Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/72

Contributor - J.P. Drost

Title - Quo Vadis? Reformed Churches In Canada

Topic - Reformed Church In Canada

(REPORT BY EAST WEST COMMITTEE)

In November of last year the Classis of Ontario held a Mission Festival in Hamilton with the deliberate purpose to strengthen the identity of our Churches in this region and to discover a direction for our Mission. Significantly the theme of the Festival was DIRECTION FORWARD. That theme had wider implications. It declared that the future course of our Churches was to be one of progressiveness, one of extension rather than retention, one of mission rather than maintenance.

It seems that the Mission Festival came at a good time, for questions concerning the future of our Reformed Churches in Canada were also before the Classis of our churches in both East and West last fall. They were sparked by a question concerning the continued need for a Central Office in Hamilton in view of the small number of immigrants from The Netherlands. Could the $2.00 per member assessment spent in this area be spent wiser elsewhere? It was observed however that the question concerning the Immigration Office does not stand alone. As the thread in a spider web it is related to a whole. Thus the Central Office in Hamilton is related to the publication of Pioneer Magazine, it is related to the C.I.C. (the Canadian Immigration Committee), and it is generally related to the Churches in East and West.

In view of the above, Classis Cascades including the Canadian, Churches in British Columbia and Alberta proposed to appoint a study committee which would study the future direction and work of the churches in Canada with specific reference to the further publication of Pioneer, the maintenance of the Central Office in Hamilton, our ministry to immigrants, and the significance of East West relations. That proposal was taken up by the Ontario Classis at her fall meeting and subsequently a committee was appointed.

The committee met on Tuesday, February 22 in Hamilton with two lay members from Ontario: Mrs. J. Vander Molen, Stoney Creek Reformed Church, and Mr. P. Gene, London Immanuel Reformed Church. A third lay member to represent the Cascades Classis was not present. The ministers were: Rev. J. Opmeer of Vancouver, and Rev. J. Drost of Wainfleet, chairman of the committee.

WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT?

1. We talked about the Churches in Canada as a whole. It was felt that the future of the 'reformed' presence in Canada depends largely on how we stand together! Unless there is a distinct identity as Reformed Churches in this country, it will be increasingly difficult for the individual Church to maintain a meaningful life, and it will be decreasingly necessary or even desirable to maintain a Reformed Church in Canada. There is much that binds us in East and West: a ministry to people of Reformed persuasion, a need to build one another up; a witness that roots in a rich heritage; a country that needs our witness. Even though the East West link is weak, it was felt that there is enough to build on. The need, then, is for a structure, a council or committee, which will help realize and strengthen a reformed' presence in Canada by the Churches of our persuasion.

2. We talked about Magazine Pioneer and confirmed that this magazine has played a significant role in the life and ministry of the Reformed Churches, We did feel that the continued publication of Pioneer should be recommended as a means to strengthen our identity as Churches in Canada. However, we would like to see some changes in the content and scope of the paper. It was felt that the all too local or all too regional information should be eliminated, that the scope of the paper could be broadened, and that the eventual appointment of an editor should be considered.

3. We talked about immigration and observed that this ministry has lost much of its significance, because of the decline in immigration and the changed conditions under which immigrants come to, this country. However it was our opinion that a minimal service should be maintained so that anyone appealing to the Reformed Church in Canada for help could receive such assistance. Also, contact with immigration agencies and organizations both here and overseas was deemed important. It was strongly felt that much of this work could be done by lay members on voluntary basis. It was pointed out that the Catholic Church has successfully worked with lay volunteer agencies in her immigrant ministry.

A report of our conclusions will be presented to both Classis this month. It is hoped that a continued thinking on the matter of our future may lead to a greater consciousness in our Churches of our Christian presence in Canada, to the sharing of a mission that is both concrete and meaningful, and to a greater dedication to Him in Whose Hands we entrust that future.

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