While a legitimate asylum seeker is slightly different from an immigrant, there is still a legal process for entering the nation that they must submit to. As such, I see no problem considering asylum, a sub section of legal immigration, and don't see any reason, in Dan's article, to think otherwise.
Daniel Z, I was there. The speakers were not overly clear drawing the boundary lines around "monogamous" relationships. Yes, they did say celebrate same sex marriage, and so that was primarily the context that they were working in (and I think Dan W's article gives that general impression as well). But, they were not specific, no discussions of remaining pure, and saving sex for marriage or anything of the like. So, sure one could take what Dan wrote to a much broader scale than their official position. But Dan accurately portrays what was said there, with almost no qualifiers in that meeting.
Ministers are just teaching Elders within the church. Thus one of the first levels of accountability, should be through the plurality of the Elders that lead the local congregation. We need to actively reduce the distinction between lay elders and ministers, as Scripture knows of no such distinction.
This post does not accurately portray what is being discussed in Jerusalem. The only properties being proposed for taxation are for profit holdings by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church (not places of worship, and no Protestant churches in Jerusalem have any such holdings that I am aware of). Such properties would never be considered tax free in the US or Canada, but somehow they had been allowed to do this until now in Jerusalem. Justice must be based on facts.
This is a factually incorrect understanding of the confessional difficulty gravamen. As Michael said, it's purpose is to work out ones questions, and wrestle through matters, not a Presbyterian form of standing exception to a confessional point!
For a better understanding of what gravamen are, and how they have been historically used in our denomination, check out this article: https://www.abideproject.org/articles/synod-faq-or-fiction
Most Councils would probably say yes, and I think Synod will probably say yes in regards to church members as well. However, officebearers have always been held to a different standard, and that is what I expect to continue.
Thank you Eric for addressing this reality. These calls of Unity do ring hollow, when we consider other denominations that we have varying degrees of fellowship with. Unless we still are holding on to the "Wooden Shoes," our unity needs to be based something much deeper than just our ethnicity/ancestry/history. The CRC (rightly) has recognized and rejoiced in the way that our denomination is expanding in different ethnic communities. That expansion is not based on their past generations attending Calvin University, nor Grandparents or Aunts and Uncles that served as officebearers in the CRC. Instead, it is our understanding of God's Word, and how we live it out. That is the Unity of being part of the CRCNA!
Eric, I appreciate your challenge here. If violations of the 7th Commandment "aren't a salvation issue," then is the whole second table of the law a free for all, just a you do you, take it or leave it proposition? Is any sin a serious and salvific matter?
Posted in: Immigration Justice Requires Border Security
While a legitimate asylum seeker is slightly different from an immigrant, there is still a legal process for entering the nation that they must submit to. As such, I see no problem considering asylum, a sub section of legal immigration, and don't see any reason, in Dan's article, to think otherwise.
Posted in: Turning the CRC Into an Lgbtq+ Ally
Daniel Z, I was there. The speakers were not overly clear drawing the boundary lines around "monogamous" relationships. Yes, they did say celebrate same sex marriage, and so that was primarily the context that they were working in (and I think Dan W's article gives that general impression as well). But, they were not specific, no discussions of remaining pure, and saving sex for marriage or anything of the like. So, sure one could take what Dan wrote to a much broader scale than their official position. But Dan accurately portrays what was said there, with almost no qualifiers in that meeting.
Posted in: What Lessons Can We Learn from What’s Happened at Willow Creek?
Ministers are just teaching Elders within the church. Thus one of the first levels of accountability, should be through the plurality of the Elders that lead the local congregation. We need to actively reduce the distinction between lay elders and ministers, as Scripture knows of no such distinction.
Posted in: It’s Time to Stop Talking About Justice
This post does not accurately portray what is being discussed in Jerusalem. The only properties being proposed for taxation are for profit holdings by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church (not places of worship, and no Protestant churches in Jerusalem have any such holdings that I am aware of). Such properties would never be considered tax free in the US or Canada, but somehow they had been allowed to do this until now in Jerusalem. Justice must be based on facts.
Posted in: Don’t Say No Yet (An Encouragement to Future Office-bearers in the CRC)
This is a factually incorrect understanding of the confessional difficulty gravamen. As Michael said, it's purpose is to work out ones questions, and wrestle through matters, not a Presbyterian form of standing exception to a confessional point!
Posted in: Don’t Say No Yet (An Encouragement to Future Office-bearers in the CRC)
For a better understanding of what gravamen are, and how they have been historically used in our denomination, check out this article: https://www.abideproject.org/articles/synod-faq-or-fiction
Posted in: Post-Synod: Not Every Decision Requires Separating (But Some Might)
Most Councils would probably say yes, and I think Synod will probably say yes in regards to church members as well. However, officebearers have always been held to a different standard, and that is what I expect to continue.
Posted in: Thinking About a ‘Third Way’ – How Do We Understand Unity?
Thank you Eric for addressing this reality. These calls of Unity do ring hollow, when we consider other denominations that we have varying degrees of fellowship with. Unless we still are holding on to the "Wooden Shoes," our unity needs to be based something much deeper than just our ethnicity/ancestry/history. The CRC (rightly) has recognized and rejoiced in the way that our denomination is expanding in different ethnic communities. That expansion is not based on their past generations attending Calvin University, nor Grandparents or Aunts and Uncles that served as officebearers in the CRC. Instead, it is our understanding of God's Word, and how we live it out. That is the Unity of being part of the CRCNA!
Posted in: Thinking About a 'Third Way' – Are Non-salvific Matters Negotiable?
Eric, I appreciate your challenge here. If violations of the 7th Commandment "aren't a salvation issue," then is the whole second table of the law a free for all, just a you do you, take it or leave it proposition? Is any sin a serious and salvific matter?
Posted in: Peace of Conscience and Unity in the Church: Why I Did What I Did As a Delegate to Synod 2022
6 years with a committee and a report, and 43 years before that seem pretty slow/measured/deliberate to me....