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Synod acknowledges concerns of indigenous people, laments racism and oppression

On Monday morning, General Synod passed several recommendations about the concerns of indigenous communities and the role the RCA has played in the oppression of Black, brown, and indigenous peoples. 

The three recommendations, which came from the Commission on Christian Action, were:

  • To acknowledge “our failure to speak out” about the concerns of indigenous communities and direct the General Synod Council (GSC) to advocate for the concerns expressed by the indigenous communities in the RCA. Through an amendment on the floor, synod also acknowledged that the location where synod is taking place this year is on the territory of the Tohono O’odham and the Yaqui tribes. Another amendment instructed GSC to annually state a land acknowledgement for any location where synod meets. 
  • To commend the Blanket Exercise as a first step for understanding the history and concerns of indigenous people. Developed by the Christian Reformed Church in North America, the Blanket Exercise is “a practical, powerful, experiential way to understand Native peoples’ history in the Canadian and American contexts.” Explore the Blanket Exercise. 
  • To instruct the general secretary to craft a Liturgy of Lament for the specific roles “the RCA has played in oppression of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people of North America.” This work will be in consultation with the Commission on Race and Ethnicity, the Commission on Christian Action, the Commission on History, and the Commission on Christian Worship.

On Saturday, General Synod passed five anti-racism recommendations.

Meet the vice presidential candidates

Pedro Agudelo

Pedro Agudelo was born in Colombia and migrated to the U.S. in 1981. He has been married for 34 years and has four grown children. Agudelo serves as the pastor of Iglesia de Cristo la Roca in Queens Village, New York. He is a member of Queens Classis in the Synod of New York.

Agudelo describes himself as a pastor, husband, father, educator, and active member of not only his classis, but also other community organizations.

He has a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s degree in education, an M.Div., and is a Doctor of Ministry candidate.

In the Queens Classis, Agudelo has served as chair of mission and outreach and on the classis executive committee. He also serves on the Hispanic Council’s executive committee.

Dwayne Jackson

Dwayne Jackson is a co-pastor with his wife of 20 years, Rev. Anna Jackson, at the Second Reformed Church of Hackensack in New Jersey. He is a member of the Greater Palisades Classis in the Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics.

Previously, Jackson served as the pastor of the First Reformed Church of Astoria in New York.  Before entering into ministry, he was a computer engineer and an electronic design engineer.  He holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the New York Institute of Technology, and an M.Div. from New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

Jackson has been an RCA minister for 25 years. He has been involved in the RCA in a number of ways throughout the years, including service as the RCA’s coordinator of social witness and justice, on the Commission for Women, and in the African American Black Council. During his time as a pastor in New York, he was elected classis president, and subsequently, president of the Regional Synod of New York. 

Bradley “Brad” Kautz  

Brad Kautz pastors the Jicarilla Apache Reformed Church in Dulce, New Mexico. He is a second-career minister and a member of the Rocky Mountains Classis in the Regional Synod of the Far West. Prior to receiving his theological training, he spent 27 years as an occupational therapist, providing direct patient care in an acute care/rehab hospital.

Kautz and his wife have seven children, with three still living at home. They have 29 grandchildren. They have opened their hearts and home to two foster children on the reservation.

He graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and has an M.Div. degree from Western Theological Seminary.

Kautz is on the leadership development team for the Rocky Mountain Classis and the shepherding team for RCA Native American/Indigenous Ministries. In these roles and as a pastor, he has spent a lot of time simply being a companion to people going through prolonged and difficult life events.

In light of climate change, the General Synod approved a variety of actions related to creation care and repair. The Commission on Christian Action brought the recommendations, all of which were adopted Monday morning. 

Ecumenical partners offer encouragement and prayer

The ELCA has traveled this road before you. We have experienced how painful this journey is. We know the hard truth that decisions do not bring quick relief, as we experience brokenness around us and the uncertainty of a future that is known only to God. We also know it is possible by the grace of God to be a church that makes an active choice to live with the disagreement among us.

Kathryn LohreDirector of ecumenical and interreligious relations and theological discernment for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), reading a letter to the synod from Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop

I’m heartened by the tenor, the tone, the respectfulness, the prayerfulness that I’ve seen here. This is a family conversation. And I’m glad of the example you’ve shared.

Colin WatsonExecutive director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) and ecumenical and corresponding delegate at General Synod 2021

The United Church of Christ ecumenical and interfaith relations manager Mark Pettis also shared his encouragement and prayers for the RCA. Synod also received letters from the council of bishops of the United Methodist Church and the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, stated clerk of the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which were read to the synod by members of the Commission on Christian Unity.

CGF approved to continue loans to departing churches

Synod approved bylaws changes to the RCA’s Church Growth Fund (CGF). The CGF makes loans to RCA churches to buy, build, and renovate facilities for ministries. The bylaws changes, proposed by the CGF board, allow the CGF to continue existing grants and to make new grants to churches that have been part of the RCA in the past but are not currently part of the RCA. The CGF board proposed the changes to prepare for the anticipated departure of churches. “It is in the spirit of gracious separation that the CGF wishes to continue making loans to former RCA churches,” said the report. “This will also help maintain the CGF’s fiscal health so that it can continue giving ministry grants for church multiplication, revitalization, and next gen ministry in the RCA.” 

The CGF contributed $791,000 to fund RCA ministry grants in fiscal year 2020. 

General Synod commends guidelines for civil discourse

General Synod commended a set of guidelines for civil discourse brought forth by the Commission on Christian Action. Each guideline is rooted in one of the fruits of the Spirit. Synod directed the GSC to include these guidelines in the General Synod workbook each year and read them at the start of every stated session of synod. Additionally, synod urged GSC to circulate the guidelines to the classes so that they can be used at the classis and congregational level. 

Phil Assink elected General Synod president

On Monday afternoon, Phil Assink was voted in as the next General Synod president. Since General Synod 2019, he has served as General Synod vice president. Earlier this month, he also began service as interim pastor at First Reformed Church in Oak Harbor, Washington. In his acceptance speech, he offered words of invitation and assurance to General Synod delegates.

As the denomination moves forward, Assink invited delegates to join him in being elders to general secretary Eddy Alemán, leaning into the responsibility of elders to care for the community of Christ, including their pastor. He also invited churches to “hit the pause button” on leaving the denomination.

“While we are far from finished in our transformation, the spirit and tone of this Synod indicates there is something worth sticking around for. … I invite you to consider how your decision will support and further that great work.

“Sisters and brothers, as our general secretary pointed out, the RCA is broken! The question that looms is: are we beyond repair, or poised for a more fruitful future? If repentance characterizes our hearts, we can be made more useful in the kingdom. Will each one of us ask ourselves what can we repent of to become more like Christ as individuals, so that we will be more like Christ as a body?”

As words of comfort and assurance, Assink concluded by reciting words from a song he learned as a boy, standing next to his dad in the pews at East Valley Reformed Church in Yakima, Washington:

“We have an anchor that keeps the soul,
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep, in the Savior’s love.”

General Synod deliberates a restructure with mind to urgency and unity

Two days after approving a restructuring team for the future of the RCA, delegates debated a related overture. The recommendation, which came from the Advisory Committee on Overtures and New Business, directed the restructuring team to consider affinity regional synods as they do their work. Delegates deliberated at length over an amendment that considered two relationally aligned regional synods based on differences in belief over the adherence of General Synod’s traditional position on human sexuality. With stated solemnity and sorrow, some delegates considered this as a possible way forward in light of divisions, while others expressed concern over what implications such an amendment may have on individuals and congregations who already do mission together amid differences. Several expressed urgency and concern over the restructuring team timeline of reporting back in 2024. 

The amendment was voted down prior to a recess for dinner. After dinner, the original recommendation was passed after an amendment was added that the Commission of Theology and the Commission on Church Order will “study the structure and implications of affinity synods, with a report to General Synod in 2022.”

Assessment set for 2022

On Monday, General Synod approved an annual assessment of $54.22 per confessing member for 2022. Paying assessments is the financial method in which RCA churches collectively support the work of the RCA. This included a General Synod Council (GSC) assessment of $46.10 per member. An additional $2.00 per member was approved to provide assistance for retired pastors in need through the Board of Benefits Services. The theological education assessment was set at $6.12 per member. 

Because of the anticipated departure of churches following Vision 2020 decisions, the synod approved a one-year delay before considering ratification of General Synod 2019’s decision to move to Covenant Shares from assessments. 

Other business

The synod heard reports from the Board of Benefits Services and Hope College.

Snapshots of synod

This page is being updated throughout the day. Check back here later for more news from General Synod.