Some Thoughts about Synod Nyack 2012

Synod Nyack 2012 of the United Reformed Churches has come and gone. Press Releases can be found at the URCNA website (www.urcna.org) . The agenda for this synod, though fullsome, was not nearly as weighty as synod 2010. However, there was something about this synod which seemed different to me. I came home from Synod Nyack very encouraged by two things.

The first thing is that there was a great sense of unity among the delegates. This did not just affect interaction at meal times or free time, but even on advisory committees and on the floor of synod during plenary sessions. At Synod London 2010 there were a few hot button topics and a couple events that raised the tension going into that synod. In preparation for Synod 2012, these things were quite absent. We could get back to the work of moving forward. What I see taking place in the URC is a growing love for each other. We have a long way to go with this, but the more we get to know ourselves, the greater we can appreciate our brothers and sisters in different parts of the U.S. and Canada in our own federation. 

There was also a great sense of Christian unity for other faithful churches around the world. We heard greetings from the Republic of Congo, the Netherlands, Indonesia, etc. There was a speech by a minister from the Calvinistic Reformed Church of Indonesia. This short native of Indonesia was full of life and began his speech by saying, "Goede morgen! Hoe gaat het met jullie?" It was comical. However, as the speech went on and the brother spoke about God's work in Indonesia, it became personal as we heard about this brother's loss of a son recently at the hands of medical malpractice as he looked on. He ended his speech by offering a gift to our chairman Rev. Ron Scheuers. It was a scarf made by his wife. Chairman Scheuers came down to where the speaker was, and though a head taller than our Indonesian brother, stooped his head down to receive the scarf and then they hugged each other. It was both beautiful and moving to see a small glimpse of the length and breadth of the true church of Christ on the Earth. There is a growing unity among us and among our brothers and sisters around the world. It is my prayer that this continues to grow as we mature.

The second thing I was greatly encouraged by was a sense of our calling in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20). This expressed itself in the establishment of a position of Missions Coordinator who will work full time to connect church planters and missionaries and meet with interested groups of people with Reformed convictions without having a church home. Our discussion on that subject dealt with the details of the position. It was very clear that it is important to the churches to plant churches and to do this faithfully. Along with this was our report on doctrinal committment where we affirmed that in order to make profession of faith, you are assenting to the Three Forms of Unity (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort). This means that while we seek to use the means God has ordained to build His church, we can do so without lowering the level of faith to, "Do you believe in Jesus" or "no creed but Christ." This was an important synod for the URC in terms of church planting.

There is a love for missions in the URC and that is part and parcel of what it means to be faithful to the Lord of the church. Rev. Paul Murphy in one of his devotions said something that I have been thinking about. He said (paraphrased) "Missions should not be a line item in the budget, it should be our identity as a church. The church is, by definition, missional." He was right on! It is easy to become comfortable and as a consistory to make sure the status quo doesn't change and the boat doesn't rock, but we ought not to be content to merely "polish the brass", but rather to devote our time, energy and resources to grow the church of Christ, by his grace, through the Word and Spirit, as He has ordained.

I left this synod encouraged. I believe we do have some things to learn as churches and we still have a somewhat deficient way of dealing with appeals. However, we are United and Reformed and for that I am thankful.

D-Day 68 Years Later

On June 6, 1944 Allied troops landed on the shores of Normandy, France in the largest amphibious invasion ever. By July 4, 1,000,000 troops had landed on the shores of Normandy. The invasion, called "Operation Overlord" was the entrance of the Allied Forces into France and into the waiting German forces. Casualties were high and there have been a number of movies made about the invasion (The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, etc.) Today, I pause to remember this important date in the history, not only of my country, but of the whole world.

The majority of troops who landed on the shores of Normandy were from England, the U.S., and Canada. There was air support from a few other Commonwealth countries. In 2003 I visited Normandy, France and I walked along the beach. I gazed up the high and intimidating cliffs and I thought about the young soldiers landing, pinned along the beach, fighting those who had the upper ground. As I stood on the beach in Normandy I tried to picture what that would be like. Imagine the fear of a young man who in just a moment, the exit would be opened on the boat, the cliffs and beach would be exposed and he would jump from his ship to wade through the water and look for some kind of cover as bullets flew by.

What really got to me was the fact that the forces who landed on the beach initially had not been attacked by the Germans. After all, the U.S. could have just focused on Japan, a more imminent threat. England had not been invaded, Canada had not been invaded, the U.S. had not been invaded and yet they sent their boys to war to defend liberty and justice. The older generation still among us remembers this, but my generation knows little of this. The ultimate sacrifice one can make for his friend (Ally) is to give his life. 68 years ago today thousands did just that. By mid-July, more than 100,000 allied troops lost their lives in Normandy and over 100,000 German forces died as well.

 Today I thank God for those who have gone before me, many of which are not here today because of their sacrifice. Let us never forget!