Here is the agenda for Synod 2021.
For ease of reference, here is a link to each of the protests and appeals.
Appeals:
Protests:
Strangely enough, one item did not make it on the agenda.
That was a letter sent to the Stated Clerk from First Reformed Protestant Church.
Here are the relevant “Rules for Synodical Procedure” which speak to this matter. You can find this information on pages 89-91 of the green plastic Church Order book.
A – 4. The Stated Clerk shall ordinarily publish all material intended for the Agenda. He shall, however, have the right to exercise his discretion on matters which are clearly not ecclesiastical (Article 30 of the Church Order), but shall nevertheless list them in the Agenda and send them to synod for final adjudication. He shall not assume synod’s prerogative to decide whether material is legal or illegal.
B – 3 The following matters shall be considered by synod:
B – 3 – f Correspondence received from individuals or bodies outside our denomination or from bodies within our denomination other than ecclesiastical assemblies.
In his report, however, the Stated Clerk gives his reason for not including the letter on the agenda – “Because the correspondence/protest was not from a member or a group within the PRCA, I made the judgment that it not be included in the agenda.”
It has been fascinating to watch the Stated Clerks of both Classis East and Synod completely ignore the rules when it comes to material that should be included on the agenda.
And that behavior continues.
Lara,
You have a good point that the letter should be simple to understand.
Also, you can ask for the agenda of either Classis or Synod by emailing the appropriate Stated Clerk (as listed in the current Acts of Synod). You can also ask for the minutes from both Classis East & West, which are more detailed than the summary. I have been following Classis West & Classis East agendas for over 2 years. Especially the agendas & minutes from Classis East have revealed the belittling & the abuse of the office of believer, and the corruption & hierarchy of the assemblies.
Matt Medema
I have never gotten an agenda before. We do get a letter after Classis concludes but I never know what is being argued or decided. It reads like a tax form from the government. Thank you for some level of transparency.
Dear Dewey,
The Lord led me to protest a decision this Classis East in May. After reading the summary of Classis January, my conscience could not be quieted. After submitting my protest, the Stated Clerk tried to get me to withdraw. When I said I would not, he said he’d put it in a sensitive agenda. The sorrow was not mine…to see that he refused to even list it on the agenda…but, it is Christ’s. The people of God who are moved to speak by their Lord, speak for His glory alone. To hide that voice from His people against all rules of Synod, muzzles not the protestant, but Christ Who moves them.
John 5:39-44
[39]Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
[40]And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
[41]I receive not honour from men.
[42]But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
[43]I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
[44]How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
In Christ,
Stephanie Medema