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Disciplinary Measures
In The Banner article “Synod 2024 Declared Disciplinary Measures for Those ‘In Protest’,” it says, “Synod made this decision, recognizing ... ‘There is no category in Church Order for members, officebearers, councils, or classes to be “in protest” regarding settled and binging synodical decisions concerning confessional matters.’” Shouldn’t the question be “What provision of Church Order prohibits members and officebearers from protesting such decisions?” One such binding synodical decision declares the right to disagree with such decisions. The decision, which was misconstrued by Synod 2022 (see Acts of Synod 2022, p. 922, citing Acts of Synod 1975, p. 603), says synodical pronouncements on confessional matters do not have “the status of the confessions” (Acts of Synod 1975, p. 598), and officebearers are not required to subscribe to such pronouncements (pp. 601-602). According to Synod 1975, officebearers and members may disagree with synod’s decisions concerning confessional matters; this decision, which Synod 2022 claimed to follow, has never been reversed.
Doug Rooks // Holland, Mich.
Soft on Sin
Thank you for your editorial “Soft on Sin” (June 2024). Jesus’ actions and words guide and challenge us to love and inclusion. I feel great sadness that our church is conflicted over whom to include. Anyone who has a child or grandchild or someone they know who is gay knows they are created by God and that God loves them. It is important that we wrestle with our theology and “work out (our) salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). We have to have the opportunity to discuss and sometimes even disagree with the body of believers. When the 2024 decisions at Synod tell us what we may and may not think if we are to be on council and function as part of the church, something feels very uncomfortable to me.
Linda Siebenga // Lacombe County, Alta.
Accessibility
Thanks for your thoughtful article on “Breaking Barriers to Accessibility in Ministry” (June 2024). I couldn’t help but notice that there was no reference made to dementia, which is also considered a disability that requires support. According to the World Health Organization, 47.5 million people worldwide live with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. In Canada, that amounts to over 400,000 individuals, and in the U.S., 7 million. Our church has committed to becoming a Dementia Friendly Community, and training our public-facing staff has begun. The largest percentage of our congregation’s members are between the ages of 51 and 64. We must consider this population when making churches more accessible.
Monique DeBrouwer // Courtice, Ont.
Science and Religion
I appreciated this article; it is an increasingly important topic (“Can Science Ever Replace Religion?”, Sept. 2024). Besides the items listed in the article that science cannot answer today are the following: What was the cause of the beginning of the universe? What causes gravity? What is the origin of all the laws that govern the universe? How did life start?
Gary Mulder // Elmhurst, Mich.
The Lord’s Supper
I really appreciated your article on how the Lord’s Supper is distributed (“Big Questions,” Sept. 2024). As a pastor in the Reformed Church in America, this issue has been an important question in my career. Reflecting on our shared tradition of serving the elements in the pew, I often wondered if we were making the sacrament too individualistic. … In my retirement in the Philippines, I couldn’t find a church that was remotely Reformed, so I attend the Roman Catholic church. They follow the same order of worship the RCA does with the exception that the Eucharist is shared at every Mass, as John Calvin wanted to keep. To me this has been very spiritually enriching, to the point that I have a hard time thinking of worship without Word and sacrament. … It is participation and communion with the eternally living Christ, who feeds us, through the Holy Spirit, with his life according to our need. It is a celebration of the life that counts—the eternal one which Jesus Christ alone can give.
Paul Nulton // Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines
Slippery Slope
I’m writing in response to Shiao Chong’s editorial “Slippery Slope?” in the September 2024 Banner. The truth of God’s Word does not change. It is the same today as it was 100 years ago and as it was 1,000 years ago. Scripture is clear that God designed sex to be exclusively within marriage between a man and a woman. This article, as it explored synod’s discipline, implied that obeying God’s commands is equivalent to “drawing boundaries on God’s love” and “anxiously policing ourselves.” And yet, Jesus says “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).
Laurel Dykema // Grand Rapids, Mich.
Thank you for your wise and thoughtful editorial. I too wonder about taking disciplinary measures that could forbid members with leadership gifts from serving in their congregations. I wonder how grace will be demonstrated in a process designed to enforce this discipline. Let’s pause to reflect and practice grace.
Pat Vanderkooy // Guelph, Ont.