ACTS of SYNOD 2019 June 14-20, 2019 Covenant Fine Arts Center Calvin College Grand Rapids, Michigan
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2019 ACTS OF SYNOD ACTS OF SYNOD Responding to God’s gracious call. 2019 ACTS OF SYNOD 2019 June 14-20, 2019 Covenant Fine Arts Center Calvin College Grand Rapids, Michigan © 2019 Christian Reformed Church in North America 1700 28th Street SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508-1407 U.S.A. Printed in the United States of America The Christian Reformed Church is active in missions, education, publishing, media, pastoral care, advocacy, diaconal outreach, and youth ministry. To learn about our work in North America and around the world, visit www.crcna.org. CONTENTS Foreword ..........................................................v Councilof Delegates of the Christian Reformed Church in North America Council of Delegates Supplement ................................543 Appendix A: Bivocational Task Force Report ....................558 Addendum A: Church Order Statements re Bivocational Pastors ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������563 Addendum B: Theological Basis for Bivocational Ministry . 565 Addendum C: Practices of the Denomination . 566 Addendum D: Educational Matters for Bivocational Pastors ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������570 Addendum E: CRCNA Culture Surrounding Bivocational Ministry ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������572 Appendix B: Classis Name Change Report ......................577 Addendum: Further Information . 581 Appendix C: Addressing the Abuse of Power Committee Report ...587 Addendum: Budget Implications of Addressing the Abuse of Power Committee Recommendations . 615 Appendix D: Safe Church Update Regarding Synod 2018 Directives. 616 Appendix E: Summary of Denominational Investments and Compliance with Investment Policy .........................618 Agency and Institution Supplements Faith Formation Calvin College. .623 Appendix: Change to Library Governance ����������������������������������626 Addendum: Mandate of the Hekman Library Committee ...631 Mercy and Justice World Renew. 633 Gospel Proclamation and Worship Calvin Theological Seminary ...............................635 Appendix A: CTS Board of Trustees Recommendation and Background . 639 Appendix B: CRS Faculty Meeting Minutes re Change to Library Governance ����������������������������������������������������������������652 Appendix C: Acts of Synod Background re Historical Committee ������������������������������������������������������������������657 ACTS OF SYNOD 2019 Contents iii Standing Committees Candidacy Committee Supplement ...............................665 Appendix: Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy (EPMC) Review and Update . 668 Historical Committee Supplement ................................675 Overture 24. Classis Northcentral Iowa Commend the Great Lakes Catechism on Marriage and Sexuality to the Classes and Churches for Reflection and Study ...681 25. Classis Grand Rapids East Do Not Accede to Overture 8 regarding Assertions by Synod 2012 about Climate Change . 682 Financial Reports Back to God Ministries International ................................687 Calvin College ...................................................688 Calvin Theological Seminary .......................................689 CRC Loan Fund, Inc., U.S. .........................................690 Congregational Services Ministries ..................................691 Resonate Global Mission ...........................................692 Synodical Administrative Services ..................................693 World Renew ....................................................694 Ministers’ Pension and Special Assistance Funds – Canada .............695 Ministers’ Pension and Special Assistance Funds – U.S. ................696 Employees’ Retirement Plan – Canada ...............................697 Employees’ Savings Plan – U.S. .....................................698 Report of Synod 2019 Service of Prayer and Praise ........................................701 Minutes of Synod 2019 ............................................703 Denominational Ministry Shares and Recommended Agencies for 2020 .......................................................833 Index ...........................................................839 iv Contents ACTS OF SYNOD 2019 FOREWORD Synod 2019 was held in the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 14-20, 2019. Delegates gathered from across North America to serve the Christian Reformed Church, committing their time to work and worship, and to discussion and deliberation, while they and members across the continent lifted up the proceedings in prayer. As a record of the work accomplished, the Acts of Synod 2019 provides another chapter in the Christian Reformed Church’s journey of faithfulness for more than 160 years. The Acts of Synod 2019 contains the following: • Supplementary reports of the Council of Delegates of the Christian Reformed Church in North America and those agencies and com- mittees authorized to file them. • Two overtures. • Financial reports. • Service of Prayer and Praise. • The minutes of Synod 2019. • An index for both the Acts of Synod 2019 and the Agenda for Synod 2019. It is necessary for the user of the Acts of Synod to keep the Agenda for Synod readily available as a reference. The Agenda is not reprinted in the Acts. The minutes of synod often make reference to reports and overtures in the Agenda for Synod. Take note that the pagination continues from the Agenda to the Acts. Supplementary materials begin on page 543, following preliminary unnumbered pages. Financial reports begin on page 687. The minutes of synod follow, beginning on page 703. The index references both the Agenda for Synod and the Acts of Synod; the page numbers in boldface type in the index refer to pages in the minutes of Synod 2019. Found within these pages, as well as in the related Agenda for Synod 2019, is continuing evidence of service by the Christian Reformed Church in response to a vision adopted by synod more than a dozen years ago: “The Christian Reformed Church is a diverse family of healthy congregations, assemblies, and ministries expressing the good news of God’s kingdom that transforms lives and communities worldwide.” This vision and these actions of synod are offered in full reliance upon God and in light of the promise in Proverbs 16:3: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Steven R. Timmermans, executive director Christian Reformed Church in North America ACTS SYNOD 2019 Foreword v COUNCIL OF DELEGATES ACTS OF SYNOD 2019 Council of Delegates Report 541 COUNCIL OF DELEGATES SUPPLEMENT I. Polity matters A. Council of Delegates membership (Committee 1) 1. Council of Delegates members completing service as of June 30, 2019 The COD delegate from Classis Kalamazoo, Mr. Kevin TenBrink, is moving from the region and is unable to continue service on the board. The COD is grateful for the contributions he has provided during his tenure. 2. Council of Delegates nominees The COD presents the following recommendations for appointment of new members to a first term: a. Canada at-large nominee The COD recommends that synod appoint Ms. Melissa Van Dyk as a Canada at-large member for a first term of three years. Ms. Melissa Van Dyk is a member of First CRC, Vancouver, Brit- ish Columbia. She is employed as an assistant manager at Hastings Chaplaincy and Outreach at Union Gospel Mission. Ms. Van Dyk has served as treasurer and board chair for Diaconal Ministries Canada and as treasurer for the British Columbia leadership development network. She has also served as secretary for the local Strata Council. Currently she is serving a second term as deacon and as council treasurer; she is also a team representative for a recreational soccer league. b. Classical delegate nominee The COD recommends that synod appoint Rev. Michael D. Koetje as the Classis Kalamazoo delegate for a first term of three years. Rev. Michael D. Koetje is pastor of Westwood CRC in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rev. Koetje previously served on the Calvin College Board of Trustees and as stated clerk of Classis Muskegon. In addition, Rev. Koetje served as a church counselor, a church visitor, and a member on the student aid committee. Currently Rev. Koetje serves as chair of the Classis Kalamazoo interim committee. As an elder and a pastor, he has served many years on local church councils, worship committees, and renewal lab teams. B. Corporation officers and executive committee of the Council of Delegates ( Committee 1) At its recent meeting the COD members from their respective corpora- tions and the full Council of Delegates elected the following to serve as officers in 2019-2020: ACTS OF SYNOD 2019 Council of Delegates Report 543 1. CRCNA Canada Corporation President: Mr. Andy de Ruyter Vice president: Rev. Donald G. Draayer Secretary: Ms. Aaltje van Grootheest Treasurer: Ms. Gloria Melenberg 2. CRCNA U.S. Corporation President: Rev. Paul R. De Vries Vice president: Rev. Sheila E. Holmes Secretary: Ms. Elsa Fennema Treasurer: Mr. Timothy Bosscher 3. Back to God Ministries International Canada Corporation President: Mr. Andy de Ruyter Vice president: Rev. Donald G. Draayer Secretary: Rev. B. Bernard Bakker Treasurer: Ms. Gloria Melenberg 4. Back to God Ministries International U.S. Corporation President: Rev. Paul R. De Vries Vice president: Rev. Sheila E. Holmes Secretary: Ms. Elsa Fennema Treasurer: Mr. Timothy Bosscher 5. Council