Agenda for Synod Agenda for Synod 2021 2021 Synod 2021 will not meet as planned, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Program Committee of synod (officers of Synod 2019) has designated (in shaded sections within) all matters in this agenda that cannot await action by Synod 2022. A special meeting of the Council of Delegates of the Christian Reformed Church in North America will take place June 11-12 and 15-16, 2021, to decide on these matters (indicated by shading). Other matters in this agenda will be deferred to the agenda for Synod 2022. 462049 2021 June 11-12, 15-16, 2021 via Zoom teleconference © 2021 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 Preface ............................................................7 Council of Delegates of the Christian Reformed Church in North America Council of Delegates Report . 11 Appendix A: Abuse of Power Ad Hoc Committee Report . 44 Appendix B: Global Mission Evaluation . 71 Appendix C: ReFrame Ministries Foundational Document . 85 Appendix D: Condensed Financial Statements of the Agencies and Institutions ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������88 Reports of Agencies, Institutions, and Ministries Introduction ................................................121 Faith Formation Calvin University .........................................123 Faith Formation Ministries .................................133 Servant Leadership Chaplaincy and Care Ministry ..............................139 Christian Reformed Church Loan Fund, Inc., U.S. .............144 Pastor Church Resources ...................................146 Pensions and Insurance ....................................153 Raise Up Global Ministries .................................158 Global Mission ReFrame Ministries ........................................163 Resonate Global Mission ...................................169 Mercy and Justice Committee for Contact with the Government/ Centre for Public Dialogue ...............................179 Disability Concerns. .182 Indigenous Ministries (Canada) .............................186 Race Relations ...............................................188 Safe Church Ministry ......................................191 Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action ....................194 World Renew. 200 Gospel Proclamation and Worship Calvin Theological Seminary ...............................225 Worship Ministries ........................................234 Standing Committees Candidacy Committee ..........................................241 Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee ....................246 Historical Committee ...........................................252 AGENDA FOR SYNOD 2021 Contents 3 Denominationally Related Educational Institutions Dordt University. 265 Institute for Christian Studies ....................................267 The King’s University ...........................................270 Kuyper College ................................................272 Redeemer University ...........................................275 Trinity Christian College ........................................276 Study Committee and Task Forces Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality (consideration deferred to Synod 2022; see report at crcna.org/SynodResources) Ecclesiastical Marriage Task Force . 281 Study of Bivocationality Task Force ��������������������������������������������������������������315 Overtures 11. Classis Alberta South/Saskatchewan Pause Proceeding with Legal Separation of CRCNA along National Lines ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������347 12. Classis Toronto Halt All Proceedings Related to the Administrative Restructuring of the Canadian CRCNA Churches. 349 13. Classis Chatham Clarify Distinctions in Synodical Decisions . 350 14. Classis Holland Instruct Neland Avenue CRC to Rescind Its Decision . 352 15. Classis B.C. North-West Admonish and/or Discipline Neland Avenue CRC (Grand Rapids, Mich.) . 353 16. Classis Rocky Mountain Hold Neland Avenue CRC Accountable to Scripture, Church Order, and the Covenant for Officebearers ��������������������������354 17. Classis Zeeland Ensure that Neland Avenue CRC Deposes their Deacon Living in a Same-sex Marriage or Disaffiliate the Congregation from the CRCNA . 355 18. Classis Minnkota Hold Neland Avenue CRC and Classis Grand Rapids East Accountable to Church Order and the Covenant for Officebearers . 366 19. Classis Columbia Instruct Neland Avenue CRC Concerning a Deacon in Question . 372 10. Classis Iakota Allow Neland Avenue CRC and Like-minded Churches to Resign Membership from the CRCNA . 375 11. Classis Grand Rapids East Rescind Action of the Council of Delegates in Sending a Letter to the Council of Neland Avenue CRC . 375 4 Contents AGENDA FOR SYNOD 2021 12. Classis Illiana Declare Denials of Penal Substitutionary Atonement as Heresy and Instruct Classes to Guard the Reformed Confessional Teaching of the Cross . 376 13. Classis Arizona Honor Ordination of a Reformed Church in America Commissioned Pastor if Called to a CRC Congregation . 386 14. Judy De Wit, Hancock CRC, Hancock, Minnesota Appoint a Licensing Board to Ensure Better-Trained CRCNA Leadership regarding Abuse of Power . 386 15. Judy De Wit, Hancock CRC, Hancock, Minnesota Approve Use of Mental Health Professionals to Serve as Abuse Educators, Trainers, and Advocates . 388 16. Judy De Wit, Hancock CRC, Hancock, Minnesota Suspend Duties of Classical, Synodical, and Council of Delegates Members Who Face Allegations of Abuse . 389 17. Council of Lantern Community CRC, Calgary, Alberta Discern a Process to Combine Previous Synodical Decisions for Challenging Conversations ������������������������������������������������������������390 18. Classis Holland Adopt the Report of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality . 392 19. Classis Minnkota Adopt the Report of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation–laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality ������������393 20. Councils of The Road CRC, Calgary, Alberta, and First CRC, Toronto, Ontario; Classis Toronto Amend Recommendations of the Human Sexuality Report; Continue Deliberation re Human Sexuality; Delegate the Issue of Same-Sex Marriage as a Decision of Local Conscience ����������������394 21. Council of West End CRC, Edmonton, Alberta Clarify What Already Has Confessional Status in the Report of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality, and Consider Concerns about Recommendation D ��������������������������������������������������������������������416 22. Classis Grand Rapids East Do Not Accede to the Report and Recommendations from the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality . 417 23. Members of First CRC, Denver, Colorado Do Not Adopt the Report and Recommendations of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality . 419 24. Classis Grand Rapids East Do Not Accede to Recommendations D and E of the Report of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality . 425 AGENDA FOR SYNOD 2021 Contents 5 25. Councils of Emmanuel CRC, Calgary, Alberta; Lantern Community CRC, Calgary, Alberta; River Park CRC, Calgary, Alberta; The Road CRC, Calgary, Alberta Do Not Accede to Recommendations D and E of the Report of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality . 436 26. Council of Fellowship CRC, Edmonton, Alberta Appoint a New Study Committee on Human Sexuality Not Limited by the 1973 Report; or Do Not Adopt Recommendations D and E of the Current Report . 446 27. Classis Toronto Do Not Accede to Recommendations B, D, and E of the Report of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality . 450 28. Classis Toronto Do Not Accede to Recommendations B, D, and E of the Human Sexuality Report regarding Status Confessionis . 455 29. Council of First CRC, Toronto, Ontario Do Not Accede to Recommendations B, D, and E of the Human Sexuality Report; Recognize Different Perspectives and Convictions on Homosexuality; Support Local Option on Issues of Human Sexuality ��������������������������������������������������������������457 30. Council of Ann Arbor CRC, Ann Arbor, Michigan Do Not Adopt Recommendations B, D, E, or F of the Report of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality . 469 Communications 1. Classis Grand Rapids East . 473 2. Classis Northwest Iowa . 475 3. Classis Northern Michigan ������������������������������������������������������������������������476 4. Classis Minnkota . 477 5. Council of River Park CRC, Calgary, Alberta . 479 6 Contents AGENDA FOR SYNOD 2021 PREFACE The Council of Delegates (COD) of the CRCNA at its meeting on February 19, 2021, considered a report from the Program Committee of synod (officers of Synod 2019) regarding the meeting of Synod 2021 amid the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. After lengthy deliberation, the COD decided to cancel Synod 2021 and, as in 2020, to hold a special meeting of the COD on June 11-12