Sword Defending: Church: Taking a Look at Synod

TROWEL & SWORD

Resources - Leadership

July 2000

SWORD - DEFENDING

Taking a look at Synod

David Groenenboom

In his opening devotion at the Synod of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, Henk de Waard urged the delegates to make this Synod one which was relevant to what was really happening in local churches: “We don’t want to sit here for two weeks and then hear people say, ‘What has all this got to do with the life and context in which we live?’” In so doing, De Waard acknowledged that sometimes the machinations of Synod are far removed from the practical realities of everyday Christian life and witness. It was also a call for the CRCA to recognise that Synod should be a place where churches seek to resource one another. What sort of resourcing should this be? Well, it should obviously be more than simply approving mission work and ministries of various denominational agencies. There is also room for Synods to assist elders and ministers in their calling to present people mature in Christ.

It occurs to me that the word “Synod” itself calls us to consider this. The Word is a combination of two Greek words: syn meaning ‘together’, and hodos meaning ‘way’. The idea is that a Synod is a place where churches and church leaders find their way together. Find their way through the common issues and problems they face, but also find their way together in doing this more effectively and faithfully in the future.

Most Synods attempt to do this. There are always study reports examining various questions, there are reports from various agencies, there are requests for action (overtures) which need to be considered. Could there possibly be room for more? Our Synod already spans about 10 days, and most would agree that is long enough to be away from home enjoying someone else’s CO2. Why clutter the program with any more?

The reality is, however, that there is really no other context where the churches can do this sort of work. We have minister’s conferences, but there are never any elders there, or any other church people. At a Synod, however, we generally have a near full representation of ministers, 20+ elder delegates, visitors from other churches, and numerous congregational members as well. We should really be making the most of that opportunity to do some responsible forward planning and vision setting for the denomination. It would certainly be responsible stewardship of our time together.

But some may ask, “Wouldn’t such an event lead to a “top-down” approach, where all the decisions are made “at the top” and the local church has no choice but to toe the line?” History tells us that wherever Synods and Assemblies have led with this sort of style is has often led to Synod lording it over local churches. This can be avoided, however, when resourcing and planning is done in a way that affirms and equips the local churches for their calling. What sort of topics could be explored in a Synodical setting? There would certainly be great benefit is discussing things like:

Developing an outward focus. To what extent are the resources of each congregation used for their own purposes compared with resources used for, mission, outreach, and community bridge-building programs?
Local Program Tyranny. Is it possible that people in our congregations are so busy doing church things they have no time to be church in the world? Do our people have time (let alone skills or passion) for witness? How can we do things differently to free them up for the great commission in their own community?
Several Synods have noted the struggles young people have in finding a place in the church. What are we doing that makes it hard for younger people to develop strong commitment to working for the Lord in the context of the local church? How can we use their vision and energy more effectively?
Barriers of Church Culture. Unwittingly we take aspects of cultural faith expression and turn them into demands to which people must conform with before they are really accepted. Consequently, Synods should assist churches to engage in the type of self-critique that will see them removing some of the unnecessary barriers their own church culture creates.
Where Synods increasingly become forums to assist the churches in their calling they will find a more affirmative and even enthusiastic response to Synodical process at the grass roots level. Surely, we’d be better off finding that way together.

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