Committee for Ecumenical Relations and Church Unity
CERCU
The committee is currently comprised of three members-at-large and eight classical representatives, one per classis. These members are as follows: Classical representatives:
Classis Delegate & Alternate:
1. Central United States: Rev. Harold Miller, Rev. Dan Donovan Alt.
2. Eastern United States: Rev. Robert Godfrey, Rev. Aaron Verhoef Alt.
3. Michigan: Rev. Casey Freswick, Rev. Matthew Nuiver Alt.
4. Ontario East: Rev. Joel Dykstra (Chairman), Rev. Martin Overgaauw Alt.
5. Pacific Northwest: Mr. Doug Field, Rev. Mark Stromberg Alt.
6. Southwest United States: Elder Jeff Tyler, Rev. Daniel Hyde Alt.
7. Southwestern Ontario: Rev. Steve Swets, Rev. Jeremy Veldman Alt
8. Western Canada: Rev. Jason Vander Horts, Rev. James Roosma Alt.
Alternates have been apprised of all committee discussions and have, on occasion, represented the churches in place of the primary delegate.
Members-at-large:
Rev. William Boekestein
COMMITTEE MANDATE
With a view toward complete church unity, the URCNA Committee for Ecumenical Relations and Church Unity (CERCU) shall pursue and make recommendations regarding the establishment of ecumenical relations with those Reformed and Presbyterian federations selected by Synod and in keeping with Article 36 of the Church Order.
The Committee shall execute its task and carry out its mandate by following synod’s Guidelines for Ecumenicity and Church Unity. The committee shall keep the churches regularly informed of its work and the progress made, and shall publish its reports to synod in the agenda.
GUIDELINES FOR ECUMENICITY AND CHURCH UNITY
United Reformed Churches in North America
Phase One - Corresponding Relations
The first phase of ecumenicity is one of exploration, with the intent that by correspondence and dialogue, mutual understanding and appreciation may develop in the following areas of the two federations’ lives:
a. view and place of the Holy Scriptures
b. creeds and confessions
c. formula of subscription to the confessions
d. significant factors in the two federations’ history, theology, and ecclesiology
e. church order and polity
f. liturgy and liturgical forms
g. preaching, sacraments, and discipline
h. theological education for ministers
Ecumenical observers are to be invited to all broader assemblies with a regular exchange of the minutes of these assemblies and of other publications that may facilitate ecumenical relations.
Phase Two - Ecclesiastical Fellowship
The second phase of ecumenicity is one of recognition and is entered into only when the broadest assemblies of both federations agree this is desirable. The intent of this phase is to recognize and accept each other as true and faithful churches of the Lord Jesus, and in acknowledgment of the desirability of eventual integrated federative church unity, by establishing ecclesiastical fellowship entailing the following:
a. the churches shall assist each other as much as possible in the maintenance, defense, and promotion of Reformed doctrine, liturgy, church polity, and discipline
b. the churches shall consult each other when entering into ecumenical relations with other federations
c. the churches shall accept each other’s certificates of membership, admitting such members to the Lord’s Table
d. the churches shall open the pulpits to each other’s ministers, observing the rules of the respective churches
e. the churches shall consult each other before major changes to the confessions, church government, or liturgy are adopted
f. the churches shall invite and receive each other’s ecclesiastical delegates who shall participate in the broader assemblies with an advisory voice
Entering this phase requires ratification by a majority of the consistories as required in Church Order, Art.36.
Phase Three - Church Union
The third phase of ecumenicity is one of integration with the intent that the two federations, being united in true faith, and where contiguous geography permits, shall proceed to complete church unity, that is, ecclesiastical union.
This phase shall be accomplished in two steps:
Step A – Development of the Plan of Ecclesiastical Union
Having recognized and accepted each other as true and faithful churches, the federations shall make preparation for and a commitment to eventual, integrated federative church unity. They shall construct a plan of ecclesiastical union
which shall outline the timing, coordination, and/or integration of the following:
a. the broader assemblies
b. the liturgies and liturgical forms
c. the translations of the Bible and the confessions
d. the song books for worship
e. the church polity and order
f. the missions abroad
Entering this step of Phase Three requires ratification by the consistories as required in Church Order, Art. 36.
Step B – Implementation of the Plan of Ecclesiastical Union
This final step shall only be taken when the broadest assemblies of both federations give their endorsement and approval to a plan of ecclesiastical union.
Entering this step of Phase Three requires ratification by a majority of the consistories as required in Church Order, Art. 36.
