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Recent CRC Study Committee Efforts on Same Sex Marriage and Same Sex Attraction

At Synod 2011 Classis Grand Rapids East overtured Synod to found a new study committee to take another look at the 1973 report on Homosexuality. While some in the church hoped this would open things up to new practice in the CRC on this subject many more feared it would cause more division and melee. What came out this was the launch of the Pastoral Guidance  . Reflecting the mood of the majority of the CRC and the will of Synod this team was kept within the boundaries of the 73 report. Here was its mandate.

• Address questions on same-sex marriage, including but not limited to those in Overtures 12 and 13.
• Identify and guide the churches, members, and clergy regarding the ramifications of the legal, ethical, and spiritual issues that they face
• Identify resources and best practices that will facilitate ministry and directly communicate them to the churches
• Follow the shepherding model used by the synodical Faith Formation Committee (Minutes of Synod 2013, Article 69)

In the words of a friend the effort resulted in an elegant failure. The committee itself could not produce a unified report and so far judging from the overtures to Synod and other responses it has divided the church and the conversation more than unified it.

In response to this there are again new calls for yet another Synodical Study Committee. I am pessimistic that this path will produce the kind of fruit we want and need.

Weaknesses of the Synodical Study Committee Format for this Conflict Continue reading →