I had the privilege of attending the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America this past week. For those not familiar, the General Synod is the highest assembly in the RCA denomination. It is an annual meeting where deep theological and pastoral discussion and decision-making happens. It is an intense week of large group meetings, small group meetings, worship, reflection, and prayer. I got to participate by way of the Seminarian Seminar which is a program designed to walk us through the 'church governance' process. Our group arrived a day and a half early to read and discuss the entire 545 page workbook, our denomination's polity (government), and some basics of parliamentary procedure.
The agenda for the week was set to address some really important topics including homosexuality, women's ordination, our partnerships with other denominations (ecumenism), and our denomination's priorities for the future. Needless to say, the dialogue was complex, requiring much patience, humility, and love. These are a few of the things that the Holy Spirit continues to impress upon me as I return home and continue in ministry.
As I continue to reflect on the General Synod
experience -- the breadth and depth of energy and engagement that it
required of all of us, and the breadth and depth of emotion that it
continues to evoke in my soul -- I find that I am filled with both joy
and sorrow, both disappointment and hope. And I'm discovering that both are necessary and even good. It is the both that reminds us that
the work God has called us to is difficult and
sometimes painful. This work calls us to the arduous pursuit of unity,
humility, and servanthood. It demands a laser-like focus on Christ, that
we might gain a broader vision of the Gospel. It requires utter
reliance on the Holy Spirit. It insists that we acknowledge and honor
the commitment to faithfulness in our co-laborers. And it calls us,
above all, to truly sacrificial love. This is the costly way of
following Christ. The joys and sorrows, the disappointments and hopes both strengthen and unite us for the
journey and remind us as they reminded the Apostle Paul
that the journey is not complete...we have not yet arrived. And so we
press on, "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3). I look forward to the blessings and the challenges of many years of ministry to come. And I continue to pray for the Church, that we, as the body of Christ might live lives worthy of our calling...bearing witness to the reign of God in our humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, and unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4).
