» News: CRC Receives 1M Lillly Grant

The Christian Reformed Church has received a five-year, one million dollar grant from the Lilly Foundation to continue its pastoral excellence program. The CRC Sustaining Pastoral Excellence (SPE) project intends "to create a culture of pastoral excellence in the CRC. It offers funding for peer learning groups, continuing education events, and mentoring."

» News: CRC Synod Summary

The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) completed its Synod Friday at Calvin College. The CRC has conveniently posted a summary of the major decisions of its Synod here. Some highlights that may be of interest to RN readers:

1. Synod approved plans for a new hymnal to replace the Psalter-Hymnal
2. Synod voted to remove the word "male" from its requirements for holding ecclesiastical office.
3. Any CRC congregation may now ordain women as ministers, elders, deacons, or ministry associates.
4. A provision was added allowing that delegates to classis or synod who believe that including women delegates is in violation of the Word of God may record their protest officially
5. A report about "third-wave" pentecostalism was recommitted for further study.
6. Synod approved the ESV (English Standard Version) of the Bible for ministry and worship use
7. Synod repented for past "racist values" evident in some of its decision-making
8. Synod appointed a study committee to consider paedocommunion
9. Synod voted to dissuade congregations from practicing infant dedication and reaffirmed commitment to infant baptism.

» News: CRC Synod Summary

Due to limited resources, we at RN will have to confess an inability to adequately cover [live] the CRC Synod 2007, but the CRC has a well-designed news site where you can read news releases from the denomination as its Synod continues.

» News: News Roundup Continued

CRC: The Christian Reformed Church celebrated its 150th anniversary with a worship service attended by about 14,000 worshippers. The CRC annual synod meets this week at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. The delegates elected Rev. Joel Boot as its president; Rev. Cecil Van Niejenhuis as its vice president, elder Henry Baron as first clerk, and Rev. Jake Kuipers as second clerk.

ARP: The 203rd annual synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church met last week; details will be published as RN is able to collect further information. ARP is also planning to plant a mission church in Appalachia.

OPC: The Seventy-fourth General Assembly meets this week at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa, beginning at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 13.

RCA: Wes Granberg-Michaelson, the general secretary of the RCA's Synod told the gathered commissioners that the RCA should become a "missional" church. Says Granberg-Michaelson, "How do we take good, old wine--the core of our Reformed tradition--and pour it into new wineskins--missional styles and structures that engage the culture with the power of the gospel? We need models of ministry--new churches and revitalized congregations--that combine the best strengths of Reformed identity with the most courageous expressions of missional engagement."

URCNA: General Synod planned for July 9-14, 2007.

PCA: Former Moderator Sam Duncan, ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg, MS writes a summary of this week's PCA General Assembly. Speaking of the Federal Vision controversy, he summarizes, "For the layman, who is not familiar with this topic, the Federal Vision basically teaches that membership in a local church makes one elect; once one is elect, his salvation may be lost; baptism results in regeneration; and justification is achieved through both faith and good works."

» News: Friday News Roundup

Here's all the buzz that buzzed near us this week:

PCUSA: Dennis L. Cobb, 50, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree indecent exposure. The denomination has fired Cobb from his position as manager of assembly programming citing a "no tolerance" policy.

PCA: As mentioned previously, a group of 10 ministers has written an "open letter" urging fellow presbyters to vote against the denominational Federal Vision / NPP study committee report at the upcoming General Assembly in June. Discussion of the open letter occurred here at RN and here. A joint statement has been published by the Retirement and Benefits and Mission to the World corporations about some upcoming changes.

OPC: The June issue of New Horizons was published this week and it concerns the topic of worship in light of OPC discussions concerning whether or not to adopt a drafted directory for public worship. George R. Cottenden discusses the upcoming issue of the vote on the directory in a feature article and the issue includes articles by Hart, Muether, Larry Wilson, Peter Wallace, and William Shishko on various aspects of worship and sacraments. The June / July issue of Ordained Servant also was published this week and contains discussions of the church and science / technology. Reviews include D.G. Hart on Sean Lucas's book "On Being Presbyterian" (P&R, 2006).

CREC: Nate Wilson publishes a book with Random House ("Leepike Ridge") and gets some kind words from Books and Culture, and Nate Wilson is also responsible for the text of a few new children's books published by Canon Press. The Augustine Presbytery of the CREC will have its meeting October 11-12, and the Anselm Presbytery will meet October 22-23.

CRC: Interesting press release- "What to Watch for a Synod 2007" including some interesting sacramental discussions about infant baptism and paedocommunion. Meeter Center purchases 1562 edition of a book by John Calvin about the doctrine of election. Korean CRC church plays role in Virginia Tech shooting healing.

EPC: General Assembly takes place June 20-23 in Colorado - new issue of the EPC's newsletter contains GA information.

Acts 29: Main session audio lectures of 2007 Seattle church-planting Boot Camp have been posted.

CPC: "Covenant Presbyterian Church" - this is not a denomination with which RN has familiarity, but they have sent us a press release (PDF) and we will attempt to cover them as well.

Reformed Parachurch: Reformation21's June issue is now out, including further reflections on Roman Catholicism by Carl Trueman, an article about blues music by Stephen J. Nichols, and Phillip Ryken reflects on the new atheism movement. Ligonier Ministries is offering a free gift subscription to Tabletalk with a regular subscription just in time for Father's day. Yes, that sound like a commercial, but we have received no funds from Ligonier, just thought readers would like the information. Still no word on the Gospel Coalition materials, but we continue to monitor the website and will alert you when these are available.

Interesting Discussions: Discussion of the Gospel Coalition at Daniel Kirk's blog, Against Heresies conducts a three-part interview with Michael Scott Horton, Lane Keister wraps up an eleven part review/critique of Jeff Meyers's 30 Reasons, Meyers releases a shorter version of his 30 reasons. Paul Helm takes on the issue of the relationship between Biblical and Systematic theology.

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