The General Synod of the Reformed Church in America met in Tucson, AZ from June 13-18, 2024, making a number of decisions for the future of the denomination. Some of those key decisions are:
- The majority of the Restructuring Team’s recommendations were approved (some slightly amended) with the exception of making deacons delegates to Middle Assemblies (a proposed new name for combined Regional Synods and classes) and placing a 2% cap on covenant shares (formerly known as “assessments”).
- Accepted proposed changes to remove elements of explicit and implicit racism from the Book of Church Order.
- Concluded a celebration year recognizing five decades of women in ordained ministry in the RCA.
- Commended US and Canadian governments for their work towards a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
- Rev. Joshua Scheid (Massapequa, NY) was elected President for the next year, and Rev. Sarah Palsma (Dublin, OH) was elected Vice President. Rev. Judy Nelson (Holland, MI) served as President of the Synod and concluded her service while in Tucson.
- Further news, notes, and links can be found here.
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While the RCA was gathered in Tucson, Calvin University in Grand Rapids hosted this year’s Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in North America Synod. Their main goal was contending with a number of matters relating to human sexuality (i.e. CRC office bearers who support same-sex attracted persons), and they chose to handle that matter in draconian and profoundly unloving ways.
In 2022, the CRC Synod upheld a position that says same-sex relationships are sinful, and codified that stance as a confessional issue and core pillar of the CRC’s theology. That has led to this year, where the CRC Synod voted to call affirming churches into a process of discipline. Those churches must publicly repent and withdraw any statements of affirmation of LGBTQIA+ people, or they must disaffiliate from the denomination. If they do neither of those things, they have been told that they will be removed from fellowship with the denomination.
Office bearers — pastors, deacons, elders and CRC institution faculty -– “who have made public statements, by their actions or in any form of media, which directly contradict synod’s decision on unchastity” are under a state of “limited suspension” and may no longer be delegated to classis or synod. In the wake of this, people are still trying to determine what "limited suspension" means in practical terms, as this term was just invented by Synod 2024 without precedents or Church Order references to it.
It’s also important to note that the CRC Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee will be reevaluating the denomination’s relationship with the RCA by seeking clarification from the RCA on “its commitment to uphold Biblical doctrine regarding homosexuality.” They’re questioning whether RCA clergy have been blessing same-sex unions or “engaging in homosexual relationships while in ministry”. Since they have doubled down on their official stance that “homosexual practice is incompatible with obedience to the will of God as expressed in Scripture,” they are looking to see if they can remain in relationship with the RCA.
These unChristlike and anti-biblical moves from the CRC are a clear step backwards and away from justice. The RCA does not have a binding denominational stance on either human sexuality or gender identity, and we lament that our siblings have chosen an alternate path of shameful disunity and clear disregard for the Imago Dei in God’s queer children.
Our siblings are lamenting, suffering, and grieving, while at the same time gathering, planning, and trusting in God. At this moment, the best thing we can do for them is pray, and we continue to be in communication and available for support as this is processed. When there is a call to action or opportunity to assemble and uplift our siblings in a tangible way, we’ll share that with you.
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The next Quarterly Clergy Meetup is scheduled for Thursday, July 18, at 4:30 PM EDT. Register to join us!
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