RCA leadership has reached out to its congregations, hoping to sell them on RCA’s increasing diversity and new international church-planting and missional partnerships, which includes its 375-year-old Global Mission organization that supports roughly 100 missionaries and partners through its $8.5 million worth of endowments.
Yet the RCA is also committed to allowing departing churches to leave on good terms. “We want to bless our brothers and sisters who are choosing to find another denominational family,” said Christina Tazelaar, director of communication for the RCA.
The ARC seems equally dedicated to a smooth transition, and ARC pastors say they are open to the idea of continued partnerships with the RCA. “We bless the RCA, we pray for the RCA,” said Vink.
Elgersma, too, is hopeful that the ARC and RCA will remain in conversation. “Are we faithful enough to respect the full kingdom and listen to and learn from each other?” he said. “I really hope that’s where we land as this plays itself out.”
But, said Vink, “the General Synod in October made it clear to many conservative churches that the time is now to look for a new wineskin.”
This article originally appeared here.
