Office Bearers | GS 2016 art 79

15 Jul GS 2016 art 79

Posted at 13:57h in CanRC, GS 2016 by Roy Janssen

1.1 Report of the Subcommittee for Theological Education of the Committee for Church Unity (CCU-STE) (8.2.7)
1.2 Letters from the following CanRC: Fergus-Maranatha (8.3.3.2), Hamilton-Blessings (8.3.3.4), Lincoln (8.3.3.6)

2.1 The CCU-STE was appointed to work with a corresponding committee from the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA), should one be reappointed by Synod Visalia 2014. Since Synod Visalia did not reappoint a corresponding committee, the CCU-STE reports that it made no progress in the matter of theological education in a unified federation.
2.2 Hamilton-Blessings recommends suspending the subcommittees, including the theological subcommittee, while the CCU and the churches “seek ways to facilitate the work of building unity at the local level.”
2.3 Fergus-Maranatha and Lincoln agree with the recommendation from the CCU to maintain a STE. Lincoln states that “we believe that reappointing the subcommittee helps to communicate our continued desire to pursue unity with the URCNA.”

3.1 The CCU subcommittees are needed in the event that the URCNA decide to continue work towards Phase 3A.

That Synod decide:

4.1 To reappoint the Subcommittee for Theological Education of the Committee for Church Unity (CCU-STE) to be available to work with a corresponding committee of the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) should an upcoming URCNA Synod reappoint the corresponding committee;
4.2 To mandate the CCU-STE to re-examine and discuss with our brothers in the URCNA the possibilities of operating at least one theological seminary by and for the churches, to ensure that such a seminary is accountable to and properly governed by the churches. Further, that the committee promote adequate funding for such an institution(s) by means of assessment per communicant member.