Burlington, ON – The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Christian Reformed Church met on Feb. 26 and 27, 2009 at the CRC’s denominational offices in Burlington, Ontario.
At this meeting the Board:
- Approved a series of recommendations aimed at bolstering support for the CRC’s ministry-share system, including recommending that synod:
- affirm ministry shares as an effective means for carrying out ministry together;
- instruct the Executive Director to encourage and educate churches about ministry shares and develop a plan by which new and emerging churches can participate more actively;
- make funding available from ministry-share receipts to help promote the ministry-share system;
- affirm the current system of basing ministry shares on membership, but revise the definition of membership to include only active, adult members;
- encourage churches to use the recommended contribution amount as a starting point in evaluating their ability to participate;
- ask churches to complete a ministry-share participation form each year to assist in evaluating the system.
- Heard that the denomination is feeling the effects of the current economic crunch, with the result that it faces a potential shortfall of about $6 million in anticipated revenue for the current fiscal year, ending June 30. Denominational staff has trimmed budgets by about $2.5 million, leaving an expected deficit of about $3.5 million. The Board heard that while donations are continuing to come in relatively well, staff anticipates a further shortfall in 2009-2010 and is budgeting conservatively.
- Approved cuts in compensation for denominational staff as part of a series of measures intended to help the denomination to weather these financial challenges. The cost-saving measures include increasing the contribution employees pay toward health care and reducing the amount the CRC pays toward employee retirement savings (401k/RSP) plans. Ordained CRCNA employees who are part of the ministers’ pension plan will take a four percent reduction in salary in place of a pension reduction.
- Approved a proposal to invite seven CRC youth aged 18 to 25 to attend Synod 2009 as observers. Four of the young people will be picked from colleges within driving distance of Chicago, where the synod is being held (Redeemer, Trinity, and Calvin colleges, and Calvin Seminary), with an additional three to be nominated by BOT members.
- Voted to recommend to Synod 2009 that the following synod be held in the West Michigan area rather than Edmonton, Alberta. The Board heard that this would save about $70,000 in airfare for delegates, staff, and advisers. It also heard that The Kings University College did not build additional housing, as anticipated, with the result that there is insufficient accommodation available.
- Instructed staff to look into the implications of holding a biennial (every other year) synod, with a denominational conference in the alternating years, and to bring a proposal to the Board’s September 2009 meeting.
- Recommended that synod reappoint BOT members Rev. Kenneth D. Boonstra, Rev. Robert A. Lyzenga, Rev. John Rop, Jr., and Rev. Eleanor M. Rietkerk to a second three-year term on the Board.
- Ratified the appointment of Rev. Michael Bruinooge as interim director of a new resource center that is intended to build a stronger connection between local churches and denominational ministries and agencies. The center will respond to the needs of local churches and seek opportunities to engage them in collaborative ministry.
- Heard that the CRC Foundation Board has approved 10 grants for poverty-related projects from money raised by the Sea to Sea 2008 bicycle tour.
- Heard that $750,000 has been raised to date toward the $1 million needed in start-up funds for the Leadership Exchange, and the search for a director is underway. The purpose of the Exchange is to promote healthy leadership formation that embodies and deepens Christian values and practices in church and society.
- Recommended that Synod 2009 encourage classes to emphasize the importance of church visiting as a way of maintaining the spiritual health and vitality of congregations, and encourage the use of the “Guide for Conducting Church Visiting” (available online) as well as other resources available from the Office of Pastor-Church Relations.
- Recommended that synod encourage the use of newly-developed guidelines and other resources to help congregations and former pastors to maintain a healthy relationship in cases where the former pastor chooses to stay in the church where he or she has been serving.
- Asked synod to endorse a number of changes involving the Office of Abuse Prevention, including changing the name to the Safe Church Ministry. Other changes would create an advocate position to assist victims of abuse and regional advisory panels in the U.S. and Canada.
- Asked synod to urge congregations to pay special attention to the needs of veterans, persons serving in the military, and their families.
- Asked synod to encourage churches, classes, and educational institutions to help celebrate Disability Week October 12-18, 2009, with the theme “Everybody Belongs, Everybody Serves.”
- Recommended that synod approve India as a new ministry field for Back to God Ministries International, in cooperation with World Missions and other CRC agencies and ministries.
The Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet again on April 30 to May 1, 2009, in the denominational offices at Grand Rapids, Mich.
For more information, please contact:
Rev. Jerry Dykstra, Executive Director
Christian Reformed Church in North America
616-224-0832
executive-director
crcna [dot] org