Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/93

Contributor - Unknown

Title - The Regional Synod of Canada - Born of Prayer and Vision

Topic - Church in Canada

From August 29 to 31, the Regional Synod of Canada held its inaugural meeting at the First Reformed Church of Hamilton, Ontario. This was also the final gathering of the Council of the Reformed Church in Canada, which had, for almost twenty years (from its inaugural meeting in Winnipeg in the spring of 1974), prepared the way for this great day in the life of the Reformed Church in Canada.

The meeting began on the Lord's Day, August 29, with a day of spiritual preparation for the Synod. The day began and ended with worship, with worship services of the home church. During the afternoon, delegates sought the Lord's direction for their lives and for the Synod through "one-on-one" prayer sessions with the Lord, and through group sessions involving regions, commissions and the entire Synod. The afternoon concluded with a prayer summit in which all delegates had a chance to seek the Lord's face for the future of the Synod. 'ne day concluded in worship with the evening service of First Reformed Church, in which the members of the congregation surrounded the members of Synod and prayed for the Lord's blessing on the assembly. Sunday set an atmosphere of worship for the rest of the Synod meeting.

Monday, August 30, began with a time of orientation by Dr. Howard Schipper and Rev. Glenn De Master, Synod executives of the two mothering regional synods. Dr. Schipper presented the basic system of delegation to the regional synod, explaining how the process was developed to maximize the geographic spread and continuity needs for the new Synod. He also commended the finance committee of CRCC for the professional manner in which the budgeting and financial management of the affairs of the emerging synod were maintained. Schipper noted that although finances would be tight for the new Synod, it was clearly financially viable.

Rev. De Master led the delegates through the by-laws of the Synod of Canada, which are closely patterned on those of the Synod of the Far West. He clarified how every delegate to Synod was also a member of a commission with different responsibilities: CP&D, Finance or Support Services. Each delegate will work in detail in this area of responsibility and then present recommendations to the full Synod. De Master encouraged the new Synod to always include times of prayer and worship, and to conclude its meeting with a time of vision casting.

At the end of the orientation, De Master presented to the Synod a cheque for US $14,917.51, which came from money which had been set aside from assets sold when the old Synod of the West mothered the Synod of the Far West and the Heartland. The gift was received in joy as a tangible reminder of all the financial and support staff which had come from the two mothering regional synods of the Synod of Canada. As the consultants left, there was a time of prayer commending the Synod of Canada to God, that He would use the Synod for the furthering of the Gospel in Canada and throughout the RCA.

After this special time of preparation, the Synod meeting functioned effectively and positively. 'ne CP&D commission recommended to Synod financial aid applications from four new church start congregations, and it is working on a comprehensive plan for new church development across Canada. The finance commission recommended the 1994 budget to the Synod, and also is looking into a plan for fundraising for supporting growth of the Reformed Church in Canada. The support services commission have committed to edit a column for the Pioneer, entitled "The time has come... a vision for Canada", and is investigating ways to assist the classical pastoral relations committees in strengthening the relationship between pastors, consistories and congregations. The recommendations of the commissions were approved by the Synod, and the commissions remain actively at work on the areas assigned to them.

The next meeting of the Regional Synod of Canada will be, the Lord willing, from April 28 to 30, 1994 at Grace Community Church in Surrey, B.C.

Please be in prayer for the newly elected executive committee and the commissions of the Regional Synod of Canada. May the Spirit of prayer and vision which gave birth to the Synod, stay alive in the work of the commissions between sessions as well.

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