Rome's View of the Church

The Vatican issued a statement saying that all non-Roman Catholic Christian churches are not "true churches." This certainly has implications on the discussions we as a Christian Reformed Church have been having with Roman Catholic bishops and theologians in the last several years and Synod 2006's decision regarding Q&A 80 of the Heidelberg Catechism. In a letter to the Vatican, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC - of which the CRC is a part) says, "It makes us question the seriousness with which the Roman Catholic Church takes its dialogues with the Reformed family and other families of the church." To read the CNN article, click here. For the Fox News article, click here.

Vacation Bible School

No doubt many of our churches will be engaging in Vacation Bible School this summer. This is both an important evangelistic tool to reach the children and families of our communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and an opportunity for our covenant children to grow in their faith. With the plethora of VBS curriculums available, what have you found that faithfully represents the Gospel and teaches the Word without getting lost in the hype? Maybe you've found a more effective way to reach children in your community. Your comments would be appreciated here.

Synod 2007

Synod met from June 9-15 this year at Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They dealt with many issues this year that you can catch up on by clicking here to go to the Synod's homepage. A summary is posted there. We've prayed the God would lead and guide the delegates by His Word and Spirit. It is disheartening when so many things are advanced merely on personal experience and emotion. Continue to pray that God brings sweeping renewal to the CRC and a revitalized heart for His Word as the rule for both faith and life.

"R" Words

Renewal. Reformation. Return. Revitalization. Rejuvenation. Restoration. Restructuring. There are plenty of "R" words to go around. It seems there is a growing tide within many denominations of those concerned with theological, and subsequently spiritual, drift. For your information and our discussion, we are posting links to various efforts in other denominations to call for faithfulness to God's Word and also to maintain integrity to their respective confessions:

RCA Integrity (Reformed Church in America)
Confessing Church Movement (Presbyterian Church USA)
New Wineskins (PCUSA)
American Anglican Council (Episcopal Church USA)
Evangelical Lutheran Confessing Fellowship (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
Biblical Witness Fellowship (United Church of Christ)

A Broader, Non-Denominational Effort:
Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

*Note: We do not necessarily endorse any of these groups, but notice some similarities to the CRCNA. Pray that God's Spirit blows the wind of biblical renewal in His Church universally.

If you would like to be added to the email list, please send a message to returningchurch@yahoo.com. Please include your name, church and town/city. Don't worry, you won't be barraged with emails. We send out messages maybe once a month with updates on up-coming various events related to this discussion or other items that may be beneficial for the edification of the church.

Report on April 19 Meeting

On April 19, several members of CRCs in Michigan, the Midwest and Canada met to further the conversation about bringing biblical, confessional, Christ-centered renewal to our congregations and the CRC as a whole. There was an informal agenda that covered two basic areas: position papers and the “Year of Faith Formation.” Also, time was given for more general questions and comments.

First, Rev. CJ denDulk presented a copy of Trinity CRC’s (Sparta, MI) recently adopted “Position Paper” and then Rev. Tom Groelsema presented a draft of the “Elder Covenant” 1st CRC (Byron Center, MI) is considering (Trinity’s document can be found by clicking on this link: “Trinity’s Position Paper.” We hope to add 1st Byron’s “Elder Covenant” soon). Other churches at the meeting indicated that they’ve adopted similar statements and they have served to provide unity for the congregation. It is hoped that documents such as these can lead the congregation into biblical discussion and definition of issues facing our churches and denomination.

Since the CRCNA has declared the 2007/2008 church year to be a “Year of Faith Formation” in conjunction with the denominations 150th anniversary, several discussed how faith was being “formed” in their congregations as an encouragement to others. The importance of catechetical instruction was discussed. Rev. Chad Steenwyk of Central Ave CRC (Holland, MI) presented an after-school catechism program they are looking to implement next year for elementary-aged children. They will be using Great Commission Publications “Kid’s Quest Catechism Club.” While based on the First Catechism, they plan to integrate the Heidelberg Catechism/Compendium into the program. This will also be a program that will actively be opened to the whole community. Rev. denDulk spoke about the existing program at Trinity which includes grades 3-12 every other Wednesday. They catechize 65 kids and have great enthusiasm and support by the elders and congregation. They use various materials, with much of it coming from Inheritance Publications in Sioux Center, IA, as well as some from Faith Alive. For greater detail on their program, click here. Rev. Tyler Wagenmaker presented an “all-ages” catechism program that is being developed in-house at Beaverdam CRC (Hudsonville, MI) with the help of a seminary intern. The hope is to bring the whole community in to the development of faith through learning together. Contact Beaverdam CRC directly for more information.

Rev. Henry Reyenga also spoke about Home Discipleship Ministry which focuses on families and equipping them to be places of faith nurture through the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Scripture reading/memorization and worship. Rev. Reyenga is the pastor of Family of Faith Church in Monee, Illinois. If you’d like to know more about his ministry, go to www.homediscipleship.org.

During the open time of questions and comments, many who were in attendance expressed that they have been greatly encouraged by these meetings and the ability to connect with other members around the CRC. There was a desire to hold additional meetings like this one in places like Chicagoland and the Midwest. It is our prayer that pastors and office-bearers from those areas will step forward and beginning planning such events. We would be more than willing to help out in any way. If you are thinking along those lines, please contact one of us.

We would love for you to interact about things at this meeting or other items you’d like to discuss. Please leave a comment or two.

Growing Interest in Synod 2007

It appears that Synod 2007 is generating a lot of interest around the CRC (and certainly in the West Michigan media). Not only will it be marked with the celebration of the CRCNA's 150th annivesary, several hot-button issues will be discussed, including paedo-communion, women's ordination, the Belhar Confession and so on. From reports of classes, overtures and communications are lining up on all sides of the issues. Please be in prayer for our denomination and pray that God's Word would prevail in all areas. Also pray that the protests and demonstrations that are sure to come will not develop into a power struggle, but that those who are involved will submit humbly to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

To keep folks informed, two groups have formed to promote the deletion of the word "male" from Church Order Article 3 and the seating for women as delegates to synod. You can learn more about these groups by going to www.synodcloudofwitnesses.org and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hearts-aflame/. If you know of other developments on this or other issues for Synod 2007, please post them here to help us all stay up to date on what's happening. Also, any comments on the above are welcome as well.

Upcoming Meeting

Elders and pastors are invited to a meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at First Christian Reformed Church in Byron Center, MI. We hope to continue the conversation about bringing God-centered, biblical renewal to the Christian Reformed Church. There will be discussion of position papers, the “Year of Faith Formation” and also where we go from here. We need your help to broaden the conversation so please prayerfully consider attending. Please R.S.V.P. to returningchurch@yahoo.com or call 616-396-6230.

This meeting is being held just prior to the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (PCRT) to be held at First Byron from April 20-22 (see next posting on this blog). We strongly encourage you to take in the conference as well.

Further, you would help us greatly by publicizing the event with those you know who might be interested in such a meeting.

Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology

One of the goals of this site is to encourage CRCs and all Christians to stand firmly upon the Word of God. There is coming up soon a conference that will help do just that. The Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (PCRT) will be held in four sites around the U.S. this year: Sacramento, CA; Jackson, MS; Grand Rapids, MI and Philadelphia, PA. The theme is "The Word: Above All Earthly Powers" - what a fitting topic! Go to www.alliancenet.org for more information and click on "PCRT" on the left-hand side.

Office-Bearers

Churches who end their church calendar in the summer are no doubt beginning the process of nominating new elders and deacons. Has your church had difficulty gathering enough names for office-bearer nominations? Yes, it is a common problem all over North America. Are we just too busy? Have mixed-up priorities? Have our elders and deacons become just "managers" or "board members"? What lies behind the problem and how can we encourage men to faithfully stand up to shepherd our congregations? Click here to see a letter First CRC in Byron Center, Michigan, sent out to its congregation. Let's use it as a springboard for discussion.

History of the CRCNA

Robert P. Swierenga (author of Dutch Chicago and many other historical titles and articles) gave a lecture in 2000 that resulted in an article posted on his personal web-site entitled, "Burn the Wooden Shoes: Modernity and Division in the Christian Reformed Church in North America." It provides an good overview and critical analysis of events in our beloved denomination. Check it out at this link: http://www.swierenga.com/Africa_pap.html.

ADDITION: One of the comments mentions the future of the CRCNA with reference to Rev. Sam Hamstra's March 2007 The Banner article entitled "A Modest Proposal." Rev. Hamstra has also set up a blog for discussion on this at http://www.xanga.com/ACRC. We aren't necessarily endorsing his "proposal," but think it is good for discussion.

Biblical, Confessional, Reformed Worship

We are hoping to provide a forum on a variety of topics as they relate to the Christian life. Certainly central to our lives is worship. What is biblical, confessional, reformed worship? Do those adjectives flow from one to the other or not? Have we been missing the ball somewhere? Or are we more in danger of "throwing the baby out with the bath water"? Anyway, a few questions to ponder. Please - leave your comments.

Redirection in the RCA

Because of our close ties with the RCA it was particularly interesting to see these articles regarding a biblical renewal and redirection effort in that denomination. The face of the conflict in these articles is primarily homosexuality in the church, but there is a common root that stands behind many of the challenges we are facing as the CRC. Maybe there is some wisdom we can glean.

Here is a two-part article that gives some background:
Part I http://www.chalcedon.edu/articles/article.php?ArticleID=1800
Part II http://www.chalcedon.edu/articles/article.php?ArticleID=2296

Here is the renewal effort’s discussion page:
http://rcadialogue.blogspot.com/

We’d love to have your comments – not so much in regard to the RCA (we’ll respectfully and prayerfully let our brothers and sisters in the RCA work through the challenges they are facing in their denomination) – but in light of bringing renewal to the CRC.

[Thanks to the folks on CRC-Voices for drawing our attention here]

Sabbath Observance

A few of us have been getting together once a month to work our way through John Piper's "Brothers, We Are Not Professionals." Chapter 21 lended itself to a great discussion on legalism. In CRC circles, talk of legalism quickly turns to Sabbath observance. We all have our memories of "no bikes on Sunday" or "swimming - but no splashing!" Seriously, even sincere attempts at Sabbath observance are quickly tagged as legalism today. How do you balance the fight between legalism and the call to live holy lives in respect to the Lord's Day?

Please read before POSTING COMMENTS

We welcome your comments to any of the topics brought up in this blog. To keep the dialogue open and honest, we ask that you do not post anonymously. We appreciate if you will indicate your full name and hometown. It is too easy to make bold statements pro or con behind the veil of anonymity. We don't want this to become an exercise is cowardice.

We have changed the settings for the blog and you now have to be registered user of Blogger to leave comments. This helps weed out some of the anonymous comments. It is a simple process that doesn't cost a thing. Thanks for your cooperation.

November 9 Meeting

On November 9, the six pastors who helped organize the Dr. Nederhood meeting this past September met together with a representation of their respective elder bodies. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss some of the thoughts coming out of the September meeting and seek direction for the future.

Many ideas were discussed, including curriculum, theological classes, ways to work together and be "salt" in the CRC, connecting with biblical, Reformed resources outside our circles and communicating throughout the CRC. Through all of this discussion, it became clear that there needed to some identification of who we are and what is trying to be accomplished.

It was decided that this identification process needed to happen first. Trinity CRC in Sparta had been working on a position paper, which it has since adopted. They will probably be asking other churches for input and offer it as a template for adoption by other councils. It possibly will be made available for broader review and consideration as well. When a meeting occurs to discuss this we will communicate further.

Several CRC pastors from around the country are going to the Bethlehem Pastors’ Conference in Minneapolis this coming February. Hopefully we will be able to have some face-to-face discussions then. Also, there has been some talk of a conference or meeting prior to or following the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology to be held in Grand Rapids, MI, on April 20-22, 2007 (the PCRT is also held in Sacramento; Jackson, MS, and Philadelphia on other dates).

Conferences!

A way to promote renewal in the churches is to get our pastors and members under the teaching of solid, biblical teachers. Are there any good, Reformed conferences you have been to in the past that you could recommend to others? What was good about it? Who were some of the speakers and what were the topics?

Issues in Classis

Many pastors, elders and churches have expressed their consternation with how to deal with the issue of women-in-office at the classis level. Until now, there has been a sort of "theological classis" format with some leaving "male" in the church order and some declaring it "inoperative." How has your congregation dealt with the issue or how are you planning to deal with it in the future as it looks like Synod will delete the word "male" out of the church order altogether?

Faith Nurture within the Family

Our family has profited in times past from memorizing the Westminster Shorter Catechism for children. I believe it's put out by Great Commission Publications. It's a nice resource for families to use to catechize within the home.Is there anything like it from the Heidelberg? I'm not aware of anything that puts the Heidelberg in quite such simple form.

Rev. Tom Groelsema, 1st Byron CRC

If you have any resources for nurturing children in the faith at home, please share them here.

What's Next

What are (or should be) CRCs and other churches in your area doing to foster God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, Spirit-led, Word-centered, Mission-focused renewal?