June 14, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
Later this month, General Synod delegates will vote on a new statement of direction for RCA mission and ministry. The proposal is called "Transformed and Transforming: Radically following Christ in mission together." The denomination's current 10-year goal, Our Call, wraps up at General Synod and will be celebrated there.
Transformed and Transforming calls the denomination to focus on three strategic...
June 11, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
A task force created to tackle a divisive issue—presenting a way forward for the RCA given continued disagreement about homosexuality—has found remarkable unity.
"In our report to synod, we talk about what occurred for us as a group and personally, individually, as a result of our meeting together," says task force facilitator David VanNingen. The task force included eight people, each appointed by one of the RCA's regional synods. "The group was...
June 5, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
Responding to the post-Christian missional context of the RCA, General Synod delegates will decide whether to adopt three new orders celebrating the sacrament of baptism.
"In the Christianized society of medieval Europe, infant baptism was virtually universal and adult baptism was rare. The evangelization of post-Christian North America presents a very different situation," the Commission on Christian Worship reports.
In adjusting to a missional...
May 31, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
On Friday, June 21, missiologist and church planter Ed Stetzer will deliver a keynote address at General Synod, focusing on how churches can live missionally into the gospel message. He will also lead a workshop, "Engaging All People in Mission"; both events are open to the public.
General Synod is the RCA's annual meeting and will take place June 20-25 on the campus of Central College in Pella, Iowa.
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May 14, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
On May 6, Tony Campbell began his work as the RCA's new coordinator for African American/Black ministries.
"What I hope for the RCA, for African American ministries, is that we bring people into a deeper and deeper relationship with Jesus Christ that can transform the world," Campbell says. That transformation,...
April 2, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
A denominational discernment process that began in 2010 is likely to conclude at this year's General Synod with the adoption of a new focus for the denomination.
The General Synod Council (GSC) will be presenting a recommendation to the 2013 General Synod regarding the denomination's ministry focus following the conclusion of Our Call this year. This recommendation is the...
March 28, 2013
(From RCA Today)
Two congregations on Long Island are anticipating renewed vision and enthusiasm for ministry—as a new joint congregation.
Levittown Community Church and Parkway Community Church, both RCA, have been worshiping together since September 9.
"Since we started worshiping together, we have been excited and enthusiastic," says Joe Cusack, pastor of Levittown Community. "Members are participating in greater numbers in worship, Sunday...
March 26, 2013
(From Hope College)
Dr. John C. Knapp, who is the founding director of the Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, has been named the next president of Hope College.
Knapp, whose leadership experience includes higher education and business, and whose scholarship includes multiple books and articles on leadership ethics, issues in higher education, and the intersection of faith and work, was elected unanimously the 12th...