Tootfinder

My table at RCA General Synod
#RCASynod #RCA #GS2024

This concludes the General Synod Council report.
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The General Synod is now hearing the FInance Report.
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Speaking now is the Vice-President Elect Sarah Palsma!
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Now we are hearing the report from New Brunswick Theological Seminary
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The General Synod just heard from 3 VP candidates. Voting will happen this evening.
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The General Synod is now viewing a video presentation from Western Theological Seminary
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The General Synod is now reading the names of all ministers who have passed away in 2023.
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The amendment to increase next year's theological education funding fails. Back to $207,500 in the main motion.
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The General Synod voted 97/79 to deny the overture, and not extend the Graceful Separation deadline of June 1 2026
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After more fun with Robert's Rules, the General Synod votes to extend the Graceful Separation deadline to June 1, 2028.
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The revote loses 67/106. There is a new motion on the floor to extend the Graceful Separation deadline from June 1 2026 to June 1 2031.
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The Reformed Church General Synod has elected Joshua Scheid as the President-Elect for General Synod 2025.
He is addressing us now.
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The motion to reconsider passes. So we are back to considering the original motion to DENY the overture to extend the deadline for Graceful Separation.
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Now we are receiving the final General Synod Council report for this Synod.
First up is a resolution recognizing ministers who retired in the last year.
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The Reformed Church in America General Synod is about to start our final plenary session. Election of a Vice-President for next year's General Synod and some recognitions.
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The first ballot has been voted for the next General Synod Vice-President. They are being counted.
We are now working through the Church Order Editorial Report, where we fix minor issues in the resolutions passed.
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After a coffee break, we have a motion to Reconsider the last motion because it was so close and people stated they were confused.
The prior motion was to DENY the motion that would extend the deadline for Graceful Separation
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The Finance report proposes a Covenant Shares rate of 2.5%, with $207.5K for theological education and $30K for future General Synod special initiatives.
There is an amendment in progress to increase the money for theological education to 10% of the budget, which is about $300K.
There is debate on both sides.
#RCASynod

The General Synod is now hearing the report of the Ministerial Formation Certification Agency.
This agency handles the Approved Alternate Route for those without an MDiv to be ordained as a minister. It also handles the Reformed Candidates Supervision and Care process for RCA candidates attending a non-RCA seminary.
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The amendment to add "sexual orientation" fails 16/about 160.
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The General Synod is now hearing from the Commission on Christian Unity.
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The amendment to require Heidelberg Catechism and Belhar Confession passed.
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Now we are considering appropriate training for all classic enrolled ministers to have adequate training to work in their particular location.
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A gay man who is a corresponding delegate speaks against the amendment. He says that adding "sexual orientation" is a good idea, but this is not the time.
#RCASynod #RCA #GS2024

Now considering an amendment to change "class" to "economic class".
One person spoke against it, mentioning Indian (Asia) specifically and class issues in that community.
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A number of delegates speak against the amendment because taking up sexual orientation at this time will damage the fledgling unity in this denomination that has already lost 1/2 of it's membership over this issue.
#RCASynod #RCA

First upstate NY speaker (that guy) speaks against the amendment because he does not like that the confessions are of unequal weight.
He's veiling watering down the place of Belhar with an argument about the future. (My opinion)
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This has been amended to adjust the prior paragraph to allow a newly-ordained minister to be mentored. The change allows the new minister to be involved in choosing the mentor.
My opinion - it's kind of off the edge of the main motion. But it's part of the motion now.
#RCASynod #RCA …

General Synod voting delegates have entered a nominating ballot for Vice-President. The Vice-President is normally elected President at the following General Synod.
The GS will hear from anyone nominated with at least 10 votes tomorrow afternoon, and will vote tomorrow evening.
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The General Synod is now hearing from Ecumenical Delegates from:
- World Communion of Reformed Churches
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America
- National Council of Churches
- Christian Reformed Church in North America
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- United Church of Christ
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General Synod is hearing the report from the Commission on Church Order
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The General Synod of the Reformed Church in America is back in session until about 9pm MST/PDT. #RCASynod

General Synod annual meeting

General Synod is now considering a motion to have a team study Spiritual Abuse, with a first report to the 2025 GS, and a second report to 2026 GS
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General Synod is now hearing the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnicity.
This follows the fabulous anti-racism training that we received at our first session Thursday.
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The Reformed Church General Synod has been hearing various committee reports, with few votes meaningful outside of the denomination.
We are now talking about a statement from the General Synod on Peace in the Middle East
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The General Synod disapproved a motion to reduce the Covenant Shares (ie. % of congregational income in the classis/middle assembly) from 2.7% now to 2.0% with a goal of 1.75%.
That affects General Synod budget. Which affects staff.
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There is a bat in the General Synod meeting!
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The amendment to the renaming to add the other levels fails 29-151.
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General Synod is now receiving a report from RCA Board of Benefits Services
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The amendment passes. We return to the main motion regarding equity in ordination
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Note - the microphones are being automatically cut off when the speaker's time ends.
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General Synod is hearing the report from Global Mission and hearing from 50-year missionaries.
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General Synod is back in session. We are receiving the report of the outgoing President Judy Nelson.
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An amendment to the rename - to rename "Consistory" and "General Synod" during the 2026 General Synod.
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The General Synod is taking some sabbath time today. Sunday worship starts in 10 minutes and will be broadcast at #RCASynod

General Synod annual meeting

The General Synod motion to work towards allowing Deacons to serve on Middle Assemblies fails by 2 votes out of 180.
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The General Synod is now considering a motion to move towards allowing Deacons to serve as delegates to the Middle Assembly.
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Reformed Church in America General Synod is about to start considering action on the big thing - Restructuring the denomination.
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General Synod annual meeting

That motion has passed. And that completes today's report from the General Synod Council.
Next is the report of the Commission for Women.
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The General Synod is considering motions from the General Synod Council. These are mostly routine. I will post anything unexpected that happens.
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Others are speaking against 2027 because of urgency. There are churches in progress and a delay may cause loss of them entirely or to another denomination.
#RCASynod #RCA #GS2024

The General Synod approved a motion to allow an elder to Supervise a church that has no installed minister.
An amendment to tighten some things failed.
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The General Synod is considering changing from annual in-person General Synod meetings, to every 3rd annual meeting in-person and the intervening two meetings online.
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The amendment for the Global Churches task force deadline being moved to 2027 failed. A new amendment is up for a preliminary report in 2025 and recommendations in 2026.
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Last night the General Synod approved planning for an in-person General Synod every 3rd year with online meetings the other two years.
Sorry I’m late but we were all a little batty at that point and just wanted to sleep.
#RCASynod #RCA

We are now considering creating a team to figure out how to ensure that the new judicial structure is diverse.
The first speaker from NC goes full white guy talking about color blindness, as if we hadn't just had anti-racism training yesterday.
#RCASynod #RCA

Now considering an overture from the International Classis of Texas to modify the last item passed to use smaller numbers to choose delegates. The committee recommendation is to deny the overture. It's a "Yes means No" situation.
The overture is denied.
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The General Synod is discussing a recommendation to form a task force to study issues related to RCA churches being formed outside of the US and Canada.
This is in light of churches of the RCA being formed in Venezuela (9), Chile (1), Dominican Republic (1).
#RCASynod #RCA

Reformed Church in America General Synod morning worship begins soon.
#RCASynod #RCA …

General Synod annual meeting

An amendment is on the floor to move the due date of the Task Force report from 2025 to 2027. A number of people are speaking for and against the change. Notably, a corresponding delegate from the Commission on Theology is worried about too many task forces being created for the same period.
#RCASynod #RCA

General Synod is now continuing the Restructuring Team report. We are considering an amendment to allow flexibility in ordination for candidates from international locations that have different standards.
In short, some countries and seminaries outside the US and Canada don't have an MDiv degree.
#RCASynod

We are now considering a motion to ask a team to look at the size of General Synod commissions with an eye towards reducing them.
An amendment is under discussion to moderate the language to "reduce" instead recommending "adjust". And also allowing at least one in-person meeting per year per commission.
#RCASynod

Reformed Church in America is holding the General Synod Opening Worship in 5 minutes.
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General Synod annual meeting

For those polity wonks out there interested in the RCA's proposed Judicial setup, watch this video:
#RCASynod

The General Synod will be breaking up into Clarifying Discussion Groups of 14-16 people for 90 minutes.
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Side note - The General Synod Plenary room is really cold. LIke mid-60's F, while it's 93F outside headed for 101.
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"We unapologetically embrace our women pastors."
We celebrated 50 years of women's ordination at last year's General Synod.
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Rev. Aleman believes that the first half of the decade has been very difficult. He feels that the second half will be wonderful.
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"I believe that the Book of Acts is not complete. ... The Book of Acts should not finish in chapter 28. ... I believe that God is calling us to write the next edition. Acts 2.0"
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The Reformed Church in America General Synod starts work today on restructuring the denomination. The big votes will probably happen Saturday morning. We also have some routine business this afternoon.
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The Restruction Report Begins
You can watch at #RCASynod #RCA

General Synod annual meeting

The Restructuring Team final report is available here:
#RCASynod

Restructuring Team Final Report

The General Synod considered, slightly amended, and approved a statement to add a statement to the Book of Church Order that non-church ministries of the classis/middle assembly reflect the racial-ethnic and socio-economic diversity of the area. The amendment replaced "To the extent possible" with "the classis shall strive" because the former phrase has often been used to avoid action.
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RCA General Synod begins Plenary now.
#RCASynod #RCA #GS2024 #Tuscon

We are now receiving New Business. 1/x
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Dinner next. Opening worship will be at 7:30 MST.
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The General Synod is now receiving Anti-Racism Training
#RCASynod #RCA #GS2024 #Tuscon

This morning the General Synod will start with a 30 minute worship service at 8:00am MST (PDT).
#RCASynod #RCA #GS2024 #Tuscon

General Synod annual meeting