A new “Covenant of Officebearers” to be signed by all CRC officebearers is coming before synod 2012 to replace the current Form of Subscription. This will be the third time a Covenant has come before synod.

After three years of discussion and examination, the Christian Reformed Church will decide on the Belhar Confession during Tuesday night’s session.

A whopping 35 overtures appeared in the printed agenda, released in April. Of the 35 overtures on the Belhar Confession, 3 ask for it to be adopted as a full confession alongside the Three Forms of Unity. 11 ask that it be adopted as a testimony, which would affirm it as an official statement of the CRC but it would not be binding as with the Three Forms of Unity. 17 ask that it not be adopted, and another 4 ask that the decision be delayed.

Since the Agenda was released in April, another overture from Classis Chatham was submitted, asking Synod to not adopt the Belhar Confession. This recent overture brings the total overtures on the Belhar Confession to a whopping 36, of which 18 ask that it simply not be adopted.

In addition, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) released a “Statement of Affirmation of the Belhar Confession” that also appeared in the agenda supplement. This statement strongly promotes the Belhar Confession and its message of unity, reconciliation and justice. The statement declares, “All three of these themes loom large in the global mission of CRWRC.”

Synod 2012 is meeting through Thursday June 14 at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario.

Other contentious items on the agenda include a Creation Stewardship Task Force report asking Synod to take a stand on climate change. The 124-page report declares that “Climate change is occurring and is very likely due to human activity,” and that this “is a moral, ethical, and religious issue.” This report is scheduled for Wednesday evening’s session.

A new “Covenant of Officebearers” to be signed by all CRC officebearers is coming before synod 2012 to replace the current Form of Subscription. This will be the third time a Covenant has come before synod.

The CRC joint publishing agency with the Reformed Church in America, Faith Alive Christian Resources, is asking for more funds from ministry shares paid to the denomination. A letter was sent out by the Executive Director, Joel Boot, saying that Faith Alive was experiencing “significant financial headwinds” as it competes with larger publishing companies on educational materials. Boot encouraged CRC congregations to purchase their materials from Faith Alive.

Synod 2012 has not received this many overtures since 1996 when the CRC was still debating women in office.  The same year saw the formation of the United Reformed Churches in North America, a denomination largely consisting of CRC refugees.

After three years of discussion and examination, the Christian Reformed Church will decide on the Belhar Confession during Tuesday night’s session.

A whopping 35 overtures appeared in the printed agenda, released in April. Of the 35 overtures on the Belhar Confession, 3 ask for it to be adopted as a full confession alongside the Three Forms of Unity. 11 ask that it be adopted as a testimony, which would affirm it as an official statement of the CRC but it would not be binding as with the Three Forms of Unity. 17 ask that it not be adopted, and another 4 ask that the decision be delayed.

Since the Agenda was released in April, another overture from Classis Chatham was submitted, asking Synod to not adopt the Belhar Confession. This recent overture brings the total overtures on the Belhar Confession to a whopping 36, of which 18 ask that it simply not be adopted.

In addition, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) released a “Statement of Affirmation of the Belhar Confession” that also appeared in the agenda supplement. This statement strongly promotes the Belhar Confession and its message of unity, reconciliation and justice. The statement declares, “All three of these themes loom large in the global mission of CRWRC.”

Synod 2012 is meeting through Thursday June 14 at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario.

Other contentious items on the agenda include a Creation Stewardship Task Force report asking Synod to take a stand on climate change. The 124-page report declares that “Climate change is occurring and is very likely due to human activity,” and that this “is a moral, ethical, and religious issue.” This report is scheduled for Wednesday evening’s session.

A new “Covenant of Officebearers” to be signed by all CRC officebearers is coming before synod 2012 to replace the current Form of Subscription. This will be the third time a Covenant has come before synod.

The CRC joint publishing agency with the Reformed Church in America, Faith Alive Christian Resources, is asking for more funds from ministry shares paid to the denomination. A letter was sent out by the Executive Director, Joel Boot, saying that Faith Alive was experiencing “significant financial headwinds” as it competes with larger publishing companies on educational materials. Boot encouraged CRC congregations to purchase their materials from Faith Alive.

Synod 2012 has not received this many overtures since 1996 when the CRC was still debating women in office.  The same year saw the formation of the United Reformed Churches in North America, a denomination largely consisting of CRC refugees.

Rev. Aaron Vriesman is the Pastor of the North Blendon Christian Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. He reports on the CRC for The Aquila Report

@Copyright 2012 The Aquila Report – All rights reserved