Quick Question for World Renew: I had a parishoner ask (in light of the day and age we live in :) ) are there any percentages of gifts given - such as the Turkey/Syria relief support - that go to administrative costs? In other words what percent of the gift gets directly to the frontlines to buy the food/clothing/water needed? Thanks!
Thank you for your post and great reminders! Having served in one place for 15 years - in a rural context in the upper midwest in a community of 500 people - my heart resonantes with your findings. With jovialness and lament, we often are reminded that "everybody knows everything about everyone" in a such a context. But there is a unique foundation and faithfulness here you won't find anywhere else. While it has its quirks, it has tremendous strengths. I strongly concur - if you don't know this, try this.
As one who was on the advisory committee that presented the Ecumenical Faith Declaration document, I can assure you that our passion-filled discussions on the Belhar and our designing the EFD category desired to communicate a love-filled olive branch to our South African brothers and sisters in Christ- communicating gratitude and thanks for the faith and substance of this document that shaped and refreshed a much-needed soul-searching for the CRCNA. The "olive-branch" was a recognition that, though this document is weighty for faith and life, we could not acquiecse to the request that came with it, namely to categorize it as one of our confessions. We did bring to the floor of Synod a request, however, to wrestle with its confessional possibilities at a future Synod, once we clarified a consensus on what constitutes a confession in our faith and life as the CRCNA. That request was defeated. So, did we (the advisory committee with our recommendation for an EFD) leave Synod 2012 sorely confused? Hopefully not. Hopefully, Synod was positioned in a right direction to further engage the Belhar and other faith documents that come to us from The Church around the world. From the sounds of this year's Synod, it appears Synod is taking up that mantle to further pursue the significance of EFD's in the faith-life of the church.
Posted in: Press Release: World Renew Responds to Syria Earthquakes
Quick Question for World Renew: I had a parishoner ask (in light of the day and age we live in :) ) are there any percentages of gifts given - such as the Turkey/Syria relief support - that go to administrative costs? In other words what percent of the gift gets directly to the frontlines to buy the food/clothing/water needed? Thanks!
Posted in: Going Deep in the Pastorate
Thank you for your post and great reminders! Having served in one place for 15 years - in a rural context in the upper midwest in a community of 500 people - my heart resonantes with your findings. With jovialness and lament, we often are reminded that "everybody knows everything about everyone" in a such a context. But there is a unique foundation and faithfulness here you won't find anywhere else. While it has its quirks, it has tremendous strengths. I strongly concur - if you don't know this, try this.
Posted in: “Well, That’s a Thought”
As one who was on the advisory committee that presented the Ecumenical Faith Declaration document, I can assure you that our passion-filled discussions on the Belhar and our designing the EFD category desired to communicate a love-filled olive branch to our South African brothers and sisters in Christ- communicating gratitude and thanks for the faith and substance of this document that shaped and refreshed a much-needed soul-searching for the CRCNA. The "olive-branch" was a recognition that, though this document is weighty for faith and life, we could not acquiecse to the request that came with it, namely to categorize it as one of our confessions. We did bring to the floor of Synod a request, however, to wrestle with its confessional possibilities at a future Synod, once we clarified a consensus on what constitutes a confession in our faith and life as the CRCNA. That request was defeated. So, did we (the advisory committee with our recommendation for an EFD) leave Synod 2012 sorely confused? Hopefully not. Hopefully, Synod was positioned in a right direction to further engage the Belhar and other faith documents that come to us from The Church around the world. From the sounds of this year's Synod, it appears Synod is taking up that mantle to further pursue the significance of EFD's in the faith-life of the church.