GS 2022 Article 109 – Appeal against RSW 2021 Art. 31 (In-person Worship)
1. Material
- 1.1 Appeal against RSW 2021 Art. 31 from brother and sister T. & C. Kanis (8.6.11.1).
2. Admissibility
- 2.1 The appeal was declared admissible.
3. Decision
Synod decided:
- 3.1 To deny the appeal.
4. Grounds
- 4.1 The appellants request that GS 2022 “…overturn the decision of the prior assemblies” i.e., the prior decisions of a council, a classis, and a regional synod. CO Art. 37, however, restricts general synods to judging the decisions of regional synods.
- 4.2 The appellants request that GS 2022 “reviews all the documents that have been provided and to either overturn the decision of the prior assemblies or show clearly using scripture (sic) that the consistory has the authority to forbid in-person worship.” It is, however, the appellants’ responsibility to demonstrate that a decision of a minor assembly is contrary to the Word of God or the Church Order (CO Art. 31). The appellants have not done so.
The following synod member requested that his abstention from voting be recorded: Karlo Janssen.
The following synod member requested that his negative vote be recorded: Bert Vane.