Patience Is Needed on Same-Sex Guidance
Kenneth Benjamins: “Giving advice while this issue is still being studied would be awkward, and it’s hard to withdraw pastoral advice once given. . . . Please be patient while we wait for the study report.”
Karen Huttenga
Synod 2017 chose not to follow up on a West Michigan church’s request for guidance on same-sex issues.
Ivanrest Christian Reformed Church in Grandville, Mich., made an overture (official request) to Synod 2017 to “provide the churches with guidance for providing pastoral care for same-sex attracted members and their families.”
But Synod 2017 stated that resources from past synodical reports, The Banner, and the Network are available to those who need them. Synod added that “the provision of same-sex pastoral care resources in the short term seems impractical” since Synod 2016 already mandated a study committee on the issue, which is due to report back to synod in 2021.
“We felt the weight of the concern over this contentious issue, but in the end we felt [this overture] was asking too much,” said Rev. Kenneth Benjamins, in addressing that request. “Ministering properly is what many churches are struggling with, but giving advice while this issue is still being studied would be awkward, and it’s hard to withdraw pastoral advice once given. . . . Please be patient while we wait for the study report.”
For continuous coverage of Synod 2017 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, reports, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.
