This is my last blog before we dismiss and go home. I am doing this while the floor proceding are concluding.
News this morning
-we elected Tom Smith, a pastor from Rock Valley Iowa as our vice-president. He will become president.
Note- I bought my first car from him in seminary. Looks like I have connections!! Ha! Tom is a good friend and very solid. He is a good fit.
-Odds and ends
-we recognized 40 pastors who retired
-we recognized 28 ministers and 3 missionaries who passed away this year
-the average congregation in the RCA has 83 worshippers
-we passed the budget for 2012
-John Terpstra was approved to serve on the Judical Business Commission replacing my 6 year term. He represents the Synod of the Heartland. The Synod made the approval. It's good to have representation from our church in the Synod. Our prayers go with you John.
Signing off from Synod.
It is has been fun and I hope you have enjoyed my blog!
See you Sunday. Remember it is Communion!
Blessings!
Pastor Wayne
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
General Synod Day #5
General Synod Day 5 Monday June 20
Today the Synod starting rolling up their shirt sleeves and started making hay through their business. They know we have to get business done if we want to get out of here by noon tomorrow( or else become Calvin students-trapped in Grand Rapids for the summer). Thus the Synod put it in overdrive!
The morning session news:
-It was approved to develop a study paper on allowing deacons to be delegates to General Synod. This has been been bounced around at General Synod since 1923. The basic challenge is how to you balance the ratio of elder and pastoral delegates.
Note- an historic vote took place during this process. We voted via computer for the first time. We actually had been been using voice votes up to this time because of the anxiety of some delegates using computers and some provided computers malfunctioning.
-5 nominees for vice president were introduced(the vice-president becomes president of Synod next year)
Statistical reports were given
Summary
-It was noted that the statistical reports were being under reported and some churches not even reporting because they do not want to pay their fair share of assessments.
summary of some data of the report
-The figures all showed declines. However it was noted that 185 churches were not reported as they are not organized and pay no assessments. These churches represent 15,000 members that are not listed. This makes a big difference in the overall picture and health of the RCA. It was noted that next year these figures representing our not yet organized churches will be represented in the report.
Note- There is trend for more and more churches to have people attend but not join. The practical implication is that as the assessment increases there are less reported members (churhes) that pay a greater amount of the assessment budget. Thus, the assessment always keeps increasing even when the there can be an actual decrease in spending.
Tomorrow, we will elect our president and finish up some business in the morning. I will eat a box lunch on the bus and wait in the airport until 5 or so. I go to Des Moines via Detroit and should be home by 10 p.m. Thus, my last blog will occur from home unless I seek a blog in the meeting.Don't know if I want to do that!!!
Well, as you can see this is heady stuff for the day. Maybe you might say -a bit boring but its the nuts and bolts of some of synod business
personal reflection
-the synod spirit has been one of unity
-I feel that many of the younger clergy are solid in their foundation in the leadership of the church. They are very Biblical based. Actually, more so than many of my own peers.
This gives me encouragement for the future of the RCA
Congregational Note
My prayers have been with the Leo Vandekroel family in the loss of Nellie. My sympathy is extended to you as I wished to be with you as today you gathered as a family and said goodby but celebrated her homegoing in Christ. Your loss was lifted up at General Synod in our prayer request time.
Dorm Life with Pastor Wayne
-its time to do go home. I am down to my last shirt and it is still hot. I wonder if I can turn them inside out!
-my room is still hot
-I am looking forward to a good home cooked meal(Hint, Hint, Tammy!!)
Signing off from Synod,
Blessings in Jesus Christ (that is the reason I am here-part of the community of the body of Christ-representing his body in Sully,Iowa known as first Reformed.)
Pastor Wayne Sneller
Today the Synod starting rolling up their shirt sleeves and started making hay through their business. They know we have to get business done if we want to get out of here by noon tomorrow( or else become Calvin students-trapped in Grand Rapids for the summer). Thus the Synod put it in overdrive!
The morning session news:
-It was approved to develop a study paper on allowing deacons to be delegates to General Synod. This has been been bounced around at General Synod since 1923. The basic challenge is how to you balance the ratio of elder and pastoral delegates.
Note- an historic vote took place during this process. We voted via computer for the first time. We actually had been been using voice votes up to this time because of the anxiety of some delegates using computers and some provided computers malfunctioning.
-5 nominees for vice president were introduced(the vice-president becomes president of Synod next year)
Statistical reports were given
Summary
-It was noted that the statistical reports were being under reported and some churches not even reporting because they do not want to pay their fair share of assessments.
summary of some data of the report
-The figures all showed declines. However it was noted that 185 churches were not reported as they are not organized and pay no assessments. These churches represent 15,000 members that are not listed. This makes a big difference in the overall picture and health of the RCA. It was noted that next year these figures representing our not yet organized churches will be represented in the report.
Note- There is trend for more and more churches to have people attend but not join. The practical implication is that as the assessment increases there are less reported members (churhes) that pay a greater amount of the assessment budget. Thus, the assessment always keeps increasing even when the there can be an actual decrease in spending.
Tomorrow, we will elect our president and finish up some business in the morning. I will eat a box lunch on the bus and wait in the airport until 5 or so. I go to Des Moines via Detroit and should be home by 10 p.m. Thus, my last blog will occur from home unless I seek a blog in the meeting.Don't know if I want to do that!!!
Well, as you can see this is heady stuff for the day. Maybe you might say -a bit boring but its the nuts and bolts of some of synod business
personal reflection
-the synod spirit has been one of unity
-I feel that many of the younger clergy are solid in their foundation in the leadership of the church. They are very Biblical based. Actually, more so than many of my own peers.
This gives me encouragement for the future of the RCA
Congregational Note
My prayers have been with the Leo Vandekroel family in the loss of Nellie. My sympathy is extended to you as I wished to be with you as today you gathered as a family and said goodby but celebrated her homegoing in Christ. Your loss was lifted up at General Synod in our prayer request time.
Dorm Life with Pastor Wayne
-its time to do go home. I am down to my last shirt and it is still hot. I wonder if I can turn them inside out!
-my room is still hot
-I am looking forward to a good home cooked meal(Hint, Hint, Tammy!!)
Signing off from Synod,
Blessings in Jesus Christ (that is the reason I am here-part of the community of the body of Christ-representing his body in Sully,Iowa known as first Reformed.)
Pastor Wayne Sneller
General Synod Day #4
My morning begin by attending church at Common Grounds Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. Worship had 35 people in attendance. The church had formerly been Calvary Reformed Church but had experienced suburban flight and a church split in the 60's. It was a large old church building that was now being used by a group of the church that is committed to have a witness in the neigborhood. A praise team led us in worship and a message was shared by a pastor that was retired doing pulpit supply as they have been without a full time pastor for about a year. They asked for people to pray for them for a period through August. I committed our church to pray for them. They were exicited for that prayer committment.
General Synod met in session at 2 p.m. Some of things that were accomplished are as follows:
- elected Lisa Vander Wal as president-she had been vice-president. This is mostly a formality
-Approved an agreement to formally recognize the Roman Catholic Church's Sacrament of Baptism as they will now recognize our Sacrament of Baptism. We currently do this in practice but it was never made formal They had not up to this point. This was big and has been in the works for 5 years. The Catholic church made this offer to the RCA and asked us to respond to it. (Last week the CRC denomination did the same at their synod meeting).
-noted there will be no increase in mission shares this year ( this hasn't happened in a long time)
-I was unexpectantly ask to stand before Synod ( I thought I had been caught catching a few winks!!)as First Reformed of Sully was recognized as one of 69 churches in the denomination that give over 10% of their total budget to Reformed Church missions. To put his into perspective, there are over 1050 churches in our denomination. Of those, 587 give to RCA missions. Thus, we are one of 69 top giving mission churches by budget in the denomination.
(About 10 other delegates stood up with me) Way to go First Reformed!!
-The night concluded with an ecumenical banquet.
Personal Notes
-it's a bad idea to have a great Sunday dinner and sit in Synod all afternoon! :)
-I am counting how many shirts I have left.Good thing Synod is over on Tuesday. I would have to do laundry!!
-Dorms never cool off. However, I did some horse trading and have a fan in my room in return for my First Reformed Sully shirt-talk about giving the shirt off your back. just kidding. I have still have my electric blue shirt but did get a fan. (It's who you know!!!)
-Sorry about any errors in spelling etc. I am new to this "blogging" thing and my program doesn't have spell check!!-This is an official disclaimer!!!
Trust you had a good day at worship in Christ! Until tomorrow!
Blessings!
Pastor Wayne
General Synod met in session at 2 p.m. Some of things that were accomplished are as follows:
- elected Lisa Vander Wal as president-she had been vice-president. This is mostly a formality
-Approved an agreement to formally recognize the Roman Catholic Church's Sacrament of Baptism as they will now recognize our Sacrament of Baptism. We currently do this in practice but it was never made formal They had not up to this point. This was big and has been in the works for 5 years. The Catholic church made this offer to the RCA and asked us to respond to it. (Last week the CRC denomination did the same at their synod meeting).
-noted there will be no increase in mission shares this year ( this hasn't happened in a long time)
-I was unexpectantly ask to stand before Synod ( I thought I had been caught catching a few winks!!)as First Reformed of Sully was recognized as one of 69 churches in the denomination that give over 10% of their total budget to Reformed Church missions. To put his into perspective, there are over 1050 churches in our denomination. Of those, 587 give to RCA missions. Thus, we are one of 69 top giving mission churches by budget in the denomination.
(About 10 other delegates stood up with me) Way to go First Reformed!!
-The night concluded with an ecumenical banquet.
Personal Notes
-it's a bad idea to have a great Sunday dinner and sit in Synod all afternoon! :)
-I am counting how many shirts I have left.Good thing Synod is over on Tuesday. I would have to do laundry!!
-Dorms never cool off. However, I did some horse trading and have a fan in my room in return for my First Reformed Sully shirt-talk about giving the shirt off your back. just kidding. I have still have my electric blue shirt but did get a fan. (It's who you know!!!)
-Sorry about any errors in spelling etc. I am new to this "blogging" thing and my program doesn't have spell check!!-This is an official disclaimer!!!
Trust you had a good day at worship in Christ! Until tomorrow!
Blessings!
Pastor Wayne
General Synod Day #3
General Synod-Saturday-June 18
This morning begin with the Synod of the Heartland (that is the Synod Central Iowa Classis -Sully) breakfast at 6:45a.m. The purpose was of the meeting was to share information on new church plants and the progress of revitalization of churches in our Regional Synod.
We then dismissed to our First General Synod session of the morning at 8:00 p.m. Our morning session concluded in aproving Tom DeVries as our new General Secretary of the RCA. Personal Note: I believe he is a good fit for the position. He brings a church planters experience with a pastoral heart.
The morning concluded with Commission and Advisory meetings that extended into the afternoon session.
My personal Observations on this Synod:
As I have written in previous reports, the RCA is becoming increasing diverse in racial representation , especially in Asian and Hispanic church starts.
I will be attending Commom Grounds Community church on Sunday morning as delegates are given the opportunity to worship at various local churches. It is a church that ministers to those who do not have any past experience with the Christian faith.
Life in the dorm in Pastor Wayne's world
- it is hot
- my legs muscles are getting stronger since my room is on the 3rd floor of my dorm and my dorm is the farthest from our meetings. They must have known I needed the exercise! W
-The much looked forward towel exchange occurred today!! I have a new towel!! My room mate appreciates that! His looked like mine. They are all white!!!
Have a great day at worship tomorrow!
Until the next "Blog"
Blessings!
Pastor Wayne
This morning begin with the Synod of the Heartland (that is the Synod Central Iowa Classis -Sully) breakfast at 6:45a.m. The purpose was of the meeting was to share information on new church plants and the progress of revitalization of churches in our Regional Synod.
We then dismissed to our First General Synod session of the morning at 8:00 p.m. Our morning session concluded in aproving Tom DeVries as our new General Secretary of the RCA. Personal Note: I believe he is a good fit for the position. He brings a church planters experience with a pastoral heart.
The morning concluded with Commission and Advisory meetings that extended into the afternoon session.
My personal Observations on this Synod:
As I have written in previous reports, the RCA is becoming increasing diverse in racial representation , especially in Asian and Hispanic church starts.
I will be attending Commom Grounds Community church on Sunday morning as delegates are given the opportunity to worship at various local churches. It is a church that ministers to those who do not have any past experience with the Christian faith.
Life in the dorm in Pastor Wayne's world
- it is hot
- my legs muscles are getting stronger since my room is on the 3rd floor of my dorm and my dorm is the farthest from our meetings. They must have known I needed the exercise! W
-The much looked forward towel exchange occurred today!! I have a new towel!! My room mate appreciates that! His looked like mine. They are all white!!!
Have a great day at worship tomorrow!
Until the next "Blog"
Blessings!
Pastor Wayne
General Synod Day #2
Today in General Synod-Grand Rapids, Michigan- Calvin College -Friday June 17, 2011
The day was spent most in advisory meetings. These are meetings where you are pared up with individuals from all over the RCA . The advisory group gives impute and suggestions to the Synod on issues of the Synod's business. I have 15 in my group. There are pastors and elders that come from all over the United States and Canada. What I see different about the groups from the past is that they are getting younger. We have many individuals in their 30's. That must mean I am getting older!!!
-The afternoon was spent in full synod meetings where the nomination process of our General Secretary was reviewed. This happens very seldom as we do not change General Secretaries very often. Our present Secretary is retiring after serving 17 years. The General Secretary is like a Director. His job is to be the mouth piece of the RCA and a moderator. Our proposed new General Secretary is Tom DeVries, a pastor from Michigan who is in his mid 40's.
The Synod will meets tonight until 9 p.m. Tomorrow (Sat.) we begin at 6:45 a.m.
Summary of today
What I see in the RCA is a greater diversity than I have ever seen before. A figure was given that almost 65% of the new church starts (which number about 100 in the past three years) are of multiracial diversity. That is Asian, Hispanic and Black churches being started. Pastors and church members were introduced before the synod.
Status of Social Life-hang around with a lot of ministers. Everyone is older than I remember!!
Dorm Life-Hot
Tech skill- learning to type better with my computer.(Remember synod has gone green. No paper-everything computer!
Things to look forward to- I get to exchange my towel for a new one tomorrow!!!! It's towel exchange day!!!!
Signing off from Synod,
Your pastor,
Wayne
The day was spent most in advisory meetings. These are meetings where you are pared up with individuals from all over the RCA . The advisory group gives impute and suggestions to the Synod on issues of the Synod's business. I have 15 in my group. There are pastors and elders that come from all over the United States and Canada. What I see different about the groups from the past is that they are getting younger. We have many individuals in their 30's. That must mean I am getting older!!!
-The afternoon was spent in full synod meetings where the nomination process of our General Secretary was reviewed. This happens very seldom as we do not change General Secretaries very often. Our present Secretary is retiring after serving 17 years. The General Secretary is like a Director. His job is to be the mouth piece of the RCA and a moderator. Our proposed new General Secretary is Tom DeVries, a pastor from Michigan who is in his mid 40's.
The Synod will meets tonight until 9 p.m. Tomorrow (Sat.) we begin at 6:45 a.m.
Summary of today
What I see in the RCA is a greater diversity than I have ever seen before. A figure was given that almost 65% of the new church starts (which number about 100 in the past three years) are of multiracial diversity. That is Asian, Hispanic and Black churches being started. Pastors and church members were introduced before the synod.
Status of Social Life-hang around with a lot of ministers. Everyone is older than I remember!!
Dorm Life-Hot
Tech skill- learning to type better with my computer.(Remember synod has gone green. No paper-everything computer!
Things to look forward to- I get to exchange my towel for a new one tomorrow!!!! It's towel exchange day!!!!
Signing off from Synod,
Your pastor,
Wayne
General Synod Day #1
General Synod 2011 -Calvin College -Grand Rapids, Michigan
Yesterday I arrived in the rain. Yes, it followed me from Iowa. So a rain soaked Wayne ran in the rain (nice tongue twister). I am living the dorm life again. However, it is much duller but getting hot water in the morning is still promised to early risers only !( some things never change).
What happened today -a summary of Thursday
-For the first time in history the CRC and the RCA met in combined synod session. ( The CRC is just finishing up their General Synod). We later worshipped together followed by having communion together.
- The Synod has gone green. All work is done via computer. Voting etc. No hand outs etc. The paper workbook is 712 pages so you can imagine with the several hundred delegates attending how much paper is saved. Also there is a tremendous learning curve going on by everyone! Yours truly included! We are having Synod at Calvin because they have the wireless capabilities to do large meetings such as ours.
-The evening session ended at 9:00 p.m. The morning session starts at 8 a.m.
-The challenge tonight was to include youth in the local church and be prepared to transform how the church does things in Christ for the next generation of ministry.
Note of interest-
The first person I saw this morning when I walked out of my dorm was my neighbor-Howard Vander Griend!! He is a delegate the CRC Synod. Sully(my garden and the CRC garden plot that it is located on) even made the historic synod notes as it was mentioned as cooperative trends in RCA and CRC !!!!
>From Synod.
Pastor Wayne Sneller
Yesterday I arrived in the rain. Yes, it followed me from Iowa. So a rain soaked Wayne ran in the rain (nice tongue twister). I am living the dorm life again. However, it is much duller but getting hot water in the morning is still promised to early risers only !( some things never change).
What happened today -a summary of Thursday
-For the first time in history the CRC and the RCA met in combined synod session. ( The CRC is just finishing up their General Synod). We later worshipped together followed by having communion together.
- The Synod has gone green. All work is done via computer. Voting etc. No hand outs etc. The paper workbook is 712 pages so you can imagine with the several hundred delegates attending how much paper is saved. Also there is a tremendous learning curve going on by everyone! Yours truly included! We are having Synod at Calvin because they have the wireless capabilities to do large meetings such as ours.
-The evening session ended at 9:00 p.m. The morning session starts at 8 a.m.
-The challenge tonight was to include youth in the local church and be prepared to transform how the church does things in Christ for the next generation of ministry.
Note of interest-
The first person I saw this morning when I walked out of my dorm was my neighbor-Howard Vander Griend!! He is a delegate the CRC Synod. Sully(my garden and the CRC garden plot that it is located on) even made the historic synod notes as it was mentioned as cooperative trends in RCA and CRC !!!!
>From Synod.
Pastor Wayne Sneller
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