I'm so thankful to be part of a denomination that made a clear statement in 2012 that climate change has come as a result of human action, and calls for action to mitigate it. This jibes with science and leaves us in a position that we can do something about it, rather than fatalistically saying that nothing can be done. Thank you for this article and for all the work that all of you who are part of the Climate Witness Project do.
Dan, starting in Genesis 1 and throughout Scripture we are called to care for the very good creation God made and of which God has made us stewards. But you are saying that all who voted in favor of the 2012 Climate Change synodical report are idolaters. All of us who believe the science that human action is causing a warming of our planet are idolaters. And all who advocate for making changes in human action to reduce our release of carbon and methane into the atmosphere are not only idolaters but are leading others into idolatry. Do I have that right?
Jolene, you have been sharing your wisdom for decades. Thanks for this too! Perhaps you have heard the term already, which I really like: "rewirement." As I was getting ready for the transition to my own rewirement, I met with a financial planner. He had some good suggestions about using money in retirement, but the real gem for me was what he shared about his father-in-law, who he said was a Christian. The financial planner said to me, "My father-in-law never had a lot of money. He had enough for his basic needs, but he made an art of retirement. He would often say that retirement gave him the time and freedom to devote himself to other people." What a beautiful expression of what it means to put Galatians 2:20 into practice!
Amen, Reggie! We can and must do better, and have so much to learn. As you point out, these CRC congregations comprised of Black and brown Christians are growing, and we know that the mostly white congregations are shrinking. So it doesn't make sense that so few of synod delegates are people of color. We should ensure next year that most delegates are people of color so that the leaders from the growing part of our denomination are making the decisions at Synod.
Marvin, our church practices what you describe. The elders oversee communion, and they ask various congregation members to serve. It's a small but beautiful way to celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ with people from many age groups, with or without disabilities, both genders, and people from various countries all serving over time.
Michèle, thanks for this. Although schizophrenia is not part of my journey, it is part of yours and many fellow Christians and fellow humans. I so appreciate your blogs that help me understand this journey a bit better, because your blogs equip me to better love fellow Christians and all of God's image bearers who live with schizophrenia.
Staci, I'm sad for the Network and the CRC, and full of joy for you, the ministry you are serving, and your family. You have been a remarkably loving and positive presence in the midst of a time of significant tension in the CRC. Thank you and God's blessings!
Posted in: Survey Results: Leading the Way in Faith-Driven Climate Action
I'm so thankful to be part of a denomination that made a clear statement in 2012 that climate change has come as a result of human action, and calls for action to mitigate it. This jibes with science and leaves us in a position that we can do something about it, rather than fatalistically saying that nothing can be done. Thank you for this article and for all the work that all of you who are part of the Climate Witness Project do.
Posted in: Survey Results: Leading the Way in Faith-Driven Climate Action
Dan, starting in Genesis 1 and throughout Scripture we are called to care for the very good creation God made and of which God has made us stewards. But you are saying that all who voted in favor of the 2012 Climate Change synodical report are idolaters. All of us who believe the science that human action is causing a warming of our planet are idolaters. And all who advocate for making changes in human action to reduce our release of carbon and methane into the atmosphere are not only idolaters but are leading others into idolatry. Do I have that right?
Posted in: Retirement as Celebration
Jolene, you have been sharing your wisdom for decades. Thanks for this too! Perhaps you have heard the term already, which I really like: "rewirement." As I was getting ready for the transition to my own rewirement, I met with a financial planner. He had some good suggestions about using money in retirement, but the real gem for me was what he shared about his father-in-law, who he said was a Christian. The financial planner said to me, "My father-in-law never had a lot of money. He had enough for his basic needs, but he made an art of retirement. He would often say that retirement gave him the time and freedom to devote himself to other people." What a beautiful expression of what it means to put Galatians 2:20 into practice!
Posted in: Diversity Notes on Synod 2022
Amen, Reggie! We can and must do better, and have so much to learn. As you point out, these CRC congregations comprised of Black and brown Christians are growing, and we know that the mostly white congregations are shrinking. So it doesn't make sense that so few of synod delegates are people of color. We should ensure next year that most delegates are people of color so that the leaders from the growing part of our denomination are making the decisions at Synod.
Posted in: Differences, But ‘Perfectly Imperfect' (Breaking Barriers Spring 2022)
Thanks Irina. Love this! Reminds me of Poet Jack Ridl's insightful and funny Tedx talk: Perfectly Imperfect.
Posted in: Serving Communion
Marvin, our church practices what you describe. The elders oversee communion, and they ask various congregation members to serve. It's a small but beautiful way to celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ with people from many age groups, with or without disabilities, both genders, and people from various countries all serving over time.
Posted in: On Separating People from Their Mental Illnesses
Michèle, thanks for this. Although schizophrenia is not part of my journey, it is part of yours and many fellow Christians and fellow humans. I so appreciate your blogs that help me understand this journey a bit better, because your blogs equip me to better love fellow Christians and all of God's image bearers who live with schizophrenia.
Posted in: The Houses That Build Us: My (Slightly Dramatic) Network Farewell
Staci, I'm sad for the Network and the CRC, and full of joy for you, the ministry you are serving, and your family. You have been a remarkably loving and positive presence in the midst of a time of significant tension in the CRC. Thank you and God's blessings!