wfn.org | [CRC NEWS] CRC Synod 2005 to Meet June 11-18

["Henry Hess" <hessh@crcna.ca>]

The annual synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America will
meet June 11-18 at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill.,
near Chicago.

The agenda for Synod 2005 is voluminous, due in large part to the fact
that five study committees have completed their work and are scheduled
to present their reports and recommendations. The subjects of those
reports are:

1.	The review of the classical-local option with respect to women
serving in the office of minister, elder, and evangelist. This is the
year designated for this matter to be reviewed. In addition to the
report itself, synod will have four overtures of response to the
committee's report.

2.	The committee to review the practice of appointing ethnic advisers to
synod will also present its recommendation to continue the practice
until such time that the delegates of an ethnic-minority heritage will
number at least 25 percent of the total of all the delegates to any
synod, starting in 2011.

3.	The committee that studied Christian day-school education will
present a 130-page report on the importance of maintaining the historic
commitment of the CRC to this kingdom activity.

4.	Another important committee reporting to Synod 2005 is the church
education study (in distinction from Christian day-schools) that has
been in the making for three years. Not only in places where Christian
day-schools are not available, but also in each congregation, synod will
be urged to emphasize the importance of religious training and personal
discipling ministries.

5.	The final study committee to report deals with the subject of
restorative justice. This is the first time that this subject is on
synod's agenda and the committee is recommending a number of restorative
justice principles for adoption.

Synod also will receive a recommendation from the Interchurch Relations
Committee that it agree to recognize and permit an orderly exchange of
clergy between the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and the Christian
Reformed Church (CRC). The synod of the RCA has a similar recommendation
on its agenda the following week.

The Interchurch Relations Committee is also recommending a continuing
relationship with the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (now a union
of three separate denominations that have merged).

In addition, Synod 2005 will:
·	Receive reports from all of its agencies and educational
institutions;

·	Interview Dr. Darwin K. Glassford for the position of associate
professor of church education at Calvin Theological Seminary. The
seminary will also present the graduating students who are applying for
ministerial candidacy in the Christian Reformed Church.

·	Interview Dr. Calvin L. Bremer for the position of Executive
Director of the Christian Reformed Church. The Reverend Gerald L.
Dykstra will be presented to synod as the Board of Trustees' appointee
to the position of Director of Denominational Ministries. Bremer and
Dykstra, upon appointment, will replace Dr. David Engelhard and Dr.
Peter Borgdorff both of whom will be leaving their positions this year.

For more information about Synod 2005 contact:
Peter Borgdorff, Executive Director of Ministries, 616-224-0832
Henry Hess, Synod News Officer, 905-336-2920

---------------------------------
Henry Hess
Director of Communications
Christian Reformed Church
905-336-2920 ext.236
hessh@crcna.ca

To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church, visit www.crcna.org