Synod 2012 Monday Roundup
It was a very heavy agenda today as delegates spent several hours in executive session deliberating about a conflict between Classis Quinte and Maranatha Christian Reformed Church in Belleville, Ontario.
The day was also difficult as the “paperless” synod struggled with Internet issues that originated outside the college when the Internet service provider had equipment failures.
Synod approved a per member ministry shares amount of $326.26 for 2013, a three percent increase over this year. Most of that increase is intended for Faith Alive Christian Resources.
Synod approved holding Synod 2013 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with Roosevelt Park CRC as the convening church.
Synod 2014 will be held in Pella, Iowa, simultaneously with the synod of the Reformed Church in America.
Synod adopted revised model articles of incorporation and bylaws for churches in Canada.
Synod also received an interim report from a committee at Calvin College studying academic freedom and confessional fidelity, entitled “Evolution, Human Origins, and Confessional Parameters.
There was a presentation about Canadian Ministries, including an address from a commissioner of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission regarding Canada’s residential schools for native children.
Synod approved renaming the office of Ministry Associate to Commissioned Pastor.
Synod ratified the appointment of Rev. Kurt Selles as the new director of Back to God Ministries International. Rev. Jimmy Lin was thanked for his service as the interim director after the untimely death of Rev. Robert Heerspink. Synod offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the leadership provided by Heerspink for six years.
In other business, synod declined to create a new category for ministers who leave their congregations to pursue further study, and it declined to change the process by which church councils supervise pastors who are employed by the denomination.
Synod also declined to order a review of the Ministers Pension Plan, and declined to allow classes to belong to both the CRC and the Reformed Church in America.
Tonight, synod approved Dr. Michael Le Roy as the next president of Calvin College, and also approved the appointment of Dr. Michael Goheen to be a professor of missiology at Calvin Theological Seminary.
On Tuesday, delegates are scheduled to hear from fraternal delegates. They also will deal with advisory committee reports and hear a presentation from Calvin Theological Seminary.
In the evening session, synod will discuss the recommendations of its advisory committee regarding the Belhar Confession. The session will be webcast live starting at 7 p.m. EDT.
For continuous coverage of Synod 2012, please visit www.crcna.org/Synod.
