Signs of Hope

Today was a really difficult day at General Synod. I wanted, perhaps needed is a more honest word, to spend some time focusing only on signs of hope at General Synod 2012. All of the following represent things that I have seen, heard, learned about or experienced that give me hope for the future of the RCA and the church in general.

• One for the World
• Holding hands, praying the Lord’s Prayer and singing the Doxology together after a painful time of vehement disagreement in Saturday night’s advisory committee meeting “A Pastoral Response to Homosexuality”  
• Kingdom Enterprise Zones (KEZs) - cooperative efforts by the RCA and the CRC to reach unchurched people in places like Phoenix, AZ and Wyoming, MI
• The fruit of the RCA’s mission work that started decades ago in Chiapas, Mexico
• Personal messages via text, email and facebook from my church (ARC) telling me they are praying for us
• Pastor Jill’s messages of unity, peace and purity in opening worship
• Our mission partners asked the RCA what they can do to help us in mission
• The second substitute motion on homosexuality which was grace-filled, upheld the current position and called for continued dialog - although it failed, received strong support
• Opening General Synod worship
• The 17 10-word statements from the All-Synod Advisory Committees

Overtures regarding LGBT marriage and ordination

Well, we began with an Advisory Council recommendation, discussion, a substitute motion, a ruling from the chair that the substitute was out of order, a vote to overrule the chair's ruling, returned to discuss the substitute motion, just had another substitute proposed, and now we are discussing whether to put this substitute before the house.

Unity, Purity, Peace

Jill pointed out in this morning's worship that every pastor, in their ordination vows, has pledged themselves to unity, purity, and peace.  However, as she moved on from that the word purity got left out.  Unity and peace were lifted without mention of purity.  While I have mixed thoughts about the overtures being brought to synod and the possibility of dividing the church, I am also uncomfortable with dropping the word purity.  I know that we are divided on what purity means.  I know we don't agree whether homosexual practice is a sin.  I know that we approach exegesis and interpretation differently.  I know that we are in a process of wrestling that may take more than one year.  I know that we want to emphasize unity and peace.  But, I am concerned that we not drop important words in the process.

Two minute warning...

Paul Vroom asked that the General Synod take two minutes to have each Vice Presidential candidate answer three questions:  "Where do you stand on Women in Ministry, the Standards, and Homosexuality?" The request was ruled out of order because the procedure does not allow for it.  Somebody shared putting pictures up for VP elections.  Wes indicated General Synod Council could take that up during the year.  Ehhhh.  I'm for doing things decently and in order, but....  Just saying....

New Vice President

Tom Smith is our new VP of General Synod.  Serves a year as VP, a year as President, and a year as Immediate Past President.  He's the brother of Paul Smith, librarian at Western Seminary.  Congratulations Tom.  Maybe I will post more when I know more about him.