I'd love to hear any advice you might have for first time elder delegates. What to expect when you are delegating or something like that.
For all the importance of procedure and Robberts Rules, I, too, get frustrated when important discussions get sidelined by a technicality. If it's an important conversation, we should have it. That's the bottom line!
Yes, I imagine Overtures 3 & 4 will be a source of much contention as we move into Synod 2013. Having served in Classis Kalamazoo, I can appreciate the attempted goodwill on the part of 2nd CRC and, by extention, Trinity Sparta. At the risk of speaking for them (a dbl-risk considering my gender), I believe they are trying desperately hard to hold on to a denomination they feel is not trying nearly so hard to hold on to them. Perhaps they wonder if there is room for them? That is a painful place to be and some empathy is required -- interestingly enough, it may be easier for me to find that sympathy because -- as a seminarian and a candidate for ministry -- I knew what that felt like.
That being said, the conversation has to settle on what it means to be "a Classis." What is the work tasked to a Classis and how is it to be executed? Central to these overtures seems, to me, a redefinition that we would be wise to wonder about together.
Posted in: Agenda for Synod Review (May Contain Spoilers)
Ron,
I'd love to hear any advice you might have for first time elder delegates. What to expect when you are delegating or something like that.
For all the importance of procedure and Robberts Rules, I, too, get frustrated when important discussions get sidelined by a technicality. If it's an important conversation, we should have it. That's the bottom line!
Posted in: Agenda for Synod Review (May Contain Spoilers)
Way to dive right in!
Yes, I imagine Overtures 3 & 4 will be a source of much contention as we move into Synod 2013. Having served in Classis Kalamazoo, I can appreciate the attempted goodwill on the part of 2nd CRC and, by extention, Trinity Sparta. At the risk of speaking for them (a dbl-risk considering my gender), I believe they are trying desperately hard to hold on to a denomination they feel is not trying nearly so hard to hold on to them. Perhaps they wonder if there is room for them? That is a painful place to be and some empathy is required -- interestingly enough, it may be easier for me to find that sympathy because -- as a seminarian and a candidate for ministry -- I knew what that felt like.
That being said, the conversation has to settle on what it means to be "a Classis." What is the work tasked to a Classis and how is it to be executed? Central to these overtures seems, to me, a redefinition that we would be wise to wonder about together.
Posted in: Agenda for Synod Review (May Contain Spoilers)
no thank you.