Classis Atlantic Northeast and Classis Illiana, two regional groups of churches within the Christian Reformed Church, asked for $25,000 to assist immigrant churches to affiliate with the CRC.
The funds would be used to assist with transition and relocation expenses for immigrant religious workers, administrative expenses associated with immigration requests, and offsets to immigration lawyer expenses to provide immigrant pastors as needed.
Initially the funding request was declined, but in the end money was found.
Joel Zuidema of Classis Illiana requested that $10,000 of assistance be made immediately available because a Chin speaking Burmese pastor is willing to pastor the Syracuse Chin Church, and synod’s support would strengthen a visa request.
However, delegates were reminded that a synod is unable to pass a motion without funding (Acts of Synod 2016p. 857).
Synod asked the executive director and agencies to explore processes and resources related to these requests. When synod returned from a break, Zuidema joyfully reported that he had been directed to the Financial Shalom Project Fund for funding to meet the immediate need of the Syracuse Chin Church.
Synod 2018 is meeting at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., from June 7-14. For continuous coverage while synod is in session, download the Banner app on your mobile device or follow The Banner Magazine on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted at thebanner.org several times daily. For CRC Communications releases and the webcast, please visit crcna.org.
About the Author
Alissa Vernon is the news editor for The Banner.
