Final Sessions

This morning's General Synod session was intense and draining as the delegates sought to forge a comprehensive communications strategy for the RCA. The advisory committee's six recommendations were extensively debated in three parts. The first narrowly rejected (after an initial one-vote plurality), a recommended two-year independent study of denominational communications. The second part was a bundled group of three recommendations concerning the future direction for the RCA Today magazine. An amendment was approved which instructed the GSC to consult with the Church Herald Editorial Council in the near to mid-term future. A third part was a bundle of two recommendations to effectively terminate the Church Herald's ministry. In apparent contradiction of the earlier amended bundle, the General Synod approved the third bundle which means that the Church Herald will almost certainly cease publication by the end of 2009.

In this delegate's opinion, the process which produced this result was (in retrospect) awkward and difficult. The final result is painful and might have been avoidable. But, nevertheless, the Lord is sovereign and His will be done.

Thanks to all who've prayed during this General Synod!