Al Lindemulder

My next "Blog" will be on mediation.  I am trained in both General and Family Mediation and firmly believe that part of Pastor Counseling Courses should include a course on Mediation as it applies to both the church in general and counseling of family conflicts as well.

Many of the elders that served on the Councils of the churches I served kept well informed by reading such publications as "The Banner" etc.  Also, unless things have changed seminary did very little to help students prepare for administration tasks such as chairing meeting.  I have been a past chairmen (president) of organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Catholic Social Services as a member who had a term limit.  Running a meeting and knowing everything about the organization are two different things that are necessarily related.

Thanks, Good Stuff!!!!

Steve, you make a valid point(s), but I think we need to strike a balance.  The Bible is filled with the concept of "fellowship, community".  It is also reminds us to seek sound doctrine, to remember history, and recounts the ones who were faithful in the past.  I believe knowing what the reformation is all about enriches my personal faith, reading the Catechism question and answer 1 enriches my faith, reading the past theologians, and authors such as C.S. Lewis enriches my faith.  If your past was one in which you lacked the ability to spread the Gospel in Word and Deed then you ought to find ways to build up what you consider a shortcoming of the past but not at the expense of sound theology and community building.

My point is that today spirituality is nebulous and undefined with no knowledge of the past.

Al

I am a bit surprised that we did not receive more comments on "consistory supervision" of music, words, worship service in general.  They seem to delegate without oversight.

One last try at "untameable".  It means to me no control - God is controled by his own righteousness in which he wants us to be righteous as he is righteous.  Love our neighbor as he loves us, etc.

I am just pointing out what the church order states.  I don't think you need to know music to check out the words of a song.

Thank you for your response and information.

If I am not mistaken the Synodical delgations from each classis begins at the local level delegating to Classis and then delegating elders to Synod. So Elders at Synod make the final decision. Prior to that happening the proposed Hymnal is asked to be reviewed by the churches for feedback. So the whole process still places emphasis on "elder supervision and approval".

I mentioned in an earlier comment I was not completely against the word "untameable" but I still maintain it is not the best word to describe God. However to each his own interpretation of the word as used in the song. 

Thanks for all the feedback.  Coming up next my "take" on Church Discipline.