Peter Noteboom
I am a member of First CRC Toronto, serve on the Race Relations Committee of Classis Toronto, represent the Race Relations Committee at the Classis Toronto Ministry Team, volunteer as a CRCNA representative on the Covenanting for Justice - North America Working Group of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and represent Classis Toronto as a member of the CRCNA Board of Trustees.
Posted in: Classis: Past, Present, Future
I like this reflection piece, Elizabeth. I'd like to share it at our upcoming Race Relations Committee meeting next week! How well do we, Classis Toronto, meet these criteria for a responsive classis?
Peter Noteboom
Posted in: The Reformed Distinctive, or the Reformed "Stink"?
Dan,
The Canadian Council of Churches is dedicated to Christian unity. As a staff person working there, I can testify that Reformed churches definitely have a particular flavour, and that the Christian Reformed Church in North America also has a particularly flavour, as do all the other 23 member churches. Rather than seeing these differences as an obstacle, we've been applying the same insight that the Race Relations people have been teaching over the years: unity, not uniformity.
Overall, the Forum model of being together has provided room for difference and room for furthering a common expression of faith and a common witness to Canadian society, frequently in consensus or full agreement with one another. It is my conviction that the deeper we all go in exploring our tradition and convictions in the light of those historic teachings, the Holy Spirit's leading, the awe and intracacy of creation, and the Bible, the more closely we draw to one another. Even core issues tend to take on a different color and resemble one another.
So rather than focusing on what is core and what is peripheral, I see that a focus on living out and reflecting on the Good News together brings about, sometimes in small measure, more Christian unity.
The Lund principle about affirming that churches should act together in all matters except those in which deep differences of conviction compel them to act separately is also a pretty good starting point for action, and probably echoes some of your insights.
Peter Noteboom
Posted in: The Reformed Distinctive, or the Reformed "Stink"?
Dan,
No doubt there is more that can be done within the CRCNA, and I pray for continued openness in spirit and practice to discern how we might best live in to the reigning of God.
Along the lines of the example you give, I find it difficult to stand aside in an ecumenical setting where there is a sharing of bread and wine and to pray for the unity of the church, rather than to participate; and I know others feel the same way when there is a sharing of bread and wine in a tradition I can participate in, but others cannot. It seems Christ's prayer that all may be one has not yet been completely fulfilled. Those are the moments when I most directly feel both the unity and the brokenness of the church. And, to extend the analogy of the table you used in your remarks above, the Gospel story about who is invited to the feast is a pretty strong example of inclusion!
My congregation's experience of people who felt excluded by the denomination but needed to be included was more about sexual orientation than doctrine... that's maybe a different and somewhat polarizing example of the difficulty deciding what is core and what is peripheral than what you are mentioning.
Otherwise I don't have the same experience you have with people in and around my own congregation who would like to participate but cannot. But I believe you that it can be frustrating and should be addressed. More people may need a vision like Peter needed to get past historical differences of culture, tradition, and religious practices.
Peter
Posted in: The Reformed Distinctive, or the Reformed "Stink"?
Dan,
Regarding your conclusion, that summary sounds Reformed to me!
Peter
Posted in: The World Cafe
Elizabeth,
The World Cafe is an excellent resource, and I've used it in many different settings. I wonder, how could we use the process during a Classis meeting? An All Nations Service?
Peter