Sunday, August 23, 2009

The other day I received a link to a YouTube video. It is a short 4 minute video on how social media/networking is revolutionizing the way in which we do business, connect with people and stay updated on a daily basis. I strongly recommend it...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Summer Intensives June 2009




Dr. Paul Fries has been teaching RCA Standards for MFCA since the mid-1990's. In the pictures he is captured utilizing similar hand motions in both 2003 (below) and now in 2009 (right). The haircut is somewhat different.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Seminar Begins in Holland, MI




June 1st saw a smaller group than planned gather at Geneva Shores in Holland, Michigan for the week long residential component of the Seminar for Pastoral Formation. Dr. Jaco Hamman of Western Theological Seminary is leading the seminar for the second time. The seminar, a regular part of the curriculum at WTS is new to the MFCA. It was approved by the board as an alternative to Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in 2007.

The group pictured include from left to right: Jose Garreton (Toronto, Ont.), Rob Kamrath (Grand Rapids, MI), Ben Falconer (East Lansing, MI), Jason DeVries (Dyer, IN), Tim Ehrhardt (Ames, IA), Jodi & Imos Wu (Staten Island, NY) and Rev. Dr. Jaco Hamman.

Monday, May 25, 2009

General Synod and Some Thoughts for the Future


The 2009 General Synod is only days away. A number of MFCA candidates will be joining students from New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS) and Western Theological Seminary (WTS) for the General Synod Seminarian Seminar (GS3). This experience has always been rewarding for all the participants and it is noticeable in who has been involved in GS3 when ministers come to General Synod as official delegates – they clearly know the procedures and have the confidence for full participation.

The other thing that allows people to participate more efficiently in the life of the denomination is the RCA Polity course. Each RCA minister is required to take polity and the MFCA offers the course as a summer intensive and a distance online course. The winter 2009 course has just finished with nine students enrolled this year. As part of the course dialogue I include topics that are current and relevant to the life of the denomination. Topics such as the Belhar Confession, the conscience clauses, Our Call, and the missional structures report have been the focus of the class discussions. This year’s participants had some great ideas and I believe these individuals will be difference makers in the RCA of the future.

As a final assignment I ask the students to write an overture that they believe deserves to go to this year’s General Synod. There were a number of mock overtures submitted that had merit and could have been submitted to General Synod. I will include one of them below. This overture was chosen because it does an excellent job in making the case for what it proposes as well as represents something that I believe needs further consideration by the denomination. Not only do I believe that we need to break down structures in such a way that we have fewer classes and regional synods allowing us to call people into staff positions where they can use their expertise and give their full time attention to their area of responsibility. But, I truly believe that the supervision and oversight of those preparing for ministry, both ordained Ministers of Word and sacrament and Commissioned Pastors, need more focused and quality attention by qualified individuals. The only way I see this occurring is if we do not assign this responsibility to 46 different classes – most of which do not have the resources and expertise to do this well. I believe that we need to identify a small number of assemblies (this overture suggests four) and one professional educator / facilitator per assembly who has as their sole responsibility of this function.

I hope you appreciate this overture as much I did:

The Classis of “A,” the Classis of “B,” the Classis of “C” and the Classis of “D” (or all of the classes of Region X) overture the General Synod to generally affirm the concepts of the Missional Structures Task Force Report of 2007 as a catalyst toward the fulfillment of “Our Call;” and further, to instruct the General Synod Council to restructure denominational assemblies so as to better support our missional ecclesiology, by which 1) our 8 regional synods are reduced to 4 regional synods whose primary purpose is to facilitate learning and growth of pastors and churches toward the discipleship, leadership, mission and multi-racial future aspects of “Our Call,” and 2) our 46 classes are reduced to 20 classes whose primary purpose is to provide leadership of the pastors and churches toward the church revitalization and church multiplication aspects of “Our Call;” with basic judicatory responsibilities remaining the same in each assembly except that the regional synods bear the responsibility of supervision of students of theology; and finally to report all of the above to the General Synod of 2011 for adoption.

Reasons:

1. The Missional Structures Task Force completed their assigned charge by the General Synod of 2005 with excellence, and the 2007 report of the task force merits our blessing and affirmation.
2. As a group empowered by the General Synod and the Lord to conduct missional reflection on the structure of our present 4 assemblies, the core conceptual recommendation of the Missional Structures Task Force should be accepted, which is that the present structure of our assemblies has not been able to effectively empower the missional engagement of our congregations and thus needs a fundamental change in the number and relationship of assemblies (Missional Structures Task Force Report 2.2 2007, pp. 11-12).
3. Whereas the Missional Structures Task Force called for not less than “15 middle assemblies” to replace the 8 regional synods and the 45 classes, we believe that the existing structure of 4 assemblies has been an important part of our history and has been effective over the life of the denomination. It is important that we approach the necessary change within the existing infrastructure (Missional Structures Task Force Report 2.2 2007, pp. 21-22).
4. “Our Call” necessitates that we change our approach to being missional. It is rooted in church revitalization and church multiplication. We must leverage our greatest structural strength, which is the lower assemblies of consistories and classes, to lead into our denominational vision. In order for our lower assemblies to lead in this way, they need to be released from some of their administrative burden.
5. Our current structure of 8 regional synods and 46 classes is not effective. It is unacceptable for us to continue the duplicity and inefficiency of such a large number of assemblies. Our best strategy for addressing these problems is to reduce the total by approximately one-half. This amount of reduction is “doable” by keeping some level of consistency while also enacting enough change to make a substantial difference in being missional.
6. By reducing the number of regional synods and classes, we will be able to be more focused and aligned as a denomination and to pool resources for instituting greater helps toward our end.
7. The specific purpose of regional synods has been questioned in the past. While they do good work and support our polity well, they have not been employed as significantly as possible. "Programs designed and staffed by regional synods may be among the most effective, simply because they have been developed to meet the unique needs of a specific geographical area" (MGS 2000, p. 433). The emphasis of regional synods toward learning and growth initiatives for our pastors and churches will bring the focus that has been missing for regional synods and at the same time bring the leadership we need.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Defining Culture







Former RCA General Secretary, Ed Mulder, used to describe the denomination as a family. In some ways he was correct even though there have been numerous folks who have argued against such thinking. As a smaller denomination, and an even smaller agency within the denomination, I believe that in some ways we do relate as family members. We encourage and challenge one another as we live as a community of faith in love, appreciation and disagreement when it is warranted. And perhaps even when it is not warranted. We were either born into this family, or were adopted into it. We have traditions that need to continue and we have dysfunctions that require correction and healing. The heart of who we are is found in relationships and the covenants of faith that direct and determine our interactions. I believe that the sense of family, although not all of who we are, is a distinctive of the culture in which we reside.

Our current General Secretary, Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, describes the RCA culture, as he understands it, in his book Leadership From Inside Out:

“Our culture in the Reformed Church in America has evolved, of course, in the context of the changing American society; yet distinctive features exist that describe the Reformed Church’s “culture.” For instance, we respect and expect good preaching. We value teaching and learning. We take intellectual life and theology seriously. Our church government is well developed, with an emphasis on order and orderliness. We affirm collegiality and corporate responsibility, and we hope for moderation and tolerance. We attend to business thoroughly and well.” (Pg. 72)

The culture and ethos of the RCA family is distinctively “Reformed” and we rely heavily on an understanding and “life – practice” of covenant and grace. The MFCA and the program it oversees attempts to develop and form leaders who find themselves at home in the culture described above. It values a preparation process that results in individuals who are competent and equipped to lead others through preaching, teaching, and counseling. (Included in this are evangelizing, prophesying and apostolic leadership as suggested by Ephesians 4 and emphasized by some of the emerging church folks).

Our program attempts to reflect our culture as it emphasizes character and competency. We expect seminaries to train individuals in many of these competencies and rely heavily on supervised ministry settings, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and the care process of the classis to accomplish both the development and determination that persons enter ministry adequately prepared. All this is done relationally as individuals who care about each other and have a desire to be part of the same tribe.

Unlike some of the accusations thrown our way, we do not aspire to only credential those who are 100% followers of John Calvin, Karl Barth or even John Piper. Diversity and differing philosophies are not only tolerated but often celebrated. We aspire to meet the leadership needs of the future church by credentialing educated and competent people with good character who are Christ followers. These individuals will hopefully bring knowledge and conviction to their respective ministries that are both Reformed and missional.

In the RCA family the goals set before us can be accomplished in various ways. We include the local congregation, the classis and seminaries in meeting our objectives. We require those who are able, to complete a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree because we believe it is a valuable process toward preparation. For those who cannot complete a degree, we have the Approved Alternate Route (AAR) which includes customized ways and means to prepare candidates at the levels that meet the same standards as those who have earned the M.Div. The RCA regularly evaluates and measures the processes in place and their effectiveness and as the “loose-leaf” Book of Church Order (BCO) implies, we are prepared to make changes for the better where they are needed.

The RCA culture include certain lifestyles and values. We tend to be good at challenging one another when necessary and are always prepared to change and grow into being more faithful servants. In my mother-in-law’s dining room there is a picture on the wall of an older man praying before he eats his meal. I have seen the same picture hanging on the wall in a house I pass on my bike rides. It makes a statement about the people who live in these homes. I believe the denomination has a similar picture hanging on its wall as it lives out of, and into, the culture that is RCA. It is a picture that represents who the family is – in this case a family that is prayerful and trusts in God who provides for us daily.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

New Blog for Classis Candidate Care


Classis Responsibilities for Candidates in the Certificate of Fitness for Ministry Process

The Reformed Church in America (RCA) utilizes a dual track process for preparing and credentialing candidates pursuing ordination to minister of Word and sacrament. The agents designated by the General Synod; New Brunswick Theological Seminary, the Ministerial Formation Certification Agency, and Western Theological Seminary, have responsibility for one of the tracks and award the Certificate of Fitness for Ministry. The candidate’s classis is responsible for “orthodoxy” and grants licensure and ordains. The process being explained by this document is that of the classis.

Approximately a decade ago, Article 8 (Supervision of Students of Theology) of the Book of Church Order (BCO), Part II was rewritten to alter the assessment procedures available to the classis in regard to candidates pursuing ordination by means of the Certificate of Fitness for Ministry. The introduction of the Approved Alternate Route (AAR) resulted in separating the classis assessment process from the seminary curriculum and the M.Div. degree. The categories were redefined and the means of assessment was revised in such a manner that competence is to be determined and actual examination language is lost. In other words, assessment is not necessarily a traditional examination and creative possibilities are not only implied, but encouraged.

The weakness in the pre-2000 approach to examining students was that it tended to separate areas for examination into the discrete subjects of the theological curriculum of a seminary rather than taking an integrative approach that more closely matched the actual practice of ministry in congregations and other ministry settings. The shift from examination to assessment not only invites classes to exercise creativity and imagination in their means of assessment, the shift from academic subject to broader areas of competence invites them to think in a more integrative way.

The current BCO now reads as follows :

As candidates pursue their preparation
The classis shall satisfy itself that the candidate exhibits:
(1) Appropriate character and call to the ministry of Word and sacrament;
(2) Comprehension of Scripture and of the history, theology, and church order of the Reformed Church in America;
(3) Requisite skills in interpretation and proclamation of Scripture, including sufficient Greek and Hebrew to understand the nuances of the biblical text;
(4) Competence for ministry;
(5) Commitment to the unity of the church, the ministry of all Christians, and the proclamation of the gospel. (BCO 1.II.8 Section 6)

When the candidate has earned the Certificate of Fitness for Ministry
The classis shall examine the candidate for licensure and ordination by satisfying itself that the candidate is competent in:
(1) Theology
(2) The nature and administration of the sacraments
(3) Knowledge of and adherence to the Constitution (Standards, the Government and Disciplinary Procedures, and the Liturgy) of the Reformed Church in America
(4) The history and program of Reformed Church mission (BCO 1.II.8 Section 7)

The transition for incorporating the new definitions has been a rather difficult one for many classes, and some have opted to stay with old and established procedures, not changing anything. This document proposes to assist classes in understanding the new definitions and provide tools for the role of assessment and support. It is important to note that the role can be less of an “examiner,” and more of an agent, satisfying itself in creative ways that competencies and qualities are possessed by ministerial candidates.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

What I'm Reading



I have started reading "Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim's Tale" by Ian Morgan Cron... I am 70 pages into it. It appears to be a worthwhile fictional read that will provide valuable insights into ministry and spiritual formation...

Saturday, January 24, 2009

This past week I was at a seminar with Don Cousins, former pastor at Willow Creek. He spoke on the having your heart right with God in order to be a leader. He gave the group the following:

10 signs of a healthy heart (one that is not hardened)

1. A tongue that blesses
2. Thoughts that are pure Matthew 15:19
3. Thankfulness 1 Thessalonians 5:18
4. Peace filled spirit Ephesians 4:31-32
5. Desire to worship God
6. Contentment in all circumstances
7. Hunger for God’s word Psalm 119:9ff
8. Demonstrated humility
9. Commitment to personal holiness
10. Whole hearted devotion to the Lord 1 John