wfn.org | [CRC NEWS] Synod approves candidates for ministry

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

June 14, 2005  Palos Heights, Ill. - Synod today declared 38 graduates
from Calvin Theological Seminary as candidates for ministry of the Word
in the Christian Reformed Church.  The 31 men and seven women are now
eligible for call to congregations.

In his address to the candidates synod president Rev. Wayne Brouwer said
Christians are "people of the dawn who are called to live as children of
the light. You are those who have the opportunity to share that light
through your ministry," he said.

In a separate decision, synod extended the candidacy of four other
graduates for one year.

It also instructed the Board of Trustees to look for ways to help
seminary students who are training for the ministry to pay for Christian
schooling for their children.

Synod celebrated the ministries of Calvin College and seminary as well
the many other denominationally-related colleges, agencies and
institutions.

It also granted tenure to 17 Calvin College professors, reappointed
three professors to Calvin Theological Seminary and reappointed Rev.
Neal Plantinga, Jr. as seminary president with indefinite tenure.  When
a delegate inquired whether that means tenure for life, Plantinga
quipped that indefinite tenure is the seminary board's way of saying,
"We have no idea how long this is going to work."

In other actions, synod called for updated versions of the contemporary
testimony, "Our World Belongs to God," and of the Form of Subscription
to be developed over the next two years.

Synod also commended the Office of Race Relations for its leadership
toward racial reconciliation and encouraged congregations and classes to
celebrate All Nations Heritage Week from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, 2005, with
special services on Oct. 2.

Coming up:
This afternoon synod is dealing with interdenominational matters,
including a proposal for exchange of ministers between the CRC and the
Reformed Church in America.

This evening it will interview Rev. Cal Bremer for the position of
executive director of the Christian Reformed Church and Dr. Darwin
Glassford as associate professor of church education at the seminary.

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