Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Jan/95

Contributor - Ron Sikkema

Title - In Focus, Synod Of Canada

Topic - Regional Synod Of Canada

THE Synod of Canada is just one year old as an organized Regional Synod of the Reformed Church in America. Happy first birthday, Synod!

What is our focus for the next three years? Speaking only as one person I would suggest one major task with two or three supportive directions.

First and foremost the role of the Regional Synod is to assist the classes m their planting of new churches and strengthening existing churches. This involves assisting the classis in identifying the areas where new churches could be planted and identifying where existing ministries could be challenged to stretch beyond their present effectiveness to even more effectiveness. In some situations it may mean helping classis to evaluate the viability of a ministry and helping them to transfer their resources to a more vital ministry. The role of the Regional Synod is to provide through the classis; (1) Expertise in the expansion of the Gospel through evangelism, (2) Strategies for spiritually healthy church planting and growth, and (3) Administrative assistance in fund raising, seeking grants and loans.

Our Synod has a tremendous challenge before us. We are relatively small in number and distanced from each other geographically. We are diverse in worship style and theological emphasis. We have at least two or three 'denominations" running under the surface. We can't afford to be two or three denominations nor do I believe that it would honour the Lord. We need each other and the Spirit of God empowering us to face together the challenges of the future. We have limited resources with which to face these challenges. Everywhere we turn there is need for more resources to keep pace with our present ministries let alone step forward boldly into the future with the still to be met challenges.

When we look at the vastness of our country and the needs for people m our growing metropolitan areas to be bound together in a church in which they are growing in the grace an knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and at the same time be aware of the challenges listed above we can do one of two things: We can be energized or be discouraged, defeated, and go into"survival' mode. We have a choice. I believe God is calling us to be encouraged to take up the challenges which are before us.

How can we do this? The strength and energy of the Synod collectively emerges out of the strength and energy of the people in the Synod. Synod, Classis, and individual church leaders can provide the vision framework- It is up to each member to embrace the vision. The will to accept the challenges before us must emerge from the soul of the Church, the people, you and me as we are walking in the Spirit of our Lord.

Vision is like building castles in the air. That is where castles belong. Whoever saw a castle under the ground? We put foundations under castles as each of us embrace the words of Jesus Christ. Vision is important because it provides a place to put obedience to Jesus' words. His words are still the foundation. It takes both vision and foundation to embody the words of Jesus Christ. I believe that if there is one thing we as a Synod of Christians find unifying among us it is a deep reverence for the words of Jesus Christ and a sincere desire to do those words. For that reason I believe we will take up the challenges before us.

One of the opportunities to develop the "soul" of the Synod of Canada will be the "Draw Near to God" series which win happen this March across the Synod. We trust this will provide a unifying effect in our individual and corporate life as servants of the Lord. We ask for your prayers and participation in this first major corporate function of the Synod of Canada.

In keeping with the above I believe that our most precious resources are people. The Synod can provide support for people, especially leaders. Pastors, their families, and Consistory leaders are in a lot of stress. Along with leaders in our whole culture, leaders in the Church are under a tremendous stress to "make it happen". The role of pastoral leadership has changed so dramatically in the few short years that I have been a pastor that I sometimes wonder what happened to the pastoral role for which I was trained. Consistories feel the same change. The way we "did church" a couple of decades ago no longer energizes the saints in the work of ministry. There is grief in this loss. Part of that grief shows up in anger which is misdirected toward the leadership and fear of the future which impacts on the leadership. I believe our Synod is in a position to help leaders deal with this ministry destroying stress.

Each area of our geographically large Synod is unique as are the churches in each area. The resources are different in each area. To work together in the Synod will always be a challenge because of these differences. The Synod has the opportunity to identify the unity which will bind us together.

In the Canadian Synod we have the additional task to identify and build on the unity we share with the Reformed Church in the United States. I believe we need the broader Reformed Church helping us through learning from its history, its theological reflections dealing with the issues we are facing in our current and ever changing culture, the broader connections with world mission, its wisdom, its theological training, its support for pastors and families, just to name a few.

"Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness." If we are building into our individual lives the character of Jesus Christ, we will not fall when crises come, and we will move forward in obedience to His work and ministry. We trust God will do what He promised to do and we must do what we can do. God will not do what we can do. He provides salvation, sanctification, and gifts for ministry. God does not give us character, commitment, or healthy life sustaining habits. God gives us the vision, we must build the foundation from the materials of Christ's words. That is the focus for Synod of Canada from my perspective.

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