The introduction to this series of news reports about Synod Nyack 2012 compared Synod to a young adult, settling into positive patterns and making wise decisions. Each of the four synods I have observed demonstrated increasing maturity and unity, and these characteristics were more obvious this year. One of the reasons for the maturity and … Continue reading The battle for the church will never stop (Synod 2012)
Gary Fisher was reappointed as the URCNA webmaster. The Website Oversight Committee was asked to develop documents detailing his duties as well as guidelines for posting material to the site. The consistory of Grace URC in Waupun will continue to oversee the Website Oversight Committee until the next synod. Synod reminded the churches to update … Continue reading Keeping the website accurate and up-to-date
A federation with churches in two countries—Canada and the United States—faces the problem of money flow. In this case the flow of money from north to south, from Canada to the U.S., is becoming increasingly clogged, and the mechanism in place to meet the challenge is no longer sufficient. The Joint Venture Agreement (JCA) of … Continue reading The buck stops at the border
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
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
One of the best things about synod meetings is chatting with old or new friends over meals or on walks between buildings. And one of the most interesting conversations for me this year at Synod Nyack 2012 was a brief discussion about writers with Rev. Leo DeVos, the fraternal delegate from the Reformed Churches of New … Continue reading Discovering Ngaio Marsh
When Frodo and his friends first set eyes on unfamiliar territory as they leave the Shire, he recites a bit of poetry that reminds him of Bilbo and says: He used often to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep, and every path … Continue reading Synod saga: There and back again
The available copies of my book Little One Lost: Living with Early Infant Loss sold out at Synod Nyack 2012, but publisher Reformed Fellowship plans to have more copies available for purchase next week. The books will be available online from the Reformed Fellowship website or through Amazon as well as in retail bookstores. I hope to post … Continue reading Little One Lost: Living with Early Infant Loss
Emeritation may seem an obscure word, but it simply has to do with retirement, and in the case of this year’s URCNA Synod, the retirement of ministers. Synod London 2010 formed a committee to study the issue and that committee brought its report to Synod Nyack 2012. The advisory committee made several editorial changes and … Continue reading URCNA Synod 2012-13: Emeritation
Members of the study committee on Doctrinal Commitment were evenly divided on the issue when the committee reported to Synod 2010 in London and were directed to come back this year with another report. They did. And Synod Nyack 2012 pretty much liked it. The recommendations from the advisory committee underwent some editorial changes, but … Continue reading URCNA Synod 2012-12: Doctrinal Commitment
Glenda Faye Mathes 