>In addition to the five previous posts dealing with federative unity, Synod adopted some Church Order changes that clarify the ratification process. But, among all the actions Synod took to clarify and slow the unification process, it took sudden action when it invited the Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches (OCRC) to join with the URCNA in … Continue reading >Synod: Church Order Changes & OCRC

>Another federative unity issue that relates to the merger with the CanRC was revision to CERCU's guidelines. Overtures 3 & 15 requested the removal of the phrase "and in preparation for and commitment to eventual integrated federative church unity" from the Phase 2 definition. Each overture also suggested dividing Phase 3 into specific steps.Advisory Committee … Continue reading >Synod: CERCU Guidelines

>As noted in my previous post, the third of the URCNA "unity" committees had reported to Synod that its work with the Canadian Reformed committee was "at an impasse."The impasse was due to disagreement over whether a federationally-controlled seminary is biblically mandated. The CanRC committee had entered discussions with a synodical mandate that it was. … Continue reading >Synod: Theological Education

>My previous post detailed some of the lively debate on the floor of Synod Schererville 2007 concerning the songbook. But in addition to the Songbook Committee, the URCNA has two other "unity" committees working with their Canadian Reformed counterparts: the Joint Church Order Committee and the Theological Education Committee.The Joint Church Order Committee has made … Continue reading >Synod: Joint Church Order

>Media moguls at Synod: John Van Dyk, editor, and Glenda Mathes with Christian Renewal; Rev. Wybren Oord, editor of the Outlook (Photo and information credit: Glenda Mathes and Christian Renewal)Some of the liveliest debate on the floor of Synod Schererville 2007 concerned the development of a songbook.Even the possible appointment of another person to the … Continue reading >Synod: Songbook

> Photo credit: Glenda Mathes for Christian RenewalThe number of overtures related to federative unity at Synod Schererville 2007 indicated the level of concern among the churches. If the adoption and speedy implementation of URCNA unity committees was viewed as running to embrace the Canadian Reformed Churches with open arms, Synod Schererville's actions could be … Continue reading >Synod: Federative Unity

>(Photo and information credit: Glenda Mathes and Christian Renewal) Rev. Paul Murphy, URCNA church planter in New York City, and Rev. Phil Grotenhuis, church planter in Springfield, MO, enjoy a lighter moment during a break in Synod actionMost of the information contained in these Synod posts, as well as other articles and pictures, will be … Continue reading >Synod: Membership

>(Photo and information credit: Glenda Mathes and Christian Renewal) Delegates to Synod Schererville 2007 Since justification is a hot-button issue, I'll begin my posts on specific Synod topics with it. Much of what is written here will appear in the August issue of Christian Renewal, along with several other articles detailing the actions of Synod … Continue reading >Synod: Justification

>(Photo and information credit: Glenda Mathes and Christian Renewal) Rev. Karlo Janssen (right), fraternal delegate from the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands(liberated) visits with delegates during a coffee break at Synod 2007I had promised my many readers more news from the floor of Synod, but I discovered that I had little time for writing or … Continue reading >Synod: Personal Observations

>Although I've written articles for Christian Renewal for six and a half years and gave up a full time position to devote more time to writing five and a half years ago, I had never met Christian Renewal's editor, John Van Dyk.On the first day of Synod last week, we finally met.I had hung around … Continue reading >Historic Moment