Nathan Decker officiating. (RNS) The Reformed Church in Americas 214th General Synod, taking place in Tucson, Arizona, voted Saturday (Oct. Synod adopted a motion to express special thanks to Rev. Our stated goal from the beginning has never been this universal capitulation. They discipline the righteous. Synod president, Rev. At least 125 churches from various denominations are in conversation with ARC leaders about joining. The summary report of today's deliberations and decisions follows: PRC Seminary professors and advisors to synod: R.Dykstra, B.Gritters, R.Cammenga (back); D.Kuiper, B.Huizinga (front), Audience singing Thursday night at the commencement program for Josiah Tan (in front with his wife). Todays session began with opening devotions led by Rev. Synod approved the subsidy requests of six churches. Reformed Blogs/Christian Resources 18 Christian Colleges Closed Since the Start of COVID-19, Died: Charles Stanley, In Touch Preacher Who Led with Stubborn Faith, What Are Evangelical Voters in Iowa Focusing On: Everything, United Methodists Lose 1,800 Churches in Split Over LGBT Stance. The RCA isnt the only Protestant denomination facing division over views on sexuality. Prof. Kuiper examined Mr. Tan in Knowledge of Confessions (for 30 minutes), Prof. Gritters examined him in Church Order (for 30 minutes) and Knowledge of Scripture (for 30 minutes), and then Rev. The pandemic has already delayed C.Spronk (1st clerk) and J. Engelsma (2nd clerk); back - Revs. Will their legacy survive todays partisanship? The letter from the EPCA contained a heartfelt expression of thanks to the PRCA for the care and training of their student, Mr. Isaac Peters. Joshua Engelsma, Second Clerk of Synod 2021. According to Citlau, the two-thirds rule gives disproportionate power to classes with progressive views and fewer members. N. Decker, J. Laning, V. Ibe (PRCP); Elders S. Hunter, S. Miedema, G.T. WebAlthough the split is largely known as the Split of 1924, there is no clear point where the Protestant Reformed Churches of America became separate from the Christian Reformed Church. Daniel and Mrs. Kleyn, and Rev. Psalm 91:1, 2, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Synod treated reformulated advice on another protest that objected on procedural grounds to Classis Easts concurrence to depose a minister according to Articles 79 and 80 of the Church Order. Its possible that Synod will conclude its business tomorrow. A special word of appreciation to Georgetown PRC for the outstanding job they did in hosting the delegates for nearly two weeks. The funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon, Saturday, May 8, 2021, at Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church, 7146 48 th Avenue, Hudsonville MI 49426, with Rev. If its a really big split, thats pretty rare. Having served his initial four-year term, Prof. Kuiper was reappointed to another three-year term as professor of Church History and New Testament in our seminary. In 2018, General Synod formed a team charged with discerning whether the RCA should stay together, restructure, or separate. Its a fundamental difference in approach to the Christian faith thats the source of all this. Synod also concurred with the decision of Georgetown PRC, and concurrence of Classis East to grant the emeritation request of Rev. WebAct of Separation in Light of Church HistorySubmit questions to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZF9MGHT The final item treated this afternoon is one for which we give humble thanks to God, namely, the report of the 100th Anniversary Committee. Synod treated a protest of an individual who objected to Synod 2020s decision regarding a sermon (entitled Dealing Rightly With Our Sins) preached by a former minister in the denomination. G. Eriks (TSC President, right), ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~, Summary of 2022 PRCA Synod - Day 4 (June 17, 2022). var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Wee will be examined in the main branches of his studies - dogmatics, knowledge of Scripture, knowledge of the confessions, church history, church polity, and practica. And when synod is over and everyone else departs for home, who is left to finish its work? As of Dec. 31, 2021, 43 congregations of the Reformed Church in America were released from their respective classes (regional groups of churches) in the national denomination, representing a splitting of one of the oldest But while many churches that have held votes to leave are seeing overwhelming support like the Fellowship Reformed Church congregation in Hudsonville voting 604 to 9 to leave some RCA church leaders see that as more the exception than the rule. Synod treated another protest that objected on procedural grounds to Classis Easts concurrence to depose a minister according to Articles 79 and 80 of the Church Order. Andy writes, I would like to point out This email address is being protected from spambots. All rights reserved. Jan 14, The PRC Synod is the broadest church assembly or gathering, made up of 20 delegates, 5 ministers and 5 elders from each Classis (of which there are two in the PRC). M. Wee in Dogmatics. The second proposal is to create an external RCA mission agency that would allow departing churches to continue supporting RCAs global missions work. Classis EastThis email address is being protected from spambots. 5) That synod send an invitation to those churches with whom we have official relationships (sister churches and the churches with whom we have a corresponding relationship) to attend our 100th anniversary celebration. The president appointed the Committee on Committees tasked with dividing the work of synod into five committees. Marcus Wee, a member of Zion, will be examined by that Synod. The Lord has given the PRCA contact with many churches and saints spread throughout the world. Design by Social Village. Griess (who supervised Mr. Tans internship) examined him in Practica (for 20 minutes). Our prayers will be with our brothers and sisters as they walk together through this significant moment in the RCAs history.. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; When you sort Christians by denomination, mainline Protestants are continuing to show significant decline. But Driscoll is a bad actor. Griswold says others may choose to join the Covenant Church Presbyterian Church in America. The highlight of the morning was listening to the specimen sermon of Mr. Marcus Wee. Next year, the United Methodist Church is expected to vote on a proposal to The individuals main contention is that Synods decision contradicts Scripture and the confessions and brings Synod 2020 into contradiction with decisions of Synods 2018 and 2019. Georgetown PRCs choir treated the audience to two beautiful numbers, and Prof. Kuiper gave a fitting address on Putting Ones Neck to the Work., In Christs Service, Rev. In their Vision 2020 Report, that team suggested a path involving all three avenues. Ive dealt with same-sex attraction, and the issue for me and many of the people I know is, is it a thing for which Jesus Christ needs to come to redeem us, or is it a blessing he wants us to embrace? said Citlau, who is married to a woman and whose church helped form the conservative non-RCA Kingdom Network. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest (Matt. After years of debate, disagreements about LGBTQ inclusion are threatening to split the Reformed Church in America. Committee I at work: Revs. A. Brummel, Elder P. Van Baren, Prof. B. Huizinga, Elder J. Lanting, Prof. R. Dykstra, Committee III: Prof. D. Kuiper, Elder L. Gritters, Prof. C. Griess, Rev. An ancient language offers my nonbinary students something English does not. Regardless of what happens at the General Synod, the RCA is already splitting. Prof.D. Sem. All weve ever wanted is for any LGBTQIA person to have a church that they can go to that will affirm and celebrate them., There seems to be this conflict between understanding the image of God and the affirmation of God in queer identities as being a distraction to mission in some way, and that gets really disappointing, Van Kooten Laughead continued. Synod dealt with a protest of a decision of Synod 2020 related to the release of that former minister from the ministry under Article 12 of the Church Order. Webfrom BCPRC consistory, church visitors, Trinity Protestant Reformed Church consistory (TPRC) or Classis East January 2021 as approved by the Synodical Deputiesengaged with the definition of schism to prove its existence as a result of Reu Lanning's preaching. Mr. Wee will be examined in the six loci of dogmatics, knowledge of Scripture, knowledge of the confessions, church history, church polity, and practica. The topic of LGBTQ inclusion has been a flash point in the RCA for decades and is now coming to a head. Daniel Kleyn. Below are a few more pictures from the seminary graduation last evening. Staff is available by phone or email if you have any special needs. The matter was recommitted to the committee of pre-advice for reformulation. It is appropriate to note what Article 32 of our Church Order says: The proceedings of all assemblies shall begin by calling upon the name of God and be closed with thanksgiving. The sessions of synod today and throughout the week will be filled with the delegates consciously seeking God for His wisdom and strength to carry out the work faithfully, with thanksgiving, to the glory of His name. At an October 14-19 General Synod meeting in Tucson, Arizona, this venerable church will decide whether to split up. He plans to answer the call on or before July 4. However, the measure failed to win the necessary two-thirds approval from the classes. Ron Citlau, senior pastor of Calvary Church near Chicago, frames the question differently. Cory Griess read a letter of acknowledgment to the call he has received to serve in our seminary as Professor of Practical Theology and New Testament Studies (see photo below). Soon thereafter, when these men said they could not abide by th R. Kleyn, makes closing remarks Thursday afternoon as synod ends its work. The individuals main contention is that Synods decision contradicts Scripture and the confessions and brings Synod 2020 into contradiction with decisions of Synods 2018 and 2019. WebAfter issuing several calls for home missionary, on November 20, 2022 Zion PRC received an acceptance of a call to Rev. Look for the full report of Tuesday later today. The PRC believes according to Head 5 of the Canons that the believer loses a since of Gods Lanning in March 19 SB takes Koole to task for an article expressing standard-fare reformed theology on sanctification. Can noncelibate gay people be elected as elders and deacons and ordained as ministers? This article is available toChristian Centurymagazine subscribers only. The meeting began with devotions, the delegates of Synod singing Psalter 134 and Rev. Josiah Tan. Institutional trust continues to decline in surveys, but religious organizations still rank high. Nathan Decker (Grandville PRC), Prof. Russ Dykstra (Byron Center PRC), Rev. Sign up for our newsletter: The delegates of synod are given opportunity to congratulate Mr. Tan and his wife.". Subscribers receive full access to the archives. Synod approved the work of the committee and expressed gratitude to its members for their faithful and selfless labor on behalf of the churches. Next year, the United Methodist Church is expected to vote on a proposal to split the denomination over the inclusion of LGBTQ members, and the RCAs sister Second, Synod did not sustain the protest regarding the contention that the protests of five protestants was not fully considered by Synod 2021 on the one ground: Synod 2021 did adequately consider and answer all the protests of 2021. This too was elaborated upon with five points of explanation. WebSinging. The exam is being livestreamed through Georgetown PRC's website. Bill Langerak (Trinity PRC). Some very conservative people are sad about the conflict in the RCA and the departure of some of their friends from the RCA, continued Griswold. remember the words: his lack of zeal for the unity of the church that caused him the problems in the situation he was in. May the Lord continue to bless the instruction Prof. Dykstra gives, and strengthen him for his work as pastor of Byron Center PRC. First, Synod did not sustain the protest regarding the rescinding of Synod 2021 Article 59 on the basis of one ground: the protestant ignored two of the four decisions which grounded the approval of the deposition of A. Lanning. This was elaborated upon with two further points of explanation. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. The second clerk has drawn up his report of the first day: Summary of 2022 PRCA Synod - Day 1 (June 14, 2022), On Monday evening the pre-synodical service was held at Zion Protestant Reformed Church. The announcement on Sunday morning regarding the photos above). Here is the public report to the churches on today's work: Report of Day 5 Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America June 15, 2021. Here is the public report for this day: Report of Day 3 Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America June 10, 2021. The 2022 Synod of the PRC officially convened at Zion Protestant Reformed Church at 8:00 AM Tuesday morning. Synod also treated the protest of an individual who objected on procedural grounds to Classis Easts concurrence to depose this minister. The three synodical-appointed advisors are Prof. D. Kuiper, Josh Hoekstra, and Prof. B. Gritters. A nice crowd witnessed the ceremony and heard an edifying (final) commencement speech from Prof. Dykstra, who has retired from the seminary afer 26 years of faithful service. Synod did not sustain the protest, but judged that Synod 2020 had acted within its rules by not including in the printed Acts a report regarding a mandate that synod gave to a committee in closed session and that synod treated in closed session. But what will the RCA consist of by then? WebThe Protestant Reformation was a religious reform movement that swept through Europe in the 1500s. document.getElementById('cloakf358f888039c8ee7d40a715fa622885c').innerHTML = ''; Ibe read Ephesians 4:1-16 and opened in prayer. This decision approved the concurrence of the Synodical deputies from the West with the decision of Classis East (January 13-15, 2021) to approve the request of Byron Center Consistory to proceed to the deposition of Mr. A. Lanning. Synod then took time for group pictures before lunch. Engelsma; Second Clerk, Rev. With dozens of congregations already on their way out, the Reformed Church in America anticipates difficult decisions at its postponed General Synod this week. Synod also approved the financial support of Rev. Key. N. Decker Second Clerk of Synod 202. According to their website, more than 125 churches have expressed interest in joining the alliance. Prof. R. Cammenga examines Sem. Tan in practica. Synod approved sending observers to NAPARC in 2021. Synod then sang the doxology, prayed, and congratulated Marcus and his wife. The exam will begin Tuesday morning with the delivery of his specimen sermon. And here is the final public report of the day's decisions, per the second clerk of synod: Here follows the public report of the sixth day of meetings for the 2021 PRC Synod being hosted by Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI. Matt Koerner and elder Wee Gim Theng (CERCS), Some of the support Sem. People on different sides of the spectrum have been fighting for about 40 years, and theyre sick of it, said Komline. Here is the overture: (RNS) On New Years Day, 43 congregations of the Reformed Church in America split from the national denomination, one of the oldest Synod treated the protest of an individual against Synod 2021, Article 59. Both branches represent churches that separated from the Roman Catholic Church as part of A different individual brought a protest against that same decision of Synod 2020. (RNS) On New Years Day, 43 congregations of the Reformed Church in America split from the national denomination, one of the oldest Protestant bodies in the United States, in part over theological differences regarding same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy. Synod approved publishing and distributing an open letter to those who have recently left the PRCA, gave specific direction on how that distribution would take place, and approved the letter that would be sent. Richard Smit, who is here on furlough. Their proposal would preserve the United Methodist Church while allowing traditional-minded congregations to form a new denomination. G. Eriks, R. Barnhill; Elders K. Bruinsma, J. Today, the RCA has fewer than 200,000 members and 1,000 churches. Synod did not sustain either of the protests, judging that the individuals failed to prove that the former minister militated against the decision of Synod 2018 in the sermon. var addy_text862cfb19c345bfdb79a929249260313f = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloak862cfb19c345bfdb79a929249260313f').innerHTML += ''+addy_text862cfb19c345bfdb79a929249260313f+'<\/a>'; Classis WestThis email address is being protected from spambots. Synod decided to publish the letter in the printed Acts to set the record straight in a matter that has been made public even beyond the realm of our churches. PRC Synod 2022 - Day 3 - Thursday, June 16 (with report), PRC Synod 2022 - Day 2 - Wednesday, June 15 (with report), PRC Synod 2022 - Day 1 - Tuesday, June 14 (with report), PRC Synod 2021 - Day 7 - Thursday June 17 *(Updated with Report), PRC Synod 2021 - Day 6 - Wednesday, June 16, PRC Synod 2021 - Day 5 - Tuesday June 15 *(Updated with Report), PRC Synod 2021 - Day 3 - Thursday June 10 (Updated with Report), PRC Synod 2021 - Day 2 - Wednesday June 9 (Updated with Report and Photos), PRC Synod 2021 - Day 1 - Tuesday June 8 (Updated with Report), PRC Synod 2020 - Day 3 (Thursday, June 11), PRC Synod 2020 - Day 2 (Wednesday, June 10), PRC Confessions and Church Order (mobi ed 2015), PRC Confessions and Church Order (epub ed 2015), 2023 Clerks & Treasurers - Classis East & West, Church Order of the Protestant Reformed Churches (2020). The exam is being livestreamed through Zion's PRC website. Continue to remember him in your prayers as he considers this weighty call. J.Tan successfully sustained his exam, with the following reported in today's record: "The chairman, Rev. Synod began by singing Psalter 426. The liberals want to go pursue justice, as they define it, and the evangelicals want to share the gospel as they define that.. ', It feels like were finally coming to the end of a conversation in a way, said Cameron Van Kooten Laughead, executive director with Room For All, a nonprofit that works to advance the acceptance of LGBTQ people in the Reformed Church.