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Posted in Synod | May 23, 2013, 11:23 am | 11 comments

This year at Synod, Classis Zeeland wants us to “Appoint a study committee to expand on the 1973 report and conclusions on homosexuality.” And Classis Pacific Northwest wants us to “provide pastoral advice on the issue of gay marriage.” Now, people of God... Read more »

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Some denominations have bishops; we have Article 17
[Q&A] What can be done about the high turnover rate for elders and deacons?
[Q&A] Does anyone have a pastoral declaration about marriage that I can use in our revised building rental policy?
[Q&A] Do you have any good ideas for a meaningful and better-attended second service?

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	Bi-National or Overreaching? Posted in Synod \| May 23, 2013, 11:02 am \| 1 comment A key topic of discussion at Synod 2013 will, undoubtedly, be the bi-national character of our denomination. Also undoubtedly, it is brought forward to us in Overture 5 from Classis Toronto and in Overture 6 from Classis Niagara. Read more »
	Counting What Counts Posted in Pastors \| May 23, 2013, 6:50 am It was the third evening in a row I had heard the steady hum of amplified music reverberating through the night air. In North America, I would have imagined the source to be a group of teenagers grinding out their favorite tunes in a garage. But in Nicaragua it is not teenagers who make the racket. “It’s the churches,” my host explained. “We’ve got five of them in this neighborhood. And they have services six nights a week.” Read more »
	Is Your Church Too Small or Too Poor to Do Missions? Posted in Global Mission \| May 22, 2013, 8:01 am Much of my work involves helping churches discover their unique gifts and talents that they can contribute to the work of World Renew. Sometimes I hear, "my church is too small to really get involved," or "we have a hard enough time paying our ministry shares; we can't take on another offering or missions project." Sometimes I want to say, "Yours is exactly the kind of church I want to work with!" How much easier is it to relate to churches in developing countries when you DON'T have all the financial resources or answers? Read more »
	Short Term Missions Trips Posted in Youth \| May 21, 2013, 4:20 pm \| 1 comment Much has been written about going on short term mission trips, both good and bad. I would define a short term mission trip as less than one month. Usually they are from one to two weeks. There are many good books written on the subject, one of the best is “ When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. I still remember when I first read it, I was half way through and I was convinced we should never do short term mission trips again. Read more »
	Deck Chairs? Posted in Synod \| May 21, 2013, 1:34 pm \| 4 comments A key theme throughout the Agenda for Synod 2013 is the necessity to restructure the denomination. I’ll admit I feel anxious putting this out there but only because I’m going to be blamed for saying in public what any number of people have wondered about it private... Read more »
	Wag the Dog Posted in Synod \| May 21, 2013, 12:40 pm \| 3 comments Although I read through the Structure and Culture Report (page 348), although I looked at the budget numbers, I remain unconvinced that the tail isn’t trying to wag the dog. Read more »
	People are not Potted Plants Posted in Small Groups \| May 21, 2013, 12:16 pm Planning for ministry is much more complex than planning for a garden and often causes frustration for leaders and participants. Just like in gardening, there is not a one-size-fits-all plan. Read more »
	Some Observations: Do You See What I See? Posted in Classis \| May 20, 2013, 4:37 pm \| 3 comments Do you see these trends in the denomination? Are we trending in healthy directions? Signs of hope in the CRC? Do you see any? Read more »
	Call on Your Senator to Ratify the CRPD Posted in Disability Concerns \| May 20, 2013, 2:47 pm A campaign of misinformation brought about the defeat of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in the U.S. Senate last December. Likely, a motion to ratify it will be brought to the Senate Foreign Relations committee this June. Now is the time to begin contacting Senators to correct that misinformation so the next vote to ratify will be successful. Read more »
	5 Social Media Improvements You Can Make Today Posted in Web \| May 20, 2013, 11:48 am \| 1 comment Using social media well is more than setting up an account and pushing out information about yourself or organization. By nature it’s relational. Whether you’re new to social media, or someone who’s been doing it for years, here are five things to consider that could make your online relationships stronger. Read more »
	One is the Loneliest Number Posted in Church Planting \| May 20, 2013, 9:01 am \| 1 comment The latest Utne Reader has an article entitled, “Me, Myself, and I: Why is it so hard to admit when we are lonely?” The author, Olivia Laing, talks about the pain of loneliness in her own life as she lived in New York City, surrounded by people but still terribly alone. In the article she points out not only her own pain of loneliness but also the research on loneliness, Read more »
	Plan a Volunteer Recruitment Month Posted in Sunday School \| May 20, 2013, 12:00 am Looking for a way to ease the August stress of searching for volunteers? Check out this blog post from veteran children’s minister, Linda Freeman, who offers week by week ideas for planning a month long focus on volunteer recruitment. Read more »
	An Open and Shut Case Posted in Pastors \| May 16, 2013, 8:43 am \| 9 comments In the forum regarding Overtures 3 & 4 for this year’s Synod, Meg Jenista quoted Augustine of Hippo, who said: "In the essentials, unity. In the non-essentials, liberty and in all things, charity." So what’s the question? The question is: what are the essentials, and what are the non-essentials when it comes to our faith? Read more »
	Dealing with Death and Dying Posted in Pastors \| May 16, 2013, 7:15 am \| 3 comments In two years I’ve done 24 funerals. Three of which have been for someone under the age of 70. One was for a baby. Each time, no one knew how to deal with death and dying. They kept going back to praying for the miracle. Praying against hope that things will not end in the inevitable. As pastors, ours is the calling to... Read more »
	The Double Edged Sword of Email Lists Posted in Web \| May 15, 2013, 11:30 am \| 1 comment I joined a church just after graduating from college a few years ago and suddenly started receiving emails from a number of people all at the same time. I wondered what was going on and then realized my email was published in the directory.Without giving consent I was immediately subscribed to the church “weekly update”, prayer chain, and social justice club list. Read more »

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	Bi-National or Overreaching? Posted in Synod \| May 23, 2013, 11:02 am \| 1 comment A key topic of discussion at Synod 2013 will, undoubtedly, be the bi-national character of our denomination. Also undoubtedly, it is brought forward to us in Overture 5 from Classis Toronto and in Overture 6 from Classis Niagara. Read more »
	Counting What Counts Posted in Pastors \| May 23, 2013, 6:50 am It was the third evening in a row I had heard the steady hum of amplified music reverberating through the night air. In North America, I would have imagined the source to be a group of teenagers grinding out their favorite tunes in a garage. But in Nicaragua it is not teenagers who make the racket. “It’s the churches,” my host explained. “We’ve got five of them in this neighborhood. And they have services six nights a week.” Read more »
	Is Your Church Too Small or Too Poor to Do Missions? Posted in Global Mission \| May 22, 2013, 8:01 am Much of my work involves helping churches discover their unique gifts and talents that they can contribute to the work of World Renew. Sometimes I hear, "my church is too small to really get involved," or "we have a hard enough time paying our ministry shares; we can't take on another offering or missions project." Sometimes I want to say, "Yours is exactly the kind of church I want to work with!" How much easier is it to relate to churches in developing countries when you DON'T have all the financial resources or answers? Read more »
	Short Term Missions Trips Posted in Youth \| May 21, 2013, 4:20 pm \| 1 comment Much has been written about going on short term mission trips, both good and bad. I would define a short term mission trip as less than one month. Usually they are from one to two weeks. There are many good books written on the subject, one of the best is “ When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. I still remember when I first read it, I was half way through and I was convinced we should never do short term mission trips again. Read more »
	Deck Chairs? Posted in Synod \| May 21, 2013, 1:34 pm \| 4 comments A key theme throughout the Agenda for Synod 2013 is the necessity to restructure the denomination. I’ll admit I feel anxious putting this out there but only because I’m going to be blamed for saying in public what any number of people have wondered about it private... Read more »
	Wag the Dog Posted in Synod \| May 21, 2013, 12:40 pm \| 3 comments Although I read through the Structure and Culture Report (page 348), although I looked at the budget numbers, I remain unconvinced that the tail isn’t trying to wag the dog. Read more »
	People are not Potted Plants Posted in Small Groups \| May 21, 2013, 12:16 pm Planning for ministry is much more complex than planning for a garden and often causes frustration for leaders and participants. Just like in gardening, there is not a one-size-fits-all plan. Read more »
	Some Observations: Do You See What I See? Posted in Classis \| May 20, 2013, 4:37 pm \| 3 comments Do you see these trends in the denomination? Are we trending in healthy directions? Signs of hope in the CRC? Do you see any? Read more »
	Call on Your Senator to Ratify the CRPD Posted in Disability Concerns \| May 20, 2013, 2:47 pm A campaign of misinformation brought about the defeat of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in the U.S. Senate last December. Likely, a motion to ratify it will be brought to the Senate Foreign Relations committee this June. Now is the time to begin contacting Senators to correct that misinformation so the next vote to ratify will be successful. Read more »
	5 Social Media Improvements You Can Make Today Posted in Web \| May 20, 2013, 11:48 am \| 1 comment Using social media well is more than setting up an account and pushing out information about yourself or organization. By nature it’s relational. Whether you’re new to social media, or someone who’s been doing it for years, here are five things to consider that could make your online relationships stronger. Read more »
	One is the Loneliest Number Posted in Church Planting \| May 20, 2013, 9:01 am \| 1 comment The latest Utne Reader has an article entitled, “Me, Myself, and I: Why is it so hard to admit when we are lonely?” The author, Olivia Laing, talks about the pain of loneliness in her own life as she lived in New York City, surrounded by people but still terribly alone. In the article she points out not only her own pain of loneliness but also the research on loneliness, Read more »
	Plan a Volunteer Recruitment Month Posted in Sunday School \| May 20, 2013, 12:00 am Looking for a way to ease the August stress of searching for volunteers? Check out this blog post from veteran children’s minister, Linda Freeman, who offers week by week ideas for planning a month long focus on volunteer recruitment. Read more »
	An Open and Shut Case Posted in Pastors \| May 16, 2013, 8:43 am \| 9 comments In the forum regarding Overtures 3 & 4 for this year’s Synod, Meg Jenista quoted Augustine of Hippo, who said: "In the essentials, unity. In the non-essentials, liberty and in all things, charity." So what’s the question? The question is: what are the essentials, and what are the non-essentials when it comes to our faith? Read more »
	Dealing with Death and Dying Posted in Pastors \| May 16, 2013, 7:15 am \| 3 comments In two years I’ve done 24 funerals. Three of which have been for someone under the age of 70. One was for a baby. Each time, no one knew how to deal with death and dying. They kept going back to praying for the miracle. Praying against hope that things will not end in the inevitable. As pastors, ours is the calling to... Read more »
	The Double Edged Sword of Email Lists Posted in Web \| May 15, 2013, 11:30 am \| 1 comment I joined a church just after graduating from college a few years ago and suddenly started receiving emails from a number of people all at the same time. I wondered what was going on and then realized my email was published in the directory.Without giving consent I was immediately subscribed to the church “weekly update”, prayer chain, and social justice club list. Read more »