Thursday, June 4, 2009

Gathering Together

Anticipating General Synod 2009, 1 Cor. 12:12 springs to mind: "For just as the body is one and has many members, all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."

My name is Lee DeYoung. My home congregation is Hager Park Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan where I've been a member since 1982. It's my privilege to serve on the leadership team of South Grand Rapids Classis and to represent SGR as an elder delegate to General Synod. As part of my staff responsibilities with Words of Hope (an RCA-supported media ministry which began in 1945), I have attended all but one of the General Synods since 1985. I appreciate the personal interactions as well as the chance to observe these annual milestones in our denominational life. This year represents my fifth opportunity to participate as a voting delegate.

I trust that 1 Cor. 12:12 resonates for every participant who is gathering in Holland for the next few days. Its meaning deepens for me through the experience of meeting and interacting with literally hundreds of fellow RCA members who assemble in one place at one time from every classis, regional synod, council, commission, as well as from some of our global mission fields.

Having just returned this week from a 20-day journey to Africa (Sudan and Uganda), I am looking forward to further consideration of the Belhar as well as the many significant challenges before us as the Body of Christ. Many are very similar to those faced by fellow-believers in other denominations and cultures. As members, we differ in many respects and yet are called to work together as one. That's never been easy (extending all the way back to Paul's time). But it's our calling and responsibility. May we prayerfully seek the Spirit's leading and equipping to faithfully accomplish this!

1 comment:

  1. We greet you in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord of his Church and pray his wisdom upon your deliberations and search. From Southern Africa we are looking forward to the deliberations on many issues, in particular the discussion of the Belhar Confession. May, in faith we find each other on this journey, being en embodiment of hope to the world.

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