wfn.org | [CRC NEWS] Synod urges focus on education, discipleship

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

June 13, 2005  Palos Heights, Ill. - Synod 2005 of the Christian
Reformed Church met Monday afternoon and approved a series of
recommendations intended to help congregations in their ministries of
church education and discipleship.

Delegates voted to remind churches of their calling to nurture the faith
of all their members.  They also called on churches and classes to make
faith-nurture a special focus from the fall of 2007 through the summer
of 2008.

Other recommendations include creating a position of discipleship
specialist within the denomination to assist agencies and ministry
organizations, especially those working with youth, and to offer
high-quality training for teachers and leaders.

Synod also called for a more comprehensive plan that would focus on
adult discipleship, and for an institute of discipleship that would
train church staff and volunteer leaders.

In other matters, synod agreed to vote on the candidates for ministry
from Calvin Theological Seminary as a group rather than individually.
The candidates will be presented to synod on Tuesday morning.

Last year, synod voted on the candidates individually so that delegates
opposed to women in ministry could abstain from voting for female
candidates.

Delegates also turned down a proposal that would have allowed former
elders to serve as delegates to synod.

On Monday evening, synod delegates enjoyed "A Taste of Chicago" at the
traditional picnic hosted by college President Steven Timmermans on the
lawn of Trinity Christian College.  Food stations represented Chicago's
various ethnic neighborhoods, with the food served by representatives of
Reformed agencies active in the city.

Coming up:
Synod continued to meet Monday night as delegates wrestled with the
issue of how to respond to the decision by First Christian Reformed
Church in Toronto, Ont. to allow people living in same-sex committed
relationships to serve as officebearers in the church.

Contact Henry Hess, Synod News Officer, at 708-293-2108.