June 13, 2006, Grand Rapids, Mich. - Synod 2006 today approved 34 candidates for ministry of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church. Three of the candidates are women.
Delegates warmly welcomed the candidates and their families by giving them a prolonged standing ovation. Rev. Dan Gritter, whose son Nathan is among the candidates, urged them never to forget that "this is a gospel of grace that you bring. ... Preach it; live it. The world needs to hear it."
Synod also eliminated the waiting period before churches can call a candidate. The policy, which dates from a time when communications were slower, required that churches wait two weeks after someone is declared a candidate before extending a call.
It was intended to make sure that churches outside the Grand Rapids area had an equal opportunity to call candidates.
For the first time, candidates were presented to synod not by the president of Calvin Theological Seminary, Dr. Neal Plantinga, but by the chair of the newly-formed Synodical Ministerial Candidacy Committee, Rev. Thea Leunk.
In other matters, synod agreed to designate the Today's New International Version (TNIV) of the Bible as acceptable for use in CRC churches.
Dr. Jeffrey Weima, professor of New Testament at Calvin seminary, told synod that the TNIV is not all that different from its predecessor, the New International Version (NIV), which the CRC played a key role in producing.
Weima also said that key texts dealing with women holding ecclesiastical office have not been substantially changed in any way. A number of delegates objected strongly to the TNIV's use of gender inclusive language.
Synod also affirmed the work of its mission agencies and urged the churches to support them through offerings. Delegates recognized the appointments of Rev. Robert Heerspink as director of The Back to God Hour and Rev. Bruce Adema as director of Canadian Ministries.
It ratified the appointment of Ida Kaastra Mutoigo as the director of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee - Canada.
It also expressed appreciation for those who work in Abuse Prevention, Chaplaincy, Disability Concerns, Pastor-Church Relations, Race Relations, Social Justice, and Ministry Planning.
For more information, go to www.crcna.org or call Henry Hess, Synod News Officer, at 616-526-8654.
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