William Durkin
I'm a member of River Terrace Church in East Lansing, MI. Moved here in 2012 to take an engineering position with a local firm. I came to faith in my mid-20's in the Lutheran Church (I'm in my 60s) after growing up with no religious or faith experience in the Pittsburgh, PA, area. For a number of years I considered myself an atheist, then later an agnostic, but was baptised as an infant (Catholic) and, looking back, I can see the signs of God coaxing me along toward faith.
My wife had a Lutheran background and remained in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. I had some excellent training and experiences while part of the Lutheran church. I believe I was called to be part of that congregation for a very long time (35 yrs) but the call changed and he called me to find a new fellowship where he would use me. And I ended up in Webster CRC, where I believe he called me. After a year or two I found a position in Michigan and moved there with my wife, who passed away in February, 2013.
I think many denominations have this problem. Too often the roles are not based on biblical definitions but on tradition, a tradition that might have evolved only in the last generation. And too...
I think Mr. Van Surksum has a valid point. I believe that the composers of the Belhar were trying stress that God is on the side of justice and freedom, and maybe the problem is that they use...