>The issue of most interest to me was the report from the committee studying Federal Vision and Justification. As I mentioned in my earlier post on the "Nine Points" that were adopted by Synod Schererville 2007, I have been following this issue since observing the RCUS Synod at which their report was adopted. I witnessed … Continue reading >URCNA Synod-12, Federal Vision

>Synod Schererville 2007 had appointed a study committee to explore the issue of doctrinal commitment necessary for membership and that committee reported to this year's Synod.The six-member committee was evenly split into Position 1 (Membership Access with Stipulations) and Position 2 (Membership Access with Full Assent). The Advisory Committee presented a Majority and Minority reports. … Continue reading >URCNA Synod-11, Doctrinal Commitment

>Earlier in its deliberations, Synod had voted to "evaluate the need for a part-time/full-time or 'volunteer' URCNA mission coordinator position and to appoint a study committee to evaluate the need for a mission coordinator.Last evening Synod adopted a mandate for the study committee "to develop a proposed set of federational mission policies and guidelines." The … Continue reading >URCNA Synod-10, Missions

>Appeal #1 came from Hills URC and took issue with the procedure used by Synod Schererville 2007 when it adopted the item of pastoral advice that has become known as the "Nine Points."The appeal and presenters made clear that the theological content of the "Nine Points" was not the issue; the procedure was. The gist … Continue reading >URCNA Synod-9, The Nine Points

>This morning Synod decided to enter into Phase 2, Ecclesiastical Fellowship, with the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ), but tabled indefinitely a recommendation to move to Phase 2 with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA). According to synodical guidelines, a motion to table indefinitely can be made when it is "wise and prudent … Continue reading >URCNA Synod Reports-8, Ecumenical relations (CERCU)

>As the evening wore on, delegates flew through recommendations regarding website oversight. Rev. Talman Wagenmaker, reporter for the pre-advice committee, read the committee's recommendations so quickly that Chairman Pontier asked if he could preach a two-hour sermon in twenty minutes.His quick, but articulate, reading set the pace for Synod's actions on the 15 recommendations.Regarding a … Continue reading >URCNA Synod -7, Website oversight

>The issue of concluding the work of the unity committees (the three committees that have been working toward unity with the CanRC) was tabled temporarily until after dealing with the report regarding the Theological Education Committee.Synod declared that the Theological Education Committee's mandate has been fulfilled and dismissed the Committee with thanks. Synod did not … Continue reading >URCNA Synod-6, Theological Education, Overture 13

>Discussion on the floor of Synod finished the report of the advisory committee dealing with the songbook and liturgical forms. It is now discussing the Proposed Joint Church Order.Those recommendations asked that Synod "accept for continued study" the PJCO 2010, that Synod instruct the churches that suggested changes to the PJCO 2010 should be addressed … Continue reading >URCNA Synod-5, PJCO, Overtures 3, 5, 13 & 18

>I'm typing from the auditorium where the second plenary session of the day will begin soon. This morning Synod met briefly before delegates were dismissed into their advisory committees. Several committees have now presented reports that will be considered this afternoon and--no doubt--late into the evening.

>When Synod went back to plenary session this evening, Chairman Ralph Pontier joked that the initial reports coming from Advisory Committees would be designated in honor of our Canadian hosts and the country in which we were meeting, for example, "Six, eh" (6-A).It's not unusual for these initial reports to be referred back to committee … Continue reading >URCNA Synod-3, Canadian Night