Reflections on Our Walk Newsfeed

A Meaningful Start to Holy Week

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:42:34 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

Sharon Watkins, general minister and president of the Disciples of Christ, said it best when she gave the closing prayer. "Where two or three are gathered in his name, our Lord is in the midst of us. We've had a moving church service."

The second White House Easter Prayer Breakfast--the president labeled it the "annual" Easter Prayer Breakfast--was a moving religious service with fellow Christians at the beginning of Holy Week. At least 130 guests gathered at assigned seats in the East Room of the White House.

Read more.

Journey to Jerusalem

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:55:18 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

It was Passover, one of the three main times of pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Jews from throughout the country would come to Jerusalem to remember and celebrate their journey from the oppression of Pharaoh to the freedom of the Promised Land.

They remembered that their God freed them from bondage. They had to be ready and alert to respond to God's saving acts, and to join in the movement of liberation.

The population of Jerusalem at the time was about 50,000, but during the Passover celebration, it would swell to about 200,000.

These were days filled with drama, expectation, and hope.

The liberation of Passover was not just a distant memory. It was also a present hope.

Read more.

Reflections from Two Days in D.C.

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:27:00 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

I met on Monday and Tuesday in Washington, D.C. with a group of treasured friends and colleagues in a time of private discussion, sharing, and prayer about our witness as a Christians in our present time. Some of those gathering were Jim Wallis, who was our convener, Ron Sider, Tony Compolo, Brian McLaren, Sharon Watkins, Diana Butler Bass, Joel Hunter, Rich Nathan and Adam Taylor, We first meet about two years ago after the election of President Obama, and some of us have participated in regular conference calls through the year considering a Christian voice on pressing issues like climate change, immigration and domestic poverty. The group also formulated a "Civility Covenant" that pledged and appealed for a change in the rancorous, spiteful nature of public and political discourse.

We're an informal group, but value highly our fellowship with each other. And our main task is that of discernment. Just what is asked of those who strive to be faithful Christians in our current political and economic landscape? What is the word that needs to be heard? Who will listen? And, perhaps most important, how do we seek to grasp what God is up to in our time? In all the political cacophony that fills public space, how to we speak and act in ways we feel model what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus?

Read more.

Sharing Concerns and Prayers with President Obama

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:44:14 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

It's been a decade since the leadership of the National Council of Churches has met with a president in the White House. George W. Bush never invited them, and today's meeting with President Obama was a first for him, several months in the making. About 17 of us who serve as leaders of denominations belonging to the NCC, along with current NCC president Peg Chemberlin and general secretary Michael Kinnamon, comprised the group that made its way into Roosevelt Room of the White House for a 1:30 p.m. appointment with President Barack Obama.

That morning I had been spending time in my hotel room gathering thoughts and praying. I was reflecting on the terrible state of political discourse in the country, realizing that whatever the results of the midterm elections tomorrow, the president would have to deal with a political climate poisoned by ugly rancor, angry attacks, and even hateful judgments. I came across these verses in James 3:16-18: "For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace."

That resonated with me.

Read more.

The Great Divide

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:07:22 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

Yesterday I preached at Second Reformed Church in Zeeland, Michigan, and thought a broader audience would appreciate these thoughts on poverty. The Scripture is from Luke 16:19-31.

Last week's New York Times had a front page story which began as follows:

The percentage of Americans struggling below the poverty line in 2009 was the highest it has been for 15 years, the Census Bureau reported...Further, that increase is continuing in this year.

Today in the U.S. 43.6 million people live in households in which the income is below the poverty level ($22,000 a year for a family of four). In terms of sheer numbers, that's more than at any time in our past 51 years. This means one of every seven people in the United States lives in poverty.

And children suffer disproportionately. Now one in five children lives in poverty.

The poor in our midst are growing. It's a disgrace. The Bible's critique is harsher: it's a social sin.

Why do I begin this sermon with these depressing statistics on poverty? Why start here on this Sunday morning?

Read more.

A Different Christian World

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:15:46 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

One thousand Pentecostal leaders from 74 countries arrived in Stockholm for the twenty-second World Pentecostal Conference from August 24 to 27, 2010. I was privileged to be present, having been invited by the president of the Pentecostal World Fellowship, Bishop James Leggett, in order to strengthen links within the Global Christian Forum. Bishop Leggett and I have worked closely together through our work with Christian Churches Together in the USA, where we both serve as presidents of our respective denominational families, and we've served together on the steering committee for the Global Christian Forum.

Why Stockholm? It turns out that the Pentecostal churches in Sweden are alive and growing--all 450 of them. Filadelfia Church in Stockholm, which is perhaps the most famous of Sweden's Pentecostal churches, hosted the conference. This church played a vital role in the beginning of the Pentecostal movement in Sweden in the early 1900s and still has a thriving ministry today. Its sanctuary barely held the 1,000 official participants plus hundreds of local Christians who attended the evening sessions.

Read more.

An important announcement from Wes Granberg-Michaelson

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:00:25 GMT

Dear friends,

After much discernment and prayer, it has become clear to me that I should conclude my service as general secretary in the coming year. To facilitate a smooth transition, I expect to serve until the fall of 2011, following the approval of a new general secretary at our next General Synod.

My service as general secretary of the Reformed Church in America, which began in 1994, has been rooted in a strong experience of God's calling. Now I believe that I have completed the particular contributions I was called by God to make in the life of the RCA.

Read more and leave a comment.

Reflections on the WCRC Uniting General Council

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:27:55 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

The plenary sessions of the first meeting of the World Communion of Reformed Churches last week were jam-packed. We heard reports from nine different "sections," large committees that worked on specific issues like economic justice, mission, worship, etc. The section reports were translated into four languages and brought to the plenary. It seemed that there was way too much business for the time available. Further, delegates came wanting to make a contribution and be heard, but sometimes what happened was that reports were essentially edited on the floor by the whole group of about 300, and that never goes smoothly. For example, we debated whether or not to put the word "confession" into quotation marks.

Worship has been a highlight of this meeting, at least for me. It was well-framed and grounded, and filled with the creativity of voices, prayers, and music from around the world. Each morning, worship has enlivened me along with the rest of the body. I would suppose this helps the delegates get through the more tedious and confusing parts of the plenary sessions.

Read more and add a comment.

Formally Accepting the Belhar Confession

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:55:00 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

It was 1995, and the RCA General Synod was meeting in Mahwah, New Jersey. I had only begun as general secretary at the previous synod, so much was new. Representatives from the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa met with us--Leonardo Appies and James Buys. I had known Leonardo from my time with the World Council of Churches, and seeing him at Mahwah was an unexpected reunion. He and James presented the Belhar Confession formally to the General Synod. They termed it their gift to us, and challenged us to study, reflect, and determine what it would mean for the RCA.

In the fifteen years since then, throughout my time as general secretary, we've done so. It's been a remarkable process. Yesterday concluded that time.

Read more.

Arriving in Northwest Iowa

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:23:01 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

My father-in-law, Lars Granberg, told me years ago that the RCA folks in Northwest Iowa are such generous, faithful people. "If you win their trust," he told me, "they will open their hearts." He served as president of Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. In my years with the RCA, I've found that to be true. There's a disposition of faithfulness to the RCA in this part of the country that is a gift. Of course, similar comments can be said about other places, but here it feels like the desire to be supportive of the RCA has roots in the rich, dark soil that nourishes the farming economy.

At the Sioux Falls airport, RCA volunteers were on hand and well organized, and three of us went directly from the baggage carousel to a waiting van. The driver, Marv, made his career in computer software; he had lived and worked in North Carolina, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Denver, but retired six years ago to Orange City with his wife of nearly 50 years.

Read more and leave a comment.

Post-Easter Breakfast at the White House

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:59:55 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

About 80 Christian leaders from across the country gathered for a breakfast on Tuesday morning, April 6, to celebrate Easter with President Obama. As I went through security with Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, and Sharon Watkins, president of the Disciples of Christ, Joel Osteen and his wife were ahead of us. Three of the White House police force stopped him separately and asked if they could have their picture taken with him on their cell phone.

Many good friends were there, from across the range of denominations and religious organizations. A string quartet played in the reception area, and then we were ushered into the East Room of the White House by about 8:30 for a buffet breakfast. We were all assigned seats at tables; with me was Dan Meijer, head of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps; Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley, who works at the State Department with Hillary Clinton on partnerships with nonprofit and religious groups; Gary Locke, former governor of Washington and current secretary of commerce; and William Shaw, past president of the National Baptist Convention (USA). Many of the leaders from Christian Churches Together, such as Stephen Thurston and David Beckman, president of Bread for the World, were there.

At 9:15 all the press arrived in the back of the room, with cameras and lights. By 9:30 the president joined us. He greeted us as "brothers and sisters in Christ," and reflected on the joy of celebrating the resurrection together. We're all mindful of our failures, he said, but our redemption is in Jesus Christ. That's what gives us hope. He then reflected on the words of Christ from the cross, in the Gospel of John, "Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit." He said that this should also be our own prayer. He concluded with a reference to Micah 6:8, and to the power of the hope of the resurrection.

Clearly, the president felt at home. These were not formal words, but personal ones. Cynthia Hale, senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Georgia, followed with a prayer, and then gospel singer Wintley Phipps provided a moving rendition of Amazing Grace, followed by comments by a Catholic sister and a young children's choir singing "Jesus Loves Me," "Jesus Loves the Little Children," "He's Got the Whole World" and "This Little Light of Mine." Sharon Watkins provided a brief, moving meditation on the meaning of the resurrection and its power, and Bill Hybels gave the closing prayer, with comments about the local church being the hope of the world. President Obama responded, underscoring again much of what had been shared about the meaning of Easter, and thanking and encouraging those present for their ministry.

The president then took the time to go table by table, meeting those who had been invited, and having pictures taken. I reminded him that my nephew's wife, Sarah Michaelson, had been Malia's teacher in Chicago--and the president remembered this from our meeting at the National Prayer Service after the Inauguration. He was warm, personal, and relaxed with all whom he met.

It was a wonderful morning. After breakfast, I had a conversation with Barbara Williams Skinner (who spoke to our General Synod last year). She commented on how comfortable, and how grateful, the President was during this time. His genuine faith is a source of support and strength. It was a joy to be part of the post-Easter celebration--certainly one of the most unique I've ever experienced.

Comment on this post here.

Covenant with the Colleges

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:34:00 GMT

(from Wes Granberg-Michaelson)

The Reformed Church in America has three colleges--Hope College in Holland, Michigan; Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa; and Central College in Pella, Iowa. We've worked hard over the years to clarify the relationship between the colleges and the RCA. A Reformed understanding provides a very helpful and healthy framework. We recognize that all truth is God's truth. The world and the Word do not exist in separate, isolated spheres, but are in relation with one another and integrated together.

On Monday I was in Pella, Iowa, meeting with the presidents of our three colleges, David Roe from Central, Greg Christy from Northwestern, and Jim Bultman from Hope. (Jim joined us over Skype as he could not make the trip.) Since 2004, in response to an action of the General Synod, we've been meeting together annually to deepen our relationships. We've also been reviewing the covenant between the colleges and the RCA. The original covenant was drawn up in 1971 and expresses the responsibilities and expectations the denomination has for our colleges, and vice versa.

Mark Putnum, who will be the new president at Central College as of July 1, also joined us. Meeting and working with him was a real joy. We spent time reviewing the history of the RCA and the movements which led to the establishment of our colleges. I shared the RCA's present commitments through Our Call as well as our ecumenical engagements. I also showed a video on Christian Churches Together.

The concern of all three colleges is that the percentage of RCA students has been continually decreasing. We're trying hard to find ways to reverse this trend. We also discussed strategies for recruiting and retaining student of color in order to deepen the racial diversity at our three colleges. This meeting, held just two days before a meeting of the RCA's Multiracial Strategy Coalition, provided fresh input into this challenge, which was welcomed by the college presidents.

The meeting deepened our partnership. We approved a redrafting of the covenant between the RCA and its colleges, which will go before this year's General Synod. We will seek practical ways for the relationship between the colleges--which each have particular cultures and callings--and the RCA to mutually strengthen our missional calling.

I also had time to have dinner in Pella with area RCA pastors and breakfast in Des Moines with Tony Vis, Jill Ver Steeg, and three other RCA pastors. One pastor who spoke of his seven-year journey of taking a wounded, damaged congregation and patiently loving it back to life and outward witness. Another pastor has witnessed a remarkable turnaround--a congregation ready to die now has more than 300 attending worship. Three other stories of church plants in the region, all of which are solidly established, were inspiring to hear. Meredith Drive Reformed Church--where Tony and Jill pastor--now holds two services on each of its two campuses.

A common theme in the pastors' stories is that even though missional change can be messy, the desire to trust God's grace to find the ways forward is stronger. I don't know of anything more heartening in my work than listening to stories like these. Praise God!

Thoughts on Our Multiracial Future

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:50:41 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

The RCA is committed to a "multiracial future freed from racism." The 2008 General Synod added this as a key dimension of the 10-year initiative named Our Call. However, words are one thing. Actions are another.

This past weekend I met with a group called the Multiracial Strategy Coalition in Chicago, Illinois. This team is made up of 27 gifted people who serve in various roles of ministry and leadership in the RCA. These people are committed to making sure that our denomination's actions mirror its words. Earl James, the RCA's coordinator of multiracial initiatives and social justice, facilitated this gathering, just as he did for the first strategy meeting last year.

The team has developed nine specific goal areas over the past year. In each case, we have outlined strategies to help us move toward the multiracial future God desires. We reviewed all nine goal areas, provided fresh ideas, and added a tenth goal that deals specifically with the development of pastoral leadership from non-Anglo communities. You can view the PowerPoint presentation outlining the nine goal areas here.

What moved me most, however, were the testimonies from two participants who said they had been thinking about leaving the RCA. They now have been inspired to stay and give their gifts in ministry because of our commitment to a multiracial future freed from racism and the integrity behind that commitment.

Our commitment to follow Christ in mission is reshaping our future as a denomination. It's inspiring to see folks who are drawn to the RCA precisely because they see God's Spirit working in such evident ways, demonstrating the power of the gospel to overcome the sin of racism and create unity.

That's also clear in the appeal of the Belhar Confession. Pastors of new church starts that are directed toward younger generations have told me how crucial the Belhar is in demonstrating the integrity of the RCA's commitment to justice and reconciliation. A younger generation looks to find consistency between word and deed. Further, seminarians often see in the Belhar a source of inspiration undergirding their commitment to serve in the RCA. In a straw vote, students who participated in last year's seminarian seminar at General Synod voted unanimously in favor of adopting the Belhar.

These days in Chicago underscored again for me the critical importance of the decision that is being made during the next few weeks by classis votes across the RCA. Two thirds of our classes--31--need to vote in favor of adopting the Belhar to uphold the action taken by last year's General Synod. In my view, adoption of the Belhar will speak powerfully to our future and to the hopes and heartfelt biblical commitments of a younger generation whose ministry and witness will carry us into our multiracial future.

Does Geography Matter?

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:23:19 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

I just returned from a consultation on the "boundaries of classis." The core question we dealt with was whether classes should be formed only on the basis of geographical boundaries. I can imagine the response of someone uninterested or unfamiliar with the process of governance in the RCA. Who cares? Why do you need a high-level meeting to talk about something like that?

After the first sessions of the consultation, I had dinner with my daughter. She's a 25-year-old who is knowledgeable about the RCA. Like most of her peers, she interacts frequently in the ever-changing world of electronic communication. It took considerable effort to explain to her why this conversation was necessary, important, and relevant, at least for some.

Read more.

Strengthening the Preparation of Pastors in the RCA

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:05:16 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

For the last four days, I've been in Phoenix, Arizona, meeting with leaders and representatives from 24 of the RCA's 46 classes, focusing attention on how to strengthen our overall system of preparing those who are called by God into ordained pastoral ministry in the RCA. Our system is complex; those who hear a call to ministry go through seminary studies, but they also go through a process of care and assessment by a classis. This dual track approach is designed to see that ministerial formation and ordination happen both through preparation in a seminary and through the experience and wisdom of a classis.

However, there is a wide variety in the approaches, level of accountability, and experiences provided by different classes. Each person preparing for ordained ministry in the RCA is taken under the care of a classis. This process includes support, guidance, and an examination process to judge the person's calling, character, and competence for ministry in the RCA.

Read more.

CCT in the "None Zone"

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:41:00 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

Christian Churches Together (CCT) held its annual meeting last week in the Pacific Northwest, where delegates explored evangelism. When research groups explore religious attitudes in the U.S., the Pacific Northwest region has the highest percentage in the country of people who answer "none"--about 63 percent. For this reason, it's been dubbed "the None Zone." What better place to explore the contemporary challenges and understanding of evangelism?

This was the first time this young but growing organization has focused on evangelism. With participants from Catholic, historic Protestant, Orthodox, evangelical/Pentecostal, and historic black church backgrounds--the five "families" that make up CCT--this dialogue on evangelism was the richest I've experienced in so broad a gathering.

Read more.

The RCA's Response to the Haitian Disaster

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:33:00 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

The RCA has several direct connections to last week's disaster in Haiti. One of the most visible connections was the delegation of RCA leaders that was in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, when the earthquake struck.

RCA General Synod president James Seawood had traveled to the Dominican Republic earlier that week to share in ministry with the Iglesia Reformada Dominicana (IRD), the RCA's new partner in the Dominican. With him was his wife, Emra; Brigido Cabrera, director of Hispanic Ministries for the RCA; and Andres Serrano, an RCA pastor who has been instrumental in the RCA's partnership with the IRD. After preaching in IRD congregations in the Dominican, the group traveled to Port-au-Prince to visit churches there. They were in a Port-au-Prince church when the earthquake struck, and for several anxious hours the RCA had no communication with them. We found out later that they were protected and saved by a Haitian pastor--it is an amazing story. You can read James' account of the earthquake here.

Building Bridges of Unity in the Body of Christ

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:14:07 GMT

By Wes Granberg-Michaelson

I've just returned from the Global Christian Forum (GCF) committee meeting in London. This committee is made up of 22 people who believe deeply in the calling to Christian unity.

The vision that has guided the GCF is simple yet compelling: to create a place of fellowship that brings together all the main streams of Christianity in the world in order to strengthen our common witness and mission. Those who have followed its progress will remember the historic gathering in Limuru, Kenya, two years ago; this gathering seemingly brought together the widest range of Christian leaders from around the globe in modern times. John Ornee, the RCA's 2007 General Synod president, and I were two of the 225 people who came together in Limuru. A book about that gathering, Revisioning Christian Unity, was recently published.

I've been captivated by the vision of the GCF for the past decade, and I've been close to its process from the beginning. For the past three to four years I've served as the official representative from the World Council of Churches to the Global Christian Forum committee. This is the ecumenical initiative that I am most passionate about; I believe it holds incredible promise for the future. I'm trying more and more to focus the time I spend as the chief ecumenical officer of the RCA (about 20 percent of my time) on work to strengthen the mission of the GCF.

Read more.

My Classis Meeting

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:39:00 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

I was ordained as a minister of Word and sacrament in the RCA by the Classis of Holland in 1984 as a specialized minister. My wife, Karin, and I had begun the New Creation Institute in Missoula, Montana, and we were also working as consultants to the U.S. Board supporting the Christian Medical College and Hospital in Vellore, India, the fruit of historic RCA mission. I transferred my classis membership to the Classis of Cascades, nearest to where our ministry was taking place, and have remained a member ever since, including the six years that I lived in Geneva, Switzerland.

Denominational staff may maintain their membership in their original classis since their ministry takes place throughout North America, and for some, beyond North America. Regular attendance at my classis has been difficult, and sometimes I've thought of transferring, but I'm glad I haven't. The connections that have remained are meaningful. When I boarded the plane from Boise to Seattle with delegates from Twin Falls, we were also joined by Tom Katsma from Valley Life Community Church (RCA) in Boise. Some years ago, I attended the service when this congregation was officially organized as part of the RCA.

Read more.

One Congregation's Missional Engagement

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:30:38 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

Here's how I define the missional church: A missional church places its commitment to join in God's mission in the world at the heart of its life and identity. During my time with the Classis of Cascades, which included a visit to Twin Falls Reformed Church in Idaho, I kept returning to this definition, which challenges both larger and smaller congregations.

Twin Falls, Idaho, is in an RCA "fly over zone." It's not really on the way to someplace else, and you have to have a reason to go there. So Twin Falls Reformed Church can easily seem to be off the RCA's radar. The community of about 35,000 is next to a dramatic canyon formed by the Snake River, the first of several surprises I encountered there.

Read more.

Building a Missional Classis

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:30:24 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

Dakota Classis is being redesigned around its missional purpose. Similar efforts are underway elsewhere, including throughout the Synod of the Heartland. My visit provided an opportunity to see firsthand how this is working. For those in the RCA concerned about how our structures support (or don't support) the missional engagement of our congregations, I think there are lessons to be learned from what it going on in places like this.

The process here in Dakota has been going on for some time. Like several other classes in the region, the constitution and bylaws of the classis were examined and revised to reflect more clearly the mission and vision of the RCA, and the role of the classis in that calling. The committee structure was changed to reflect our commitments to church multiplication, congregational revitalization, and leadership.

Read more.

Family Churches or Faithful Congregations?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:01:32 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

I'm intrigued by the reactions of young RCA pastors like Steve Hayes and Dan Ebbens to being in ministry in rural South Dakota. Dan was raised on the south side of Chicago, and Steve grew up in a suburb in Ohio. Rural America was not in their backgrounds, but they seem to love it here. Steve told me that when he and his wife arrived at their parsonage a few months ago, the cupboards were stocked with food. When they opened their new freezer, it was stocked with meat--local and delicious. He and his wife were overwhelmed. "It's just the way they do things here," he told me.

Dan, Steve, Rod, and I sat in the living room of Lloyd and Margie Van Genderen. Both Lloyd and Margie were baptized at Aurora Reformed Church, and Lloyd has been farming here for 50 years. On August 8, a devastating hail storm with ferocious wind and hail larger than baseballs sliced through a swath of land that included the Van Genderen farm. Lloyd's corn crop--the most promising harvest in memory--was totally destroyed. We drove out to see what was left of his soybeans--hardly anything. And the hail took out the windows and siding on the west side of their home. Builders were repairing it as we visited.

Read more.

Two Steeples and 15 Homes in Fields of Corn

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:43:47 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

Harrison, South Dakota, provides a striking metaphor for the tangled century-and-a-half-long relationship between the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church. History matters. In 1882 First Reformed Church was established in Harrison by Dutch immigrants who had ventured west from Orange City, Iowa. This was the first RCA congregation in the Dakota region. Shortly thereafter, Harrison Christian Reformed Church was established about 150 yards to the south. Stories are told about early pastors instructing the children of their congregations not to relate to those from the "other" church.

In 1905, a railroad was built through the town of Corsica a few miles away, rather than Harrison, drawing commerce there. (Today, a sign near Corsica boasts that the town has "65 businesses," which take persistence to count.) Today Harrison is a collection of about 15 homes and no commercial enterprises in the middle of farmland, with the RCA church on the north and the CRC church on the south. On the clear day when we drove there, we saw the two steeples on the horizon, with trees and a few houses in between, surrounded by corn, soybeans, and some sheep.

Read more.

Dakota Voices

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:28:41 GMT

by Wes Granberg-Michaelson

As my plane was landing in Omaha, I overheard two voices talking about how this year’s corn harvest could be great, but there's so much rain that it’s been impossible to get a combine onto the fields to harvest it. In addition, the moisture content of the corn is way too high, about 30 percent--it needs to be more like 15 percent in order to get a reasonable price. I was already learning about the rural economy and the context for rural ministry. That's why I came to visit RCA rural churches in South Dakota.

Rod Veldhuizen, pastor of Riverview Reformed Church in Yankton, South Dakota, is my host. He asked me once at a General Synod if I would ever visit the remote, rural churches in South Dakota, and I told him I'd love to. He even invited me to go pheasant hunting. Although it's the season, my love of the outdoors has never migrated from a fly rod to a shotgun.

Read more.

Words from Wes: True Religion

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:24:31 GMT

Being in Galilee grounds the story of Jesus, and unlocks my imagination. It makes a difference, at least to me, to see the hills, rocks, water, pathways, and places where the Word became flesh. On top of mount Arbel, we looked out across the Sea of Galilee, and to the villages on its northwestern shore--Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Korazin--where so much of Jesus' ministry was concentrated. I thought of all that occurred in this small area that has echoed and been retold for centuries in every corner of the globe. Place matters. The concrete becomes universal.

The appearance of Jesus, after the resurrection, to the disciples on the beach, when they were fishing, is one of my favorite stories in all of Scripture. Our group sat by the rocky shore of the Sea of Galilee, not far from Capernaum, and read that account from John, which ends with Jesus' question and words to Peter, three times--"Do you love me?" "Feed my sheep." Then we had time just to walk, pray, and reflect. Those words felt real.

Read more.

Words from Wes: The Significance of Insignificant Places

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:59:27 GMT

We've all heard sermons--some of us have preached them--about the irony of Jesus being born in a humble stable. But being here in Bethlehem, especially after having been in Jerusalem, creates fresh insights. Bethlehem was a small village, and of little significance compared to Jerusalem, the center of religious, cultural, and economic life. The "stable," which was probably a cave in the lower level of a house, meant that the Word became flesh in an uncomfortable place in a marginal village. Jesus and his family owned neither the place where he was born nor the tomb where his body was laid.

The Church of the Nativity is a composite of Orthodox and Catholic churches built over the site thought to be the place of Jesus' birth. After visiting there, we went to see part of Bethlehem's present realities, the Dheisheh Refugee Camp. It's one of those refugee camps first established in 1948 for Palestinians who were driven from their villages and lands when the state of Israel was established. Names of those villages inscribed on olive wood hang from the ceiling of the social room where we met. Today the camp is a collection of crowded cinder-block homes in a labyrinth of narrow walkways. Unemployment is 75 percent. Walking through a narrow passageway, our host explained that when there are any difficulties from an individual in the camp, the Israelis will cut off the municipal flow of water to all of the 15,000 or so residents. I mentioned that such actions--punishing a population for the actions of a few individuals--are against international law, and he replied, "For us, there is no international law. It all is only words." Considering the illegal occupation that has continued for over four decades, there was little I could say in return. But I did think this: If Jesus was born in Bethlehem today, it would probably be in a refugee camp like this.

Read more.

Words from Wes: Pools of Healing, Signs of Hope

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:09:20 GMT

The pools of Bethsaida, which we read about in John 5, were close to the entrance of the temple. The lame, blind, sick, and disabled gathered there because they were not allowed into the temple. They waited for healing when the water was stirred. This is where Jesus went on his way to the temple, healing one of those who were kept outside the doors of this religious gathering. And this is where we began our day, reflecting on our prayers for healing, and wondering how well our churches look to those who remain on our margins, outside our doors.

Walking through the Old City and beyond, we made our way to a church thought to be where Caiaphas, the high priest, lived and first questioned Jesus when he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Seeing the geographical setting for the events of Good Friday and Easter allows the imagination to shape a picture of that time, rooting it in concrete reality. For me at least, it has changed how I will reflect on Holy Week.

Read more.

Words from Wes: Competing Faiths in Shared Space

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:27:08 GMT

Wes Granberg-Michaelson is currently accompanying RCA missionaries Marlin and Sally Vis on a journey through Israel/Palestine. Others on the trip include General Synod president James Seawood, General Synod vice president Don Poest, and Jerry Dykstra, executive director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

October 5, 2009

Sukkot is one of the three major Jewish festivals or times of religious celebration. It is tied to the harvest when the people of Israel were settling in the new land. "Booths," or simple covered structures, were set up in the fields for the worship of Israel's God (as opposed, I would assume, to other competing deities). This festival is celebrated for more than a week, and today communities of Orthodox Jews gathered at the Western Wall in the thousands for special prayers as part of this observance. We were able to join and watch.

But this time of festival also increases security measures. As we entered Herod's Gate into the Old City of Jerusalem, military check points were set up. Palestinian men under the age of 45 were not allowed into the Old City--even into the Muslim and Christian quarters--even if they had a job there. There are many who live outside the Old City but work inside. This is the kind of daily humiliation that occurs in countless ways as Israelis enforce their occupation. Both today and yesterday skirmishes broke out between the Israeli army and police and Palestinians; we saw one on CNN.

Jerusalem, more than any other city in the world, encompasses in one intertwined place the fervent, historically rooted expressions of three monotheistic faiths (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) combined with an intense political conflict. We witnessed this reality in surprising ways throughout the day.

Read more.

Walking Paths of Suffering

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:14:54 GMT

These are Wes's reflections from one day in Jerusalem.

The sun was just breaking the horizon as we walked through Herod's Gate into the Old City of Jerusalem. It was 5:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, and we were headed for the Via Dolorosa to walk the Stations of the Cross, following the way where it is thought that Jesus carried the cross from Pilate's palace to Golgotha. A liturgy prepared by a Palestinian Christian provided moving prayers that we recited at each of the 15 stations while those living among the shops and church buildings along these crowded, narrow streets were still barely awake.

Read more.

Celebrating Doug Fromm's Ministry and Virtual Staff Days

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:25:28 GMT

On Sunday, September 13, at Upper Ridgewood Community Church in Ridgewood, New Jersey, we celebrated Doug Fromm's 25 years of ministry there as well as his 45 years of ministry in the Reformed Church in America. Former members of the church came from around the country for a dinner on Saturday evening. Sunday morning the sanctuary was bursting as Doug delivered his last sermon, entitled "A Final Word." He urged those present never to take the Christian faith for granted in a culture that wants to trivialize religious practice. His successor, Nolan Palsma, was also present, and he and Doug presided together over communion. As the congregation came forward, members received the bread from Doug and the wine from Nolan. I've never seen a pastoral transition quite like this one.

Read more.

A Note to Readers of the Church Herald

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:06:00 GMT

Wes hoped that this reflection would appear in the final issue of the Church Herald, which was released last week. Since it did not, he wants to share the message through other communication tools. This reflection will also be printed in the fall 2009 issue of RCA Today.

During a family birthday party near Lake Michigan, I walked to the beach and ran into a woman in the RCA who lives in the same retirement complex as my in-laws. "I always read the Church Herald from cover to cover," she told me. "What am I going to do now?"

I'm sure that's a question many of you are asking.

Change is difficult, and few places are witnessing the dynamics of technological change more dramatically than the publishing world. Magazines and even leading newspapers struggle to stay viable, and many have closed. Meanwhile, a whole new world of electronic communication and social networking has exploded, changing everything from buying books to electing presidents.

The Reformed Church in America is navigating these rapid currents of change as we explore effective and open means of communication for our future.

Read more.

What Does a General Secretary Actually Do?

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:03:36 GMT

I often get asked that question. As an answer, here's what this last week looked like. It was a fairly typical week for me, if there is such a thing. Here's my week at a glance:

Monday, July 6
I had lunch with Peter Borgdorff, the former executive director of the Christian Reformed Church, who has continued working on ecumenical efforts for the CRC, including the Belhar Confession. He's also currently serving as president of the Reformed Ecumenical Council, which is merging with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches to form the World Communion of Reformed Churches. All this will happen next June at a world assembly to be held at Calvin College in Grand Rapids--about 1,000 people from Reformed and Presbyterian denominations from around the world will gather at the college. Peter is playing a key role in the planning; RCA staff colleagues are also assisting.

Peter and I had a lot to cover, including the next steps around the Belhar and preparations for the WCRC Assembly. He's become a great friend over these past years.

The afternoon was mostly absorbed by a conference call planning the RCA's consultation in September on the future work of our Office for Women.

Read more.

Travel Blog--The Middle East

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:49:00 GMT

Wes has been traveling in Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria with a delegation from the Global Christian Forum; below are some reflections he has posted on Facebook.

Monday, June 22
How Many Christians Are There in Egypt?
The answer surprised me--between 8 and 10 million. It reminded me again of the relative ignorance of many U.S. Christians to the realities, history, and challenges of their Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East.

Here's another question--what's the population of Cairo? I got various answers, mostly between 11 and 16 million, making it the largest city in Africa. Part of the difficulty is that it's hard to define Cairo's boundaries. In addition, it is estimated that 3 to 4 million people commute into the city from outside Cairo every day to work. Can you imagine that?

Read more.

The Past and Coming Weeks

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:19:01 GMT

The past week has been very full! The General Synod Office is absorbing the work of the 2009 General Synod. We had a staff gathering on Monday, June 15, in Grand Rapids to debrief about synod and welcome Laura DeVries, the RCA's new director of development. On Tuesday, June 16, we had a thank-you luncheon for Mary Clark in New York, and then we reported and shared about synod with New York staff.

On Wednesday I met with the general synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America in Chicago, Illinois. I was asked to present what it means to be missional and Reformed, exploring how structures like the classis can function in ways that empower congregations for missional engagement.

Read more.

A Week of General Synod

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:20:57 GMT

During General Synod last week, Wes wrote some daily reflections in the form of notes on Facebook. If you're friends with Wes on Facebook you can see the notes in their entirety (click on the "Notes" tab on his profile). You can find his page at facebook.com/wgranbergmichaelson and further interact with Wes there (and request to be his friend if you're not already).

Wednesday, June 3
Each year when General Synod arrives, the rest of the world recedes. All my attention, from early waking moments until late evenings, is focused on the dynamics, deliberations, and decisions of the synod. I lose track of everything else going on in the world. I don't even follow Cubs' scores.

In one way, that's as it should be. This annual gathering has some lasting effects on the life of the RCA.

Thursday, June 4
So General Synod has officially begun. It's an awesome feeling to see those who have gathered from all across North America and beyond. At breakfast with the RCA chaplains and stated clerks, I met four representatives of the newly formed Iglesia Reformada Dominicana, or Dominican Reformed Church. That's such a dramatic and compelling story in itself. And chaplain Kim Donahue joined us at our table. She had just returned from a tour in Iraq. Encounters like this, multiplied in the hundreds, will happen all week.

Read more.

Words from Wes: Celebrating 30 Years of CPAAM

Tue, 12 May 2009 20:11:29 GMT

At the General Synod of 1978, elder Russell Fong from Sacramento, California, challenged the Reformed Church in America to initiate and strengthen ministry with Asian-Americans. At the time there were about half a dozen Asian-Americans congregations affiliated with the denomination. Fong's challenge led to the establishment of the Council for Pacific and Asian-American Ministries (CPAAM). Its first gathering was held 30 years ago; last Friday and Saturday, CPAAM celebrated this milestone during their annual consultation at New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

Read more.

My Journey with Sankofa: Parts One and Two

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:42:26 GMT

RCA general secretary Wes Granberg-Michaelson, along with synod executives and staff personnel, participated in Sankofa, a three-and-one-half day pilgrimage that looks back into pivotal moments in the history of our nation’s civil rights struggle in order to look forward into the RCA’s multiracial future.

Each person participating in Sankofa is partnered with another participant of the opposite race as they journey by bus into the southern United States.

To read Wes' reflections on the first part of Sankofa, click here.
Read about the second part of Sankofa here.
For another perspective on Sankofa, check out the Synod of the Heartland's blog, featuring posts from John Sikkink and Gary Ross.

Through Tradition to Mission at Middlebush Reformed Church

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:13:00 GMT

Middlebush Reformed Church is in central New Jersey, not far from New Brunswick. It has its roots in Dutch settlers who migrated from Manhattan Island seeking more tillable land. Churches followed the migration of their people, and in 1834 a Reformed church was established in Middlebush.

Anniversaries of congregations like Middlebush are deeply meaningful. Members feel a tangible connection through time and generations to a historic faithfulness to the gospel that is both humbling and reassuring. Every congregation—even our newest church start—is the fruit of faithfulness that stretches back, through others, into the mysterious history of God’s grace. It’s good to celebrate that.

Read more.

The RCA’s Future: Multiplying Churches and a Multiracial Witness

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:48:16 GMT

Church planters create a catalytic environment. So the day I spent with the RCA’s Church Multiplication Team (CMT) last week was filled with energy, vision, focused analysis, and spiritual passion. The excitement is contagious, even when the questions and obstacles are challenging. But it’s clearer than ever that church multiplication in the RCA has become a movement rather than a program, and this is changing the face of our future.

Read more.

The Commissioning of a Regional Executive for the Albany Synod

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:53:11 GMT

First Reformed Church of Scotia in Scotia, New York, was filled to capacity this past Sunday for the commissioning of Harold Delhagen as Albany Synod's new executive. The line of people who processed into the sanctuary at the beginning of the service stretched outside the church doors and onto the sidewalk--the bell choir, choral choir, members of the Classis of Rochester, consistory members from Pultneyville Reformed Church where Harold Delhagen last served as pastor, and others who participated in the service. Fortunately for those of us standing outside, the weather cooperated.

Read more.

How should Christian groups relate to the Obama Administration?

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:18:02 GMT

I spent Friday in Washington, D.C., with a great group of Christian leaders. We discussed how we can best have an impact with the Obama administration around issues of shared concern in the Christian community.

The timing of Friday's gathering was providential because on Thursday President Obama signed an executive order establishing the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. This executive order continues and reshapes the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives begun by President George W. Bush. Joshua DuBois, the director of this new office, and Mara Vanderslice, who will also work with the initiative, came and met with our group on Friday.

Read more.

Words from Wes: Meeting and Worshiping with President Obama on His First Day

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:02:31 GMT

My time at the Inauguration continues to be full of surprises. We left the house this morning at 6:00 a.m. My son, J.K.; my sister-in-law, Linda Popovich; and my executive coordinator, Jessica Bratt, all had tickets for the National Prayer Service. They wanted to be at the front of the line in order to get good seats. The doors didn't open until 7:30, and the introductory music started at 9:30. It was colder today than yesterday, so they were freezing while waiting in line, but they were among the first to go through security and be admitted to the cathedral.

I gathered with the other service participants at 8:00 a.m. We rehearsed our parts again--this is a highly and precisely choreographed worship service. It needs to be when you have 3,000 people in the Washington National Cathedral. When we finished reviewing each of our parts in the service, Joshua DuBois, the director of religious affairs for Obama's campaign and the transition, casually mentioned that it had been arranged for all the participants to meet with Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill, and President Obama and Michelle. To say the least, we were stunned. Nothing had been said about this previously--perhaps to keep President Obama's schedule private, or maybe it had just been planned. In any event, we all proceeded to the lower level of the Cathedral, which is filled with chapels and reception areas. A place for an individual photo with each of us and the Bidens and Obamas had been set up as well.

Words from Wes: CCT Confronts Poverty, Meets with Presidential Transition Team

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:15:43 GMT

When Christian Churches Together was first organized, participants welcomed the surprising and joyful experience of overcoming religious stereotypes and theological barriers to deepen our bonds with one another in Christ. But then we also asked--what is this for? How will God use us in our outreach, mission, and witness in the world? What issues or concerns might we be called to address with a common voice?

It was the Evangelical/Pentecostal family that first suggested we address the issue of poverty. We worked hard for two years, with a committee headed by evangelical author Ron Sider, to see if we could agree on a common understanding and approach--as Christians from across a broad spectrum--to confronting and overcoming poverty. And we reached agreement in 2007 in a statement which, I think, church historians will note as a remarkable breakthrough.

Together, we named ongoing poverty in the United States, which affects 37 million people (including 1 out of 5 children), as a "moral failure." It's attention to the Bible that grounds our concern. Some 2,000 verses in the Bible speak about the poor and about money, but for so long, so many in the church have found ways of not noticing, or taking seriously, what these words say so clearly about God's compassionate embrace of those who find themselves on the vulnerable margins of society.

Read more, including the visit with President-Elect Obama's transition team.

Words from Wes: The New Dominican Reformed Church

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:24:00 GMT

I've been privileged to witness a group of congregations joining together on the beautiful island that contains the Dominican Republic to form the Dominican Reformed Church (Iglesia Reformada Dominicana, or IRD). It's a story that began five years ago when RCA pastors Andres Serrano and Brigido Cabrera, together with Ken Bradsell and other RCA staff, met with a group of pastors in the Dominican Republic who shared their enthusiasm for the Reformed faith. From his base in southern California, Andres established a Christian radio station, then built a transmitter in the Dominican Republic through which his broadcasts reach 80 percent of the island. The radio station's preaching, teaching, and call-in programs include the sharing of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Read more.

Words from Wes: A Novel New Year's Celebration

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:29:00 GMT

For five or six years now, I've been attending the Renaissance Weekend celebration in Charleston, South Carolina, over New Year's. People in leadership roles from a variety of fields--including journalism, politics, economics, science, business, education, medicine, and religion--are invited together for three days of serious off-the-record discussion around important issues of our time. Most attendees are placed on several panels in their area of interest, and are free to attend any number of other discussions covering a vast and fascinating range of topics. As an example, some of these discussions were entitled, "Why the New Gold Rush Is Green," "How Can the 'Sandwich Generation' Juggle Its Roles?" and "What JFK Would Say to Barack."

Read more.

Words from Wes: Year-end Gatherings and Ponderings

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:33:00 GMT

As we approach Christmas and the end of the year, I want to share a little bit about three gatherings this month that have been highlights for me.

In early December staff executives responsible for all the various areas of our work met in an RCA church in Grand Rapids to share together about future directions. Each one prepared reflections on how their area contributed to Our Call and his or her view of the area's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats facing them in the future. It was a very full day, but it was a day where we listened and learned so much from one another. When I drove home through the snow that evening, I was so grateful for the incredible commitment and caliber of our staff colleagues. The work for Our Call is grounded in the creativity, wisdom, and spiritual conviction of our staff, and the sense of shared purpose we feel is a rich gift.

Read more.

Words from Wes: Retreats and Global Encounters

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:03:41 GMT

I recently attended a remarkable retreat with around 20 younger members of the RCA—mostly in their 20s and just beginning their ministry. They had been recommended as members with potential leadership gifts. About half were women, and the whole group included a rich diversity of racial and ethnic backgrounds.

We spent much of our time during the retreat sharing our spiritual journeys. The power of simply telling our stories and hearing how God’s grace has broken into each of our lives in astonishing, transforming, and redemptive ways is awesome. Though we barely knew one another at the start of the gathering, our sharing bound us into a strong community.

We also shared what is happening in the RCA today—the emerging leaders shared their perceptions, questions, and hopes for the RCA. It is a valuable thing to see our denomination through their eyes and to think freshly about what steps their views may suggest.

Read more.

Words from Wes: A Letter to the President-Elect

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:33:00 GMT

Jim Wallis and Sojourners magazine asked several church leaders for a short memo of what they'd like to say to President-elect Obama. This is the letter I wrote and passed on to Sojourners. They will publish all the memos in their December issue, and may also post them on their “God's Politics” blog site.

Read more.

Words from Wes: Summer Reflections

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:19:00 GMT

As summer's days have ended, and a typically crowded September begins, it's worth reflecting back on the experiences of these past few months. This time is always marked by the transition from the end of General Synod to various times of evaluation and future planning by staff and officers, and then to detailed preparation for a series of meetings by governing boards, commissions, and other groups that fill the calendar for September and October.

Read more.

Posted 09/10/08

Church Multiplication is Thriving

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:16:00 GMT

by Tim Vink

Where do you go to watch a glorious sunrise come up over the horizon? Within the Reformed Church in America, I would suggest that you visit Thrive! This week-long church planting team training is hosted once every six months, and is a clear picture of a bright future for our denomination.

Read more.

Posted 07/30/08

A Fresh Wind

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:14:00 GMT

by Ken Eriks and Ellen Ratmeyer

"In healthy congregations, ministry isn't left to the ministers of Word and sacrament. Christians--all of them--do ministry." This call to develop and equip non-clergy leadership was the focus of Brad Lewis's presidential report to the 2007 General Synod.

Based on that report, the 2007 General Synod approved a recommendation to hold a conference to discuss how to better utilize the gifts and leadership of elders and deacons.

Read more.

Posted 07/16/08

Words from Wes: A Good Synod?

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:12:00 GMT

In the wake of every General Synod there's a desire to evaluate and characterize what happened. In the days following synod's close, the most frequent question I'm asked by those not at synod is, "Was it a good synod?" What's not so clear, however, is exactly what makes a General Synod "good."

What seems more compelling to me is this: Did General Synod deepen the commitment of those present, and through them the wider church, to a shared sense of God's ongoing mission through the work of the Reformed Church in America?

Read more.

Posted 06/25/08

Pictures of God's People

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:10:00 GMT

by Bruce Menning

Don't you love the three-dimensional nature of photographs? If you think about it, they are really nothing more than controlled ink blots on the surface of paper, yet they evoke such depths of memory and emotion.

My office--like yours, perhaps--has become a spatial album of sorts.

Read more.

Posted 06/04/08

Words from Wes: A Week for Retreat

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:07:00 GMT

The past week was set aside for some days of retreat. I try to do this each year; traveling to St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado. It's a special, spiritual place for me, because in 1997 I first went there with a group from the RCA (Tony Vis, Mary Clark, Chuck van Engen, Shari Brink, Gloria McCanna, John Chang, and Lou Lotz) to finalize the RCA's statement of mission and vision. Those were inspired days that none of us will ever forget. The words that emerged from that time still have inspirational power today in the RCA.

Read more.

Posted 04/18/08

A Revitalization Update

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:05:00 GMT

By Vicky Menning and Rodger Price

Our desire and our prayer is that every RCA congregation will continually be in a season of renewal, learning more and more about what it means to follow Christ in mission in the world. We believe that no congregation ever becomes fully revitalized, so we pray that each RCA congregation is always in a process of revitalization.

The revitalization team offers three key initiatives to help congregations as they intentionally follow Christ into the world:

Natural Church Development (NCD) helps churches assess and pursue faithfulness and fruitfulness.
Pastors' networks help pastors experience personal renewal, which we believe often precedes a church's renewal.
Christian leadership coaching is central to both the NCD process and to pastors' networks.

Here is an update on each of these initiatives.

Read more.

Posted 04/09/08

Words from Wes: Listening, Exploring, Dialoguing

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:00:00 GMT

On March 6, I met with about 20 members of the Chicago Invitation group at a retreat center by the Hudson River. Named after a gathering in Chicago a few years ago, members of this group believe that the constitutional basis of the RCA, which forms and shapes the church through its order, liturgy, and confessional standards, has been seriously eroded. The result, in their view, is trends and movements that seek pragmatic results but neglect the foundational principles that are central to our identity. Not wishing to be viewed as those narrowly wedded to past traditions, the group wants to remind the RCA of our defining characteristics, historically and theologically, as we look to our present and future.

Read more.

Posted 3/20/08

Questions?

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:57:00 GMT

by Kirsty DePree

Monday mornings are generally a time for me to reflect on what was accomplished in the previous week and then to put pen to paper to make lists of all that needs to be accomplished. This is a normal practice for me and when I do it, I give thanks for what God has done and I ask for wisdom, discernment, and patience for what God will do in the week to come. On this Monday morning, I realize I have just celebrated my one-year anniversary as the coordinator of discipleship in the Reformed Church of America. With that comes an opportunity to give thanks for this past year and look ahead to the future as we continue to bring vision and direction for discipleship.

Read more.

Posted 03/06/08

Words from Wes: In the Wake of One Thing

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:54:00 GMT

The inspiration of the One Thing conference in San Antonio continues to wash through the RCA like a wave. Something unique happened there. We gathered folks from all parts of the RCA who are deeply engaged in "following Christ in mission," and they gave each other hope, wisdom, and strength. It was remarkable to be part of a gathering that was not based on governing, but on mutual nurture in our contexts of ministry.

Read more.

Posted 2/28/08

Words from...Recovering the Gospel's "Exponential Potential"

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:52:00 GMT

by Tim Vink, Coordinator of Multiplication

When I recall the "One Thing" conference for RCA church leaders held in San Antonio just over a week ago, vivid pictures flash through my mind:

Over 140 church planters and 70 leaders of "parenting" churches raising their hands in vibrant worship led by a passionate praise band that is related to the newest San Antonio RCA church plant.
People joining hands on Saturday night and praying to overcome specific fears, and prayer teams up front laying hands on others to pray for them to be empowered and healed through the power of the Holy Spirit.
At least ten pastors, all leaders of large RCA churches that plant churches, eagerly taking on the challenge of investing in the new church multiplication Partnership-in-Mission (PIM) shares; the RCA is aiming at getting 300 churches to pick up a PIM share for church multiplication in order to raise nearly $10 million over the next six years. The large churches felt this was a reachable goal and want to help get this new funding stream started.
Read more.

Posted 2/8/08

Remembering, Inspiring

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:49:00 GMT

The year began on a sorrowful occasion as I joined in the memorial service for Astrid Zabriskie at Wyckoff Reformed Church on Epiphany Sunday. Rett and Astrid were neighbors for a decade when we lived in Oakland, New Jersey, and friends with whom we spent many treasured times of celebration, especially over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. My wife, Karin, had a special bond with Astrid as both were avid gardeners. Her untimely death was a shock, but the memorial service provided moving memories of Astrid's gifts and her passionate commitment to adult Christian education.

Read more.

Posted 1/16/08

Purposeful Living Isn't Just for Pastors

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:30:00 GMT

by Ken Eriks and Ellen Ratmeyer

From the early days of the RCA revitalization team led by Tony Vis, a core conviction shaped how we have approached the revitalization of congregations. Four years into our Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Lilly grant, we are more convinced than ever that personal renewal precedes corporate renewal and that both levels of renewal are necessary for the greatest possible impact of the gospel in the world. Read more.

Posted 01/09/08