide biblical and pastoral guidance for councils who are conversing with those members who are requesting infant dedication in place of infant baptism.
Ground: Covenantal theology is foundational for faith formation (Gen.17:1-14;1 Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:38-39).
5. That synod mandate the Faith Formation Committee to provide guidance concerning liturgical practices surrounding infant baptism.
Ground: Because liturgical practices teach doctrine, it is important that liturgical practices reflect the doctrinal standards of the denomination.
Article 67
2. That synod assign the Faith Formation Committee the responsibility of sharing the seven universal themes prepared by the Reformed Ecumenical Council with the churches at its discretion:
a. There is only one category of membership in the church. All members of the church are full members of the church. While some members of the church may not have all the same privileges as all other members of the church, nevertheless, anyone who is a member of the church is fully a member of the church. When God made his covenant with his covenant people, he made a single covenant with Abraham and his descendants. After Pentecost, the apostle Peter confirmed that this covenant promise is to believers and to their children.
b. Baptism is the mark by which covenant youth are identified as members of the church. While baptism does not in itself bring youth to salvation, it is the divinely appointed mark by which the children of believers are identified as members of Christ’s church.
c. The means of grace function together to build one community of faith. Some in the community of faith may not fully understand the preaching of the Word or actively participate in the Supper of the Lord. Nevertheless, both the sacraments together and the preaching of the gospel, are given to build up the one body of Christ. Neither the preaching nor the sacraments should ever be used to bring divisions into the body.
d. The sacraments are given to nurture the entire community. Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper serve to nurture faith in different ways at different stages in a person’s growth and development. However, both sacraments nurture the faith of the entire church, not just certain members of it.
e. Participation in the sacraments calls for a response of faith as well as involvement in the community of faith. Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper are given by the Lord to call forth more and more faithful obedience to him. This obedience includes public confession of Jesus as Lord and a life that evidences a heart of faith.
f. Instruction of Christian youth is designed to structure the response and growth of faith. Within the covenant community, instruction is not designed to initiate faith but rather to cultivate and structure the ongoing response and growth of faith. Formal instruction assumes that faith is already present within covenant youth and continues even though public expressions of that faith may have been made.
g. Christian youth should be called to exercise the office of believer. Youth should be given the opportunity to exercise their office as believers appropriate to every stage of their growth in maturity and faith. The gifts of youth should be recognized, affirmed, and employed in service both to the Christian community and to others.
(Acts of the Council, Grand Rapids, 1996, pp. 12-14, 44-47)
Grounds:
a. These valuable statements have originated in an ecumenical context and could be confusing if not explicitly related to the specific issues we are confronting.
b. If shared with the churches either as a whole or in part by the committee, along with helpful and appropriate comments, the churches will benefit more fully from this document.
Adopted
3. That synod establish a Faith Formation Committee (to be appointed by the Board of Trustees) with the following mandate:
To deepen the integration of biblical teaching; confessional norms; church polity; and liturgical, educational, and pastoral practices in the CRC with respect to (1) participation in the Lord’s Supper and (2) public profession of faith, by means of:
a. Formulating a clear statement about the participation of baptized children at the Lord’s Supper and the practice of public profession of faith for use in the churches. The statement should include, first, an explanation of 1 Corinthians 11 and other relevant Scripture texts in light of the principles of Reformed hermeneutics and, second, a discussion of the Reformed confessions with emphasis on the implications of the relationship between covenant and sacraments.
b. Describing how Christian Reformed congregations in various contexts are experiencing intergenerational faith formation and sacramental practice and discerning which liturgical, educational, and organizational practices should be commended by synod to the entire denomination on the basis of their pastoral and theological integrity.
c. Discussing with various agencies and organizations that work in the areas of faith formation, pastoral care, and worship (e.g., Calvin Theological Seminary, Home Missions, Youth Unlimited, Christian Schools International, the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary, and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship) what kinds of collaborative educational efforts best promise to support pastorally sensitive, theologically grounded work in these topics.
d. Providing guidelines, liturgical materials, and pastoral advice on these topics in collaboration with Faith Alive Christian Resources.
e. Serving as a resource for discussions of these topics at a congregational and classical level.
f. Reporting to synod annually for the next five years.
Grounds:
a. Our approach to the question of participation at the Lord’s Supper and public profession of faith must proceed on the basis of a clear statement of biblical and theological rationale.
b. A study committee on biblical and theological issues alone is insufficient. An ongoing discussion needs to take place at all levels of the church to link our theology with our practice within a whole cluster of issues that relate to the sacraments, the preached Word, faith formation, church discipline, and practices that sustain lifelong discipleship.
c. Our approach to children at the Lord’s Supper and profession of faith needs to be part of a larger discussion of faithful and vital intergenerational faith formation in various contexts. Mutual accountability and learning among very different types of congregations is only likely to happen when there are intentional structures in place to promote it.
d. Several congregations are already asking for shared wisdom on this topic.
e. Given strongly held opinions on this issue and growing diversity of practices, this topic is likely to be discussed throughout the denomination for at least the next five years. A pastorally and theologically oriented committee, attuned to the diversity of ministry settings within the denomination, would be well positioned to shepherd a healthy theological dialogue within the denomination over time.
f. This approach would be a cost-effective means of shepherding this discussion, especially given the availability of the Internet to promote communication among committee members and to disseminate information to the denomination.
g. The work of such a committee would be a fitting way to carry forward the themes, insights, and energy developed during the denominational Year of Faith Formation (2007-2008).
Note: The advisory committee believes that the Faith Formation Committee is needed whether synod adopts, fails to adopt, or delays adopting the Church Order revisions presented in the Board of Trustees report. Synod’s action on these Church Order revisions would certainly affect the context of the committee’s work, but not its mandate, its value, or its potential positive impact.
Adopted
4. That synod receive for information the Church Order revisions in the Board of Trustees report (see Appendix B, section II, A) and forward them to the Faith Formation Committee for further review in light of the committee’s biblical and theological study.
Grounds:
a. Changes in the Church Order should follow biblical and theological study and reflection on our confessions (e.g., Belgic Confession Art. 35 and Heidelberg Catechism Q. and A. 81).
b. Many churches are not aware of the decision of Synod 2006 on this matter.
Adopted
5. That synod, during the five year period of the Faith Formation Committee’s mandate, grant to congregations the freedom to admit all baptized members to the Lord’s Table upon approval of the consistory.
Ground: Synod 2006 was persuaded that the study committee reports of 1986, 1988, and 1995 provide sufficient biblical and theological grounds for the admittance of baptized members to the Lord’s Table on the basis of Reformed covenantal theology. Defeated
6. That the concerns expressed in Overtures 13, 14, and 15 and Communication 2 be referred to the Faith Formation Committee and that synod declare that the above actions are its response to these overtures and this communication.
Adopted
7. That synod express appreciation to the task force of the BOT for its sensitive and useful report.
Adopted
Article 71
2. That synod affirm its commitment to the practice of baptizing infants.
Grounds:
a. The practice of infant dedication can never replace the beauty of the expression of God’s covenant of grace communicated in the sacrament of baptizing infants.
b. The practice of baptizing infant is the normative practice prescribed by the Reformed confession (HC Q. and A. 74; BC Art.34; and the Church Order Art.56)
Adopted
3. That synod strongly discourage the practice of infant dedication.
Ground: any allowance of infant dedication propagates views contrary with the doctrinal positions of the church (Acts of Synod 1964, p.63)
Adopted
4. That synod mandate the Faith Formation Committee to provide biblical and pastoral guidance for councils who are conversing with those members who are requesting infant dedication in place of infant baptism.
Ground: More than forty years have passed since synod last addressed infant baptism. We live in a different day than when synod last addressed these matters, and the churches would be well served by carefully considering together questions not previously raised surrounding infant dedication, as well as be provided with a fresh articulation of the practice of infant baptism.
Adopted
5. That synod mandate the Faith Formation Committee to provide guidance concerning liturgical practices surrounding infant baptism.
Ground: Because liturgical practices teach doctrine, it is important that liturgical practices reflect the doctrinal standards of the denomination.
Adopted
