I see what you are saying, but in the case of a classis that hasn't voted to declare the word male inoperative according to their classical rules of procedure, wouldn't the chair of the classis meeting probably just rule the delegation out of order (probably not saying it right, but hope you get the idea).
I'm telling you, we need to have a new church season for the forty days preceding our celebrations of Thanksgiving. Gratitude needs to be nurtured and cultivated and what better time than in preperation for these events? We did this last year in our church...(the tongue in cheek name for the season was either Thanksvent, Gratitide, or Euchariphany) Seriously, though, I would encourage others to do something like this...It was very beneficial personally. If you would...the season started this last Sunday. 40 days until Thanksgiving!
Ugh. I was at the 2009 Synod and was one of the first norovirus casualties. I'm still trying to figure out which one of our deliberations might have unleashed the plague.
Here's the question. The statement is made that the "sacraments are open to all members". But if baptismal membership is all that is needed to approach the table, then wouldn't the logic of that argument lead us to *infant* communion? Maybe it would.
Or biblically, is the discernment of faith still a necessary and important part of the process? If it is, where does it fit? That's what people are wrestling with. And its a good thing to wrestle with, and a question that has great implications--on how we understand the covenant, among other things. To use an Old Testament analogy, does the "circumcision of the flesh" automatically equate with that "circumcision of the heart" that the prophets called the covenant people to? That's one of the things at issue in the whole debate, I think.
A month or so ago I was working on a sermon series but it just wasn't coming together. As I was thinking about another topic to preach, I realized that it was almost exactly 40 days until Thanksgiving Day (USA). So for the last few Sundays we have been focusing on the role of thanksgiving and the central discipline of gratitude in the Christian life, the thought being that the thanksgiving we offer should be thoughtful and reflective. Its a national holiday so it's not quite a liturgical season, but I suppose there would be a good name for it...Thanksvent? Gratitide?
A few years ago I preached through the Belgic by making it a series about cults and new religious movements. The two that I focused on the most were the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons. I took what they said about a certain point of doctrine, contrasted it with orthodox Christianity as seen in the Belgic, and then finished by giving three or so sample questions about that point of doctrine that people could use if cult members came to their home. I found that putting it into this apologetic mode helped a great deal.
One that comes to mind in our church is very simple...when the blessing is being given people are encouraged to hold out their hands in a receptive way to receive the blessing as they depart.
I was trying to listen to the synod feeds last week to see what was going to be decided about this...but you only have so much time to do that...so I'm glad that other people were watching to see what happened.
The potential of a committee like this is immense. I'm glad it was passed.
See Berkhof's Systematic Theology, p. 288, under the heading "The Dual Aspect of the Covenant", esp such phrases as "God's promise to continue his covenant and bringit to full realizationin the children of believers does not mean that he will endow every last one of them with saving faith. and if some of them continue in unbelief, we shall have to bear in mind what Paul says in Romans 9, they are not all Israel who are of Israel, the children of belieers are not all children of promise. Hence it is necessary to remind even children constantly of the necessity of regeneration and conversion. The mere fact that one is in the covenant does not carry with it the assurance of salvaiton. When children of believers grow up and come to years of discretion it is of course incumbent uponthem to accept their covenant responsibilities voluntarily by a true confession of faith. Failure to do this is strictly speaking, a denial of their covenant relationship."
So there is some variation within the tradition concerning how to understand this question, which has contributed to the debate of children at the table.
Re: #6, make sure you bring a travel iron! Sounds silly, but you won't regret it!
One of the ways that I've been blessed by my limited Synod experience is just getting a sense of how big our denomination is and how much we are involved in. Comparatively, we're a small denomination, but we're involved in much. I have also been touched by how centrally prayer can play a role in the deliberations.
Posted in: How Do You Keep Peace in the Council Room?
No problem, Todd, that would be fine. We've found it allows for discussion that's both respectful and honest.
Posted in: Classes that Won't Seat Women
Al,
I see what you are saying, but in the case of a classis that hasn't voted to declare the word male inoperative according to their classical rules of procedure, wouldn't the chair of the classis meeting probably just rule the delegation out of order (probably not saying it right, but hope you get the idea).
Posted in: Gratitude and Christian Formation
I'm telling you, we need to have a new church season for the forty days preceding our celebrations of Thanksgiving. Gratitude needs to be nurtured and cultivated and what better time than in preperation for these events? We did this last year in our church...(the tongue in cheek name for the season was either Thanksvent, Gratitide, or Euchariphany) Seriously, though, I would encourage others to do something like this...It was very beneficial personally. If you would...the season started this last Sunday. 40 days until Thanksgiving!
Posted in: What's In A Name? [VIDEO]
Ugh. I was at the 2009 Synod and was one of the first norovirus casualties. I'm still trying to figure out which one of our deliberations might have unleashed the plague.
Posted in: The Wait is Nearly Over
Here's the question. The statement is made that the "sacraments are open to all members". But if baptismal membership is all that is needed to approach the table, then wouldn't the logic of that argument lead us to *infant* communion? Maybe it would.
Or biblically, is the discernment of faith still a necessary and important part of the process? If it is, where does it fit? That's what people are wrestling with. And its a good thing to wrestle with, and a question that has great implications--on how we understand the covenant, among other things. To use an Old Testament analogy, does the "circumcision of the flesh" automatically equate with that "circumcision of the heart" that the prophets called the covenant people to? That's one of the things at issue in the whole debate, I think.
Posted in: What Are You Thankful For?
A month or so ago I was working on a sermon series but it just wasn't coming together. As I was thinking about another topic to preach, I realized that it was almost exactly 40 days until Thanksgiving Day (USA). So for the last few Sundays we have been focusing on the role of thanksgiving and the central discipline of gratitude in the Christian life, the thought being that the thanksgiving we offer should be thoughtful and reflective. Its a national holiday so it's not quite a liturgical season, but I suppose there would be a good name for it...Thanksvent? Gratitide?
Posted in: What If There Were A Revolution!
Sign me up!
Posted in: Let's Keep Thinking about the "Second Service"
Scott,
A few years ago I preached through the Belgic by making it a series about cults and new religious movements. The two that I focused on the most were the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons. I took what they said about a certain point of doctrine, contrasted it with orthodox Christianity as seen in the Belgic, and then finished by giving three or so sample questions about that point of doctrine that people could use if cult members came to their home. I found that putting it into this apologetic mode helped a great deal.
Posted in: The Holy Kiss
Joyce,
One that comes to mind in our church is very simple...when the blessing is being given people are encouraged to hold out their hands in a receptive way to receive the blessing as they depart.
Posted in: What Does It Take?
Great news! Thanks for letting us know!
I was trying to listen to the synod feeds last week to see what was going to be decided about this...but you only have so much time to do that...so I'm glad that other people were watching to see what happened.
The potential of a committee like this is immense. I'm glad it was passed.
Posted in: Invited
See Berkhof's Systematic Theology, p. 288, under the heading "The Dual Aspect of the Covenant", esp such phrases as "God's promise to continue his covenant and bringit to full realizationin the children of believers does not mean that he will endow every last one of them with saving faith. and if some of them continue in unbelief, we shall have to bear in mind what Paul says in Romans 9, they are not all Israel who are of Israel, the children of belieers are not all children of promise. Hence it is necessary to remind even children constantly of the necessity of regeneration and conversion. The mere fact that one is in the covenant does not carry with it the assurance of salvaiton. When children of believers grow up and come to years of discretion it is of course incumbent uponthem to accept their covenant responsibilities voluntarily by a true confession of faith. Failure to do this is strictly speaking, a denial of their covenant relationship."
So there is some variation within the tradition concerning how to understand this question, which has contributed to the debate of children at the table.
Posted in: Advice for First-Time Delegates
Re: #6, make sure you bring a travel iron! Sounds silly, but you won't regret it!
One of the ways that I've been blessed by my limited Synod experience is just getting a sense of how big our denomination is and how much we are involved in. Comparatively, we're a small denomination, but we're involved in much. I have also been touched by how centrally prayer can play a role in the deliberations.