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
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
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
The URCNA has one chaplain, Andrew Spriensma, currently serving in Germany. But another chaplain who has close ties to the URCNA has been present on campus during Synod Nyack 2012. OPC Chaplain Paul Berghaus, currently stationed at the US Military Academy at West Point, visited the Nyack campus on Wednesday evening, after leading a tour of delegate … Continue reading URCNA Synod 2012-11 Chaplains
The URCNA has suffered from a lack of coordinated efforts in missions and church planting efforts and Synod London 2010 set up a study committee to research and make recommendations regarding a permanent missions committee and coordinator options. The study committee’s report recommended the establishment of a permanent committee, representing all classes, and a full-time … Continue reading URCNA Synod 2012-10: Missions
Remember the childhood excitement of "Picture Day"? Yesterday was picture day at Synod. Immediately before lunch, the delegates stood in the auditorium for this group picture, which I took while standing in the balcony. The campus is hilly and provides lots of excellent (several steep) slopes, but the problem was getting the photographer high enough in front … Continue reading URCNA Synod 2012-9: Pictures
Delegates debated outdoors whether the large birds shrieking in nearby trees today were hawks or eagles. I vote for hawks, but they looked a lot larger than the red-tailed variety common in the Midwest. One appeared to be a parent and two looked like juveniles. The URCNA has churches in Canada and the United States and has … Continue reading URCNA Synod 2012-8: Finances
The sun came out this afternoon, and I tried to get some pictures of the Nyack College campus while walking between the dining hall and the auditorium. I'll paste a few in this post. In Synod's late afternoon session today, Rev. Ron Scheuers gave Rev. John Bouwers the opportunity to function as chair. He led discussion regarding … Continue reading URCNA Synod-7: Phase 2 with RPCNA and songbook
Some delegates were surprised at the quick adoption of the recommendation to accept the OPC's offer to work together on a songbook, especially when the discussion about what comprises a "thoroughly Reformed theological education" generated extensive discussion. Concerns were expressed that the language of "courses" could have unintended consequences for both seminarians and seminaries. A motion made to refer … Continue reading URCNA Synod-6: Guidelines, forms, and definitions
Glenda Faye Mathes 