14/07: Whither the Reformed Church in America: Mainline or Evangelical/Orthodox? Part 2
Category: Mainline Christianity
Posted by: an okie gardener
For Part 1 click here.
The Reformed Church also demonstrated our two-winged character during debates over social issues.
On the one side, we voted
*65% to 35% to urge our congregations and the General Secretary to "sign the Church World Service petition calling for the reversal of the new policy restricting emergency aid through the Cuban Council of Churches, to engage in letter writing campaigns, and to contact their representatives to call for the United States to 1) lift all aspects of the trade embargo, . . . "
*60% to 40% to encourage "members, churches, and staff to extend the welcome and love of Christ to the illegal immigrant populations in the United States and advocate for legislation that will protect and serve them."
*about 60% to 40% "to encourage congregations to join the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign and to visit the website regularly for updates . . ." and "to encourage congregants in RCA churches to contact their state senators, asking they accept the proposed increase in the minimum wage recently passed by the U.S. House . . ." and to "call RCA employers to review the compensation packages they offer their employees with an aim to provide a just living wage."
On the other side, we voted
*down a proposal to "explore strategies for further diversifying the General Synod body, . . ."
*to refer a proposal to the 2008 General Synod to "make the Reformed Church in America a member denomination in "The National Religious Campaign Against Torture" and to make the opposition of all United States policies that allow or encourage torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners a high priority of the denomination."
*down a proposal that our denomination make known to "U.S. President George W. Bush, . . . our support for "1) the propositions that the United States pursue non-military political solutions to the hostilities in and occupation of Iraq, 2) the quick disengagement of military hostilities in that country, 3) the speedy return of American troops, and 4) the United States to direct its efforts toward economic, social, and humanitarian aid toward Iraq and its citizens; . . ." (more below)
*In 2006 we referred until 2007 a proposal to affirm the independent role of Taiwan in the world, and calling upon the United States to abandon the One China policy. This year we passed the following resolution:
R-11
To affirm and continue to pursue strong ecumenical relationships between the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and the Reformed Church in America, and in doing so, to celebrate our common commitment to the evangelical mission of Christ’s church on earth; and further, to also affirm and continue the ecumenical relationship between
the China Christian Council and the Reformed Church in
America, and in doing so, to celebrate our common commitment to the evangelical mission of Christ’s church on earth; and further, to request the general secretary to write letters on behalf of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America to the leadership of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and to the leadership of China Christian Council, reaffirming our commitments to these ecumenical partnerships.
R-12
To reaffirm the historic support of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America for the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and its advocacy for human rights, democracy in Taiwan, and the role of Taiwan in the world community; and further, to request the general secretary of the Reformed Church in America to write letters on behalf of the General Synod to the president of the United States, the leaders of the United States
Congress, the prime minister of Canada, and the leaders of the Canadian Parliament, expressing the continued support of the Reformed Church in America for the role of Taiwan in the world community and for the peaceful resolution of political disputes between the governments of Taiwan and China; and further, to encourage congregations and members of the Reformed Church
in America to pray for the upcoming electoral process in Taiwan and for the participation of the Taiwanese people in the determination of the political future of Taiwan. (See this earlier post on the One China Policy.)
One of the reasons I like the RCA is that we do have two wings. One wing without the other can lead to ommission of important ideas and actions. For most of our history the tensions between the wings has been a creative tension.
I suspect it will not always be so; I cannot see a way forward together on the same-sex practice issue and related concerns.
The Reformed Church also demonstrated our two-winged character during debates over social issues.
On the one side, we voted
*65% to 35% to urge our congregations and the General Secretary to "sign the Church World Service petition calling for the reversal of the new policy restricting emergency aid through the Cuban Council of Churches, to engage in letter writing campaigns, and to contact their representatives to call for the United States to 1) lift all aspects of the trade embargo, . . . "
*60% to 40% to encourage "members, churches, and staff to extend the welcome and love of Christ to the illegal immigrant populations in the United States and advocate for legislation that will protect and serve them."
*about 60% to 40% "to encourage congregations to join the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign and to visit the website regularly for updates . . ." and "to encourage congregants in RCA churches to contact their state senators, asking they accept the proposed increase in the minimum wage recently passed by the U.S. House . . ." and to "call RCA employers to review the compensation packages they offer their employees with an aim to provide a just living wage."
On the other side, we voted
*down a proposal to "explore strategies for further diversifying the General Synod body, . . ."
*to refer a proposal to the 2008 General Synod to "make the Reformed Church in America a member denomination in "The National Religious Campaign Against Torture" and to make the opposition of all United States policies that allow or encourage torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners a high priority of the denomination."
*down a proposal that our denomination make known to "U.S. President George W. Bush, . . . our support for "1) the propositions that the United States pursue non-military political solutions to the hostilities in and occupation of Iraq, 2) the quick disengagement of military hostilities in that country, 3) the speedy return of American troops, and 4) the United States to direct its efforts toward economic, social, and humanitarian aid toward Iraq and its citizens; . . ." (more below)
*In 2006 we referred until 2007 a proposal to affirm the independent role of Taiwan in the world, and calling upon the United States to abandon the One China policy. This year we passed the following resolution:
R-11
To affirm and continue to pursue strong ecumenical relationships between the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and the Reformed Church in America, and in doing so, to celebrate our common commitment to the evangelical mission of Christ’s church on earth; and further, to also affirm and continue the ecumenical relationship between
the China Christian Council and the Reformed Church in
America, and in doing so, to celebrate our common commitment to the evangelical mission of Christ’s church on earth; and further, to request the general secretary to write letters on behalf of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America to the leadership of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and to the leadership of China Christian Council, reaffirming our commitments to these ecumenical partnerships.
R-12
To reaffirm the historic support of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America for the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and its advocacy for human rights, democracy in Taiwan, and the role of Taiwan in the world community; and further, to request the general secretary of the Reformed Church in America to write letters on behalf of the General Synod to the president of the United States, the leaders of the United States
Congress, the prime minister of Canada, and the leaders of the Canadian Parliament, expressing the continued support of the Reformed Church in America for the role of Taiwan in the world community and for the peaceful resolution of political disputes between the governments of Taiwan and China; and further, to encourage congregations and members of the Reformed Church
in America to pray for the upcoming electoral process in Taiwan and for the participation of the Taiwanese people in the determination of the political future of Taiwan. (See this earlier post on the One China Policy.)
One of the reasons I like the RCA is that we do have two wings. One wing without the other can lead to ommission of important ideas and actions. For most of our history the tensions between the wings has been a creative tension.
I suspect it will not always be so; I cannot see a way forward together on the same-sex practice issue and related concerns.
