CRC Belhar Petition
- by: CRC Belhar Petition
- recipient: CRCNA Synod 2012
The 2009 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) placed on the agenda of all its congregations, office-bearers and members a proposal to adopt the Belhar Confession as a fourth confession next to the Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort. Final approval—which the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee of the CRCNA is proposing to Synod 2012 – would require all office-bearers to formally subscribe to the Belhar Confession as a rule for life and doctrine.
A number of CRC office-bearers across the denomination have carefully examined the Belhar and come to the conclusion that they cannot in good conscience make this subscription. In addition to the formal ecclesiastical route of overture we wish to make our concerns public and to invite other office-bearers to indicate their agreement. Signatures for this petition will be collected until June 1, 2012 and the petition will be presented to the advisory committee of Synod 2012 that is assigned the responsibility of making a recommendation to Synod itself.
This petition is in no way to be viewed as a threat of rebellion, but instead, an honest, anguished statement about the direct implication of making the Belhar a compulsary confession. By making this a confession, Synod would force many office-bearers against their conscience. This should strike a chord with all those who hold to confessional integrity.
Recognizing that different people will have different reasons for making their declaration of conscience we have not included a set of grounds in our petition but chose to invite signatories to state reasons in the comments section, if they so wish. This is entirely optional.
To facilitate informed consent or dissent we are providing access to a number of key articles or essays as well as information about overtures that are in process at http://www.rootsandrenewal.blogspot.com/.
You are also invited to pass along the link to this petition to other office-bearers in the CRC. If a paper copy is needed, please feel free to print this petition, fill in the information, sign it (along with printing your name) and mail it to CRC Belhar Petition, P.O. Box 2071, Holland, MI 49422-2071.
There has been a healthy discussion on the Belhar and particularly this petition on the Returning Church facebook page that features good dialogue between those on all sides of this issue. Here is the hyperlink: http://www.facebook.com/groups/4428997378/
WE THE UNDERSIGNED, AS OFFICE-BEARERS IN THE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA – ALTHOUGH WE AFFIRM AND COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE THEMES OF CHRIST-CENTERED UNITY, CROSS-ORIENTED RECONCILIATION AND BIBLICAL JUSTICE – STATE THAT WE CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SIGN THE “FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION” (or "Covenant of Office-Bearers,” should it be adopted by Synod 2012 as proposed) SHOULD THE “BELHAR CONFESSION” BE ADDED AS A CONFESSION OF THE CRC.
(By signing, each individual states that they are or have been an office-bearer in the CRCNA. Please indicate your "office" as one of the following: Elder, Deacon, Minister, Ministry Associate, Former-Elder, Former-Deacon or Retired Minister).
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