Blogging from the Floor #4.0

Since I reported late last night I'm reporting early today. The big topic of the day (all day in fact) has been our relationship to the Protestant Churches of the Netherlands. For many out there you may say, "Why would that be a big deal??" Well, there is a huge historical connection between the CRC and the PCN (which was formerly the GKN, our "mother" denomination, so to speak). Anyway, the Interchurch Relations Committee was asking that we establish full ecclesiastical fellowship with the PCN. When it was the GKN (which merged with two other denominations to form the PCN) we restricted our relationship because they began ordaining practicing homosexuals and there are some questins on how they view Christ (click here if you're interested in some of what they believe and practice on this). Now, under the CRC's new ecumenical charter which promotes broader and less restricted relationships, the IRC would like those restrictions removed.

With underlying practices such as those, you can imagine there was a ton of debate. That began in the Advisory Committee as they ended up with both a majority and minority report basically as follows:

• Majority Report: enter into full ecclesiastical fellowship with the PCN
• Minority Report: enter into a relationship of dialogue with the PCN

Full ecclesiastical fellowship is a deeper relationship which allows for fellowship at the Lord's Supper together and exchange of pulpits. Dialogue means just that - a talking relationship. So do we overlook these differences in the spirit of Christian unity or do we continue to send the message we've been sending them that their practice is sinful - but we're willing to maintain contact in the hopes that God's Word will prevail in the future.

Over the course of the debate, it came out from a poll done in the Netherlands that 14% of the pastors in the PCN consider themselves atheist or agnostic. Yes, you read that right. 39% of PCN pastors cannot deny the statement that God is a figment of human thought... eek!

But it was also reported that the percentage of atheist pastors is going DOWN (correction from earlier) and the number of orthodox pastors is rising - so God is bringing some hope there... Praise the Lord!

Procedurally, there were a couple of recommendations. The first was to declare the restricted relationship with the GKN moot with respect to the PCN because it was in effect a new denomination. That passed - so we didn't have any officially relationship with the PCN. Next the majority report to establish full fellowship was table almost immediately and the minority report taken up. That was debated for a long time but then defeated by less that 10 votes. The majority report was taken off the table and discussed for quite a while again, but that was also defeated, but a little more than 10 votes. So back to the drawing board - and for a few hours today we have no relationship with the PCN - the committee is meeting to come up with a third option - however, our new ecumenical charter doesn't have a third option... so what'll they come up with next???

More than the specific relationship to this church is what does this mean for the CRC. Does hopping in bed with the PCN give defacto credence to homosexual practice and loose Christology?? Or is it our opportunity to be a witness to them? I guess if we look back on the 20 or 30 years of strained relationship we've had - trying to be a witness to them - have we had more effect on them for orthodoxy or they on us for liberalism? An unrestricted relationship would only give us more of the same.

On top of that, what does our relationship with them convey to our local congregations?? To other denominations (the fraternal delegates from the CRC in Nigeria were fairly vocal about this in the gallery)... to our communities?? Lots of implications.

I won't go through all the debates, but the parallel I drew was to I Corinthians 5:9-13. If that doesn't speak here, it doesn't speak anywhere. Of course, we speak the truth in love... but we still speak the truth. But does God's Word mean that much to these kind of debates?? By now you know my answer to that question... maybe I should make that a motion on the floor to see what Synod thinks on that. More later....

Chad Steenwyk
delegate from Classis Holland