General Synod takes steps toward a more equitable Book of Church Order

The General Synod heard from the African American Black Council (AABC) on Monday morning, along with the General Synod Council (GSC), which brought several proposed Book of Church Order (BCO) amendments initiated by the AABC. Because the RCA’s racial and ethnic councils report to the GSC, the proposed changes were reviewed by the GSC at its March meeting and then brought to the synod floor. All proposed changes aim to bring more equity to church governance and to align the BCO with the RCA’s antiracism policy.

“The AABC believes that adopting these recommendations can move our polity in an antiracist direction and create an environment where all people, including people with African descent, can call the RCA home,” said Rev. Dr. Patricia Sealy, who provided the rationale for the AABC’s recommended changes.

After significant discussion and slight amendments, the first recommendation passed, providing the initial approval to alter the preamble of the BCO to state that “every member, regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, color, or class, receives a ministry in baptism and is called with the whole church to embody Christ’s intentions for the world.”

Another recommendation uplifts the Belhar Confession alongside the Heidelberg Catechism to “be explained by ministers at regular services of worship on the Lord’s Day, so that the exposition of them is completed within a period of four years.”

While there was back-and-forth on the inclusion of all four of the RCA’s doctrinal standards in this section of the BCO, General Synod eventually voted to specifically elevate the Belhar Confession.

“For this moment [and] for the many years to come, I think the Belhar speaks, needs to keep speaking, and I’m grateful for the AABC for telling us what the medicine we need is,” said delegate Rev. Kristen Meyer from Classis of North Grand Rapids.

The other three recommendations to amend the BCO to align it with the RCA’s antiracism policy also passed. The changes, which now need two-thirds approval by classes and ratification by another General Synod, will give classes the responsibility to strive that “the ministries of the classis reflect the racial-ethnic and socio-economic diversity found within the classis bounds” and to provide cultural, contextual training and mentorship for ministers and commissioned pastors.