Henry Lunshof

I think most congregations, ( finance committees), take that perk into consideration when working out compensation for pastors. Then there is the "entitlement issue" that comes with entrenched tax codes that naturally develope over time.

The real losers, if there are any, are the taxpayers 

For more reading and a much better written analysis of the subject , go to the Banner article by Gayla Postma, in the March, 2012 issue of the banner, titled "WHY BEING A BI-NATIONAL CHURCH IS SO IMPORTANT"  

Thanks for your comments, Harry. I appreciate your insight. However equality with our American friends in the CRCNA is something I am pessimistic about after many years of observing our church governance.

I invision a Canadian synod eventually. Only then can we as a truly Canadian church sensitive to our own cultural reality. I also think only then can we work as a equal partner with our American friends and our shared mission.

I listened very carefully to "The State of The Church" address given by our interim E.D., Joel Boot, last evening in the Meadowlands Fellowship CRC Church. He mentioned at the top that the state of the church was "critical" I agree with his view on a number of levels. However, I find it interesting and very telling that he does not mention the issues surrounding  our bi-national status.I am afraid our friends do not "get it" . I get it that this Synod will be working on this issue again. It's high time Canada convenes it's own CRC synod.

It's time to have our own Canadian denomination. Let's begin the process. Our friends below the 49th will never get it. They don't even try.

I completely agree with you Kieth. Our current structure is not working and tinkering with it will only drain resources which could be used elsewhere.

Working together  on common ministries can work, but only as it seems right for us in Canada, We are all grown up here. Let's start with a Canadian regional synod .

The simple truth as I see it .

I was disappointed in the synod just held . The Canadian question was simply dismissed as a noisy child in the room!

Thank you Kieth. My thoughts , very well expressed.

In the latest issue of The Banner, there was an insert  called," Ministry report 2013".

when you come to Canadian Ministry, you would be led to believe we are only about Aboriginal Ministry north of the 49th parallel . It seems our interim Ministry Director has not made much headway in the year since his appointment. Another item that points to the broken bi-national structure of the crcna. Let's fix it or forget it. The congregations already are becoming dis-engaged to the denomination

The reasons are complex. Just like people. This is clearly a problem that needs to be addressed. It's time for a change. We should have synodical delegates who are gifted,, who understand the issues and are not dragged there kicking and screaming. The same issues face the local congregations to a degree. Yes, James, we are becoming more congregational in our world view. Denominational issues do not grab us as much as they used too. I think our people feel increasingly disconnected from the denomination, the way it's organized.

And yes, folks work longer hours for less in many cases. There is less time for family and church matters. That is part of the new reality as families struggle to cope with financial pressures. I also think that the number of problems in the leadership of our denomination of late do not help in any way.  They are also not understood by many and the communication about this has been less than we should expect. As Canadian member of the church , I would like to see our own synod in Canada. It's high time we run our own affairs. I fear we  will never be on an equal footing or for that matter be understood by our American friends. A number of bi-national organization have recently separated for all kinds of reasons, Let's cut the official strings and remain friends. Synod will work better closer to home.

I am, and have been for a long time, a avid supporter of CRWRC. I saw first hand, the fine work this orgainization was doing shortly after the tsumami in Sumatra, Indonesia . How well and carefully  they spent the funds entrusted to them by the church and the Canadian Federal government. But, even there, CRWRC, was hard to pronounce and confusing.  Because if this fact, they called themselves, GENASSIST". Easy to understand, and meaningful. "First to Help" . The proposed name change for this beloved orgainization is something I support fully. My hope is that Synod 2012  will recognize this as a postive change and support it's implementation.