After being unorganized for several years, the Covenant Reformed Church of Grande Prairie (AB) is once again an organized congregation in the United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA). Rev. William Van der Woerd, who has served the congregation for the past five and a half years, explains that the church’s council resigned in 2006. … Continue reading Covenant Reformed Church of Grande Prairie reorganizes
Milan church: Renovation and reformation
The meeting place of Chiesa Evangelica Riformata Filadelfia (CERF) in Milan, Italy, is undergoing a major renovation. For some time, the congregation has been meeting in a 630 square-foot former computer store. The building, surrounded by apartments and factories, is located on the northern outskirts of Milan. Many people from southern Italy moved to the … Continue reading Milan church: Renovation and reformation
URCNA Synod: Defining the meaning of synodical actions
Those who have attended previous synods know the confusion created by the adoption of documents without a clear definition of how they are to be regarded by the churches. Synod London 2010 had asked the Ad Hoc Synodical Rules Committee to address this issue. That committee drafted a document that defines synodical actions and describes … Continue reading URCNA Synod: Defining the meaning of synodical actions
URNCA ecumenical relationships: Phase Two with the RPCNA awaits ratification
The URCNA has two standing committees dealing with ecumenical relationships. CERCU (Committee for Ecumenical Relations and Church Unity) and CECCA (Committee for Ecumenical Contact with Churches Abroad). Both committees brought to Synod reports containing recommendations, which advisory committees passed on to the floor. Although most recommendations were adopted quickly and unanimously, it seemed like Synod … Continue reading URNCA ecumenical relationships: Phase Two with the RPCNA awaits ratification
Sorting out the emeritation process
When a retiring minister moves to another location and begins attending a different church, there may be some confusion as to which church ought to be holding his ministerial credentials. Additionally, there exists within the URCNA a wide range of discrepancy in the practice of funding ministers’ retirement funds. One study committee brought its recommendations … Continue reading Sorting out the emeritation process
The changing face of URCNA missions organization
In the URCNA, missions is a given. What was not a given, however, was how to do it, organizationally, that is. That delegates clearly desired to promote missions and church planting was evidenced by the quick adoption of the recommendations to establish a Missions Committee and to ask the existing Ad Hoc committee to serve … Continue reading The changing face of URCNA missions organization
URC to collaborate with OPC on songbook
Participants and observers say that one of the best things about Synod is the singing. Hearing hundreds of men wholeheartedly praising God fills hearts with grateful awe. The URCNA loves singing aesthetically pleasing arrangements of biblically articulate hymns and psalms. And over the next few years, the URCNA will be cooperating with the OPC toward … Continue reading URC to collaborate with OPC on songbook
URCNA Synod 2012: A prayer-full gathering near the Hudson
Although it's rather old news by now, I intend to post my Christian Renewal reports on the URCNA Synod Nyack 2012 now that they've appeared in print. The following overview appeared on pages 6-7 and 10 of the July 11, 2012, issue of Christian Renewal. My picture of the delegates appeared as a nice two-page spread (pp 8-9), large … Continue reading URCNA Synod 2012: A prayer-full gathering near the Hudson
Extra pastor ordained at Zion URC in Ripon
Angelo Contreras was ordained as Pastor of Congregational Life on April 22, 2012, at Zion United Reformed Church in Ripon, CA. Rev. Kevin Efflandt, Pastor of Preaching, brought a message from Colossians 1:24-2:5 on “Him We Proclaim.” “Angelo served a 12-week internship here last summer and I absolutely loved working with him,” says Rev. Efflandt. … Continue reading Extra pastor ordained at Zion URC in Ripon
Moving to Mbale
It’s difficult enough to imagine moving to Mbale, Uganda, but the difficulty increases exponentially if one considers moving a family of ten there. That, however, is exactly what Rev. Eric and Dianna Tuininga hope to do. Rev. Tuininga will serve as a missionary evangelist with the OPC for the next four to five years … Continue reading Moving to Mbale
Glenda Faye Mathes 