Should We Leave the RCA? (Part 2)

By Kevin Van Wyk
This is a major question we face for the immediate future, and what I will address here. If you missed part one, check it out in the July AMEN. However, I want you to remember this is not the only major issue we face... how will we reach our neighbors with the love of Jesus? How will we more effectively develop our members to be deployed as Christ-like leaders? 
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In part one of this series, I mentioned some steps our consistory was challenged to take. In that effort, they have appointed a task force.
The members of the Alto 2020 Task Force include Bill Bruins, Randy Bresser, Jane Chené, Ron Daane, Bridgette Flier, Cory Kok, Gloria Mulder, Jalen Peters, Lillian Schouten, Barb Schroeder, Carl VanderKooi, Burt Wiersema, Sarah Zeatlow (and Pastor Kevin as ex officio member).
The consistory has given the group the following four tasks.

1. Determine and articulate our “must haves” (non-disputables) in a denomination.
2. Articulate where we disagree with the RCA.
3. Influence the RCA to make appropriate changes.
4. Develop a contingency plan for leaving the RCA.

 
The Task Force has now met twice and taken several steps forward. First, we have articulated 13 issues to research, discuss, and address. The issues are... 

1. Discipline: The RCA polity and rules do not allow discipline of heretical classes.
2. Formula of Agreement
3. World Council of Churches
4. The Joint Declaration on Justification
5. Seminaries: A. Western & B. New Brunswick
6. Colleges: Central, Hope, Northwestern
7. Women in Leadership: Egalitarian, Complementarian, or “a disputable issue”
8. Bureaucracy: RCA polity has too many rules and regulations, which prevent and slow action.
9. Belhar Confession
10. Assessments: The amount, How we are assessed, Where it goes… 
11. RCA Statements on Contemporary Issues: https://www.rca.org/Positions
12. Sexuality stance and beliefs... The Great Lake Confession
13. Reformed Theology. Biblical Authority. Our Statement of Faith, RCA Confessions, and Creeds

 
Second, we outlined why being a part of a denomination is valuable.  The discussion points included...

1. As a group you can do more.
2. When trials come with pastors, the classis is there to help, stand beside us. 
3. Meeting Christians from other areas gives broader and different perspectives.
4. It’s dangerous to think we are in power with no accountability. 
5. A confessional church stands together.
6. We should pursue Jesus’ desire for unity (John 17) and not let individualistic culture rule. 
7. We do need by-laws to guide decisions and have policies.
8. For pastoral support and networking.
9. It’s not a union for pastors to get big pensions.

 
Third, we discussed issue #13. Particularly, we reviewed reformed theology and our Statement of Faith, which you can read here https://www.altoreformedchurch.org/our-beliefs.html. While there was desire to add some clarity to a couple points, we affirmed the statement. This will lay a foundation for all the other issues.
 
Finally, we determined a timeline for our work. We plan to meet twice a month in order to work through the issues above by our Spring Classis meeting. This way we will speak into the RCA’s 2020 Vision Team early on in their work and potentially send overtures to the Classis for the 2019 General Synod. From that point, we will continue to speak into the RCA and begin to develop a contingency plan.
 
During this time of uncertainty, I urge you to continue to…
 
            Pray: to seek God and beg him to work in powerful ways
            Trust: to rest in God’s power and wisdom
            Focus: to be about our mission to reach the lost
            Love: to graciously deal with others
 
God is at work in all this and I look forward to seeing what he will do.