Calvin Synod Herald, 1991 (91. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1991-07-01 / 4. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 4 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA the Evangelical and Reformed Church when it merged in accordance with the “Basis of Union” in 1957. It ought to be reiterated, if only for our posterity, that it was the only Synod that voted in opposi­tion to the union. More importantly, be­cause it addresses the point, it must also be noted that it had a full vote on a par with the other synods in the voting pro­cess. In its organization, as the successor to the parties signatory to the Tiffin agree­ment, the United Church of Christ is obli­gated to accord Magyar Synod (renamed Calvin Synod) its unique place and consti­tuent membership as a Conference in the denomination. This view is affirmed fur­ther by the Constitution of the United Church of Christ, which declares: “11. Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church unite in the United Church of Christ with­out break in their respective historic con­tinuities and traditions.” Furthermore, as the synod was an origi­nal party to the union, although not of its decision but because it was a constituent part of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, as a body and not as individual congregations acting independently, and all churches are therefore participants in common, the same rights are held by each that are held by all together. II. Calvin Synod: The Conference and the General Synod The Constitution of the United Church of Christ (as amended, 1991 edition) de­scribes the way the denomination is orga­nized, in recognition of the various histo­rical antecedents and by striving to corre­late them in their common calling. Several key sections are relevant to this study: Preamble “1. The United Church of Christ, formed June 25,1957, by the union of the Evange­lical and Reformed Church and The Gene­ral Council of the Congregational Chris­tian Churches of the United States ... hereby adopts this Constitution.” “3. The provisions herein define and regulate the General Synod and those In­strumentalities of the United Church of Christ which are recognized, established by or responsible to the General Synod, and describe the free and voluntary rela­tionships which the Local Churches, Asso­ciations, Conferences and ministers sustain with the General Synod and each other. The pattern of relationships and proce­dures so described is recommended to Local Churches, Associations, Conferen­ces and ministers, to enable them more effectively to accomplish their tasks and the work of the United Church of Christ.” Article IV. Local Churches “7. The basic unit of the life and organi­zation of the United Church of Christ is the Local Church.” Article VII. The General Synod “45. The General Synod has the follow­ing powers, provided, however, that no power vested in the General Synod shall invade the autonomy of Conferences, As­sociations and Local Churches, or impair their right to acquire, own, manage, and dispose of property and funds:...” There are key words in the Constitu­tion of the United Church of Christ that spell out plainly the servant role of the General Synod, which posseses only the powers given to it. It is only the Local Churches, Associations and Conferences that possess inherent rights, to which the General Synod must bow and is obliged to strictly observe. These rights may not be abridged, reduced, impaired or denied by the General Synod. In clarification of the differences in their authority, Section 3 in the Preamble uses different words. It declares that the authority and procedures of the General Synod are defined and regulated by the Constitution. On the other hand, in non­­restrictive language, it states that the Con­stitution describes the ways in which the Conferences, Associations, Local Chur­ches and ministers relate to each other. In fact, it says they are free and voluntary relationships, and as such are but a pat­tern which is recommended to enable the process of interrelationship. It certainly gives the General Synod no power to define and regulate these bodies. In point of fact, it specifies absolutely in Section 45, that the General Synod has no power whatsoever to challenge the rights of Local Churches, Associations or Con­ferences in the exercise of their autonomy, including control of their property and funds. There is no crown of authority in the United Church of Christ, least of all one worn by the General Synod or the Officers of the community of faith: 1. because the denomination is built upon the inherent rights of the Local Church, all power is vested in them; 2. because the churches are ultimately res­ponsible to the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God and Savior, the tasks He assigns to His holy Body are always theirs to do; and 3. because, in the responsible discharge of those tasks, they may from time to time assign various diaconal functions to local groups in the churches or unite in coope­rative efforts with other churches, they cannot avoid their ultimate responsibility, hence they cannot assign to others ulti­mate authority. The United Church of Christ is from its foundation a coalition of Local Churches, existing by their authority, according to their design, and possessing only such power as they give it and only for as long as they give it. The same is true of their Associations and Conferences, which have different functions and powers, as the servants of the Local Churches. Because it is a coalition, with autonomy and authority ultimately reserved by the churches, all can operate as they find ne­cessary in their circumstances. This plura­lity, often to the shame of the Christian faith, is often celebrated in the denomina­tion, whose officers tend to be tolerant of deviation from the biblical faith and into­lerant of deviation from the party line in social action. But in such a denomination one can expect to find great diversity and also little unanimity. Over against denomi­national authority desired by some, the parts of the church often assert their auto­nomy. For example, despite the agreement to refrain from ordination of avowed and practicing homosexuals, until completion of study and a wider measure of assent by the churches, one Association brashly went ahead, asserting its own authority — and General Synod could do nothing. It was not only followed by yet others, but some permitted churches of avowed homosexual orientation to become consti­tuent members — and General Synod could do nothing. When several congre­gations of Calvin Synod left its fellowship, for membership in their area geographical Conferences, and without those Conferen­ces even consulting with Calvin Synod in which they held standing — General Synod did nothing. The General Synod was powerless to act in those situations, its derived powers being limited to those defined for its own operation as the servant of the churches. It authority is persuasive, but even that is limited by the sum of respect it has gained in the constituency of the denomination’s Members. Right now, with many of its actions alienating them, that level of res­pect does not seem to be very high. (To be Continued)

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