“For the last decades the RCA has been unable to clearly state its thinking on gay marriage, gay ordination and gender identity. The majority believes in a traditional and historic view on these matters while the smaller minority has embraced gay sexuality as a gospel good that should be celebrated. The tensions are high and everything is coming to a head. The denomination needs to be clear about what it believes. There can be no more waiting. If things are left unchanged, there will be a split.”
(Ron Citlau – The Aquila Report) In January, a group of Reformed Church in America (RCA) leaders met to pray and consider the work of the 2020 vision team, the future of the RCA and the upcoming General Synod….
A growing consensus emerged: barring a ‘synod miracle’, it’s time to graciously leave the RCA. Full disclosure: I am part of this group of leaders and I am part of the contingency planning of what leaving might look like. This separation could mean up to 250 conservative churches leaving the RCA, maybe less or maybe more. My elders are prayerfully discerning next steps and over the next few months we will, I am sure, be having conversations with our church community bringing them up to speed and seeking discernment. I for one find no joy in this. If the RCA splits, it would be a time of lament.
As the vision 2020 team has stated, we are largely a conservative denomination. Yet, for the last decades the RCA has been unable to clearly state its thinking on gay marriage, gay ordination and gender identity. The majority believes in a traditional and historic view on these matters while the smaller minority has embraced gay sexuality as a gospel good that should be celebrated. The tensions are high and everything is coming to a head. The denomination needs to be clear about what it believes. There can be no more waiting. If things are left unchanged, there will be a split. The RCA needs a miracle.
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