Synod Hears Presentation on ‘The Network’

Delegates to Synod 2009 received an update Monday night from the Form of Subscription Committee, approved 48 candidates for Ministry of the Word, and heard a description of a new denominational office that would work as a resource to local congregations.

Before the start of business in the Martin & Janet Ozinga Chapel on the campus of Trinity Christian College, Rev. William T. Koopmans gave a brief update on a flu-like sickness that has struck a number of delegates and staff at Synod.

“I thought everyone should be aware of this. Let’s take care of ourselves and one another,” Koopmans said.

Rev. James Dekker, a pastor in St. Catharine’s, Ontario, and chair of the Form of Subscription Committee, informed Synod about the committee’s continuing work. He was followed by Rev. Michael Borgert, a pastor at First CRC in Muskegon, Mich.

Dekker gave a brief history of the issue, mentioning problems some ministers and other church educators and leaders have had in signing the document that spells out the beliefs to which CRC officebearers must subscribe.

“Having read the background of this pressure related to the Form of Subscription, I see it began back in the 1950s,” he said.

His committee is large and diverse, he said, and is looking to provide a new Form of Subscription for approval by Synod once the committee has discussed the issue with a wide range of church members and others.

“We are reviewing and re-visiting the current Form of Subscription as we present it to various constituencies.”

Borgert said one issue that has come up is the question whether a person who signs the form is bound to adhere to all that is contained in the Contemporary Testimony, a statement of belief that Synod updated last year.

“We will be continuing the conversations and take this to the broadest audience in our denomination,” he said.

After approving candidates for ministry, Synod heard a presentation by Michael Bruinooge, who has been appointed as the director of what is being called “The Network: Connecting Churches for Ministry.”

The new office is still in formation, Bruinooge said, but “The Network” will work closely with churches to help them better realize the wide range of resources available to them through the denomination.

“We are a denomination that believes strongly that the local church is the hope of the world,” Bruinooge said.

He said this will be a collaborative effort, not a denominational effort to place itself in the way of congregations. “We will adjust our programs to be attuned to what congregations say they need.”

The CRC’s Board of Trustees has already approved the formation of the new entity. “The membership of the denomination is not aware of the all of the work that is taking place,” said Keith Oosthoek, the former chair of the BOT.

At the same time, Oosthoek said, congregations that are doing important and healthy things in helping to transform the hearts and lives of others are not necessarily well known, and the new network would help spread the best practices of church outreach, worship and congregational life throughout the denomination.