In his report to synod, president Carl Boersma focused on the new 15-year vision for the RCA, “Transformed and Transforming: Radically Following Christ in Mission Together.”
“An often heard reaction to our new vision is: ‘Oh, just another top-down initiative,'” he said. “To this I respond, ‘Yes! For over three years the Holy Spirit has, top down, been guiding and directing us toward God’s preferred future for the RCA through the people of the Reformed Church in America!'”
Boersma recalled the three-year grassroots visioning process that culminated in Transformed and Transforming and included congregational workshops, the Conversations gathering, and 24 Discovery events.
He said a highlight of being synod vice president last year was being a part of the discernment team that reviewed all of the input collected through the visioning process. “We were amazed and overwhelmed by the consistency of the themes that emerged from across the denomination from east to west, from small and large churches, and even from liberal to conservative,” he said. “This all confirmed our conviction that the Holy Spirit was leading!
“This vision is a coming together as God’s people, committed to the purposes of Christ. It is taking a step of faith in moving forward into a future that we did not design nor create, but discovered in submission to the Holy Spirit’s leading.”
In closing, Boersma urged delegates “to consider how you, your church family, consistory, and classis can participate in this exciting new adventure as the RCA prepares for our four hundredth anniversary.”
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