I don't believe the pension is tied to the status of release. Our Church Order Article 14b supplement says a. “Synod has instructed all our churches and classes that in all cases of resignation a proper resolution of dismissal must be adopted with the concurring advice of synodical deputies" and to realize that this statement allows for a broad degree of flexibility in responding to such situations.” This means synod didn't really specify what each status means because local circumstances will allow the classis to take all of the information in about the situation and make a decision. It also instructs churches and classes to take into account the manner and spirit in which a minister has acted during the time leading up to and including departure from office when determining what action to take. It also notes that schismatic activities are to be considered a serious violation of the sacred trust associated with ordination and a dishonoring of God which results in pain and brokenness in the body of Christ.
Thank you Peter. Yes - we should be concerned about any and all sin. Jesus said not an iota or a dot will pass from the law until it was all accomplished. I think what you are getting at is a good question though. Why did synod pay so much attention to this one sin? Other issues have come up over the years besides this one sin. In reading overtures that led to study committees, it's sometimes hard to read into them the motives for studying the issue. Most of them began with a concern about pastoral care and that we weren't doing it well. My hunch is that there were some in the denomination that wanted to study the issue more because they were hoping it would allow us to relax the commandments, especially since the culture and the Supreme Court had a trajectory to be more open to this sin. Many churches publicly stated that they believed same-sex behavior is not a sin. Are there any churches openly advocating for theft or idolatry or breaking the Sabbath? No I don't believe for a minute that we are being selective in picking and choosing which sins are more important. No one should relax any of them, as Jesus said.
Posted in: Church Order and Ministers Leaving the CRC
I don't believe the pension is tied to the status of release. Our Church Order Article 14b supplement says a. “Synod has instructed all our churches and classes that in all cases of resignation a proper resolution of dismissal must be adopted with the concurring advice of synodical deputies" and to realize that this statement allows for a broad degree of flexibility in responding to such situations.” This means synod didn't really specify what each status means because local circumstances will allow the classis to take all of the information in about the situation and make a decision. It also instructs churches and classes to take into account the manner and spirit in which a minister has acted during the time leading up to and including departure from office when determining what action to take. It also notes that schismatic activities are to be considered a serious violation of the sacred trust associated with ordination and a dishonoring of God which results in pain and brokenness in the body of Christ.
Posted in: A Consistent Call to Confess: How the Church's Teaching on Human Sexuality is Already Confessional
Thank you Peter. Yes - we should be concerned about any and all sin. Jesus said not an iota or a dot will pass from the law until it was all accomplished. I think what you are getting at is a good question though. Why did synod pay so much attention to this one sin? Other issues have come up over the years besides this one sin. In reading overtures that led to study committees, it's sometimes hard to read into them the motives for studying the issue. Most of them began with a concern about pastoral care and that we weren't doing it well. My hunch is that there were some in the denomination that wanted to study the issue more because they were hoping it would allow us to relax the commandments, especially since the culture and the Supreme Court had a trajectory to be more open to this sin. Many churches publicly stated that they believed same-sex behavior is not a sin. Are there any churches openly advocating for theft or idolatry or breaking the Sabbath? No I don't believe for a minute that we are being selective in picking and choosing which sins are more important. No one should relax any of them, as Jesus said.