Prune the Bureaucracy

In a recent issue of De Wachter New Zealand correspondent Dick G. Vanderpyl commented on the growing bureaucracy in the government of that land. He said that “Parkinson’s law” seemed to be raising its head everywhere, even in the Christian Reformed Church. He then referred to something he had read a while back to the effect that it wasn’t all that long ago that the Stated Clerk of the CRC did all the work connected with that position by himself, but that today this “General Secretary” has no less than fourteen “under secretaries” in his employ. He also mentioned the fact that their churches only came together in synodical assembly once every three years. I thought to myself: We should implement that rule in the CRC too.

There is always the danger that a church becomes “topheavy,” endangering the autonomy of the local churches. And the above statistics indeed give food for thought. How many agencies and departments do we not have in Grand Rapids, all of them needing staff who are paid out of the pockets of the ordinary man in the pew (and whose salaries are largely unknown and never revealed in language that the ordinary man can readily understand)? We may be thankful that the synod of ‘85 disbanded the Volunteer Resource Bank, but synods should follow suit with a number of other departments also, some of which were started in order to deal with a specific, temporary problem, but whose status has a way of becoming a permanent one (think of SCORR e.g.).

I think it is time for some decentralization, and I believe a good place to begin would be to have synod meet bienially instead of annually. (Personally, I also like to see the introduction of Regional Synods, but that is another matter). Think ofthe enormous financial savings. But there are other reasons. The last number of years our synods have had a tendency to go from issue to issue, or perhaps from crisis to crisis. And more often than not, synods have contributed toward the crisis, largely because we are losing the confessional base and the cohesion which this provides. Eppinga once wrote that we need time to rest between synodical sessions, time to get our breath and our bearings. With annual synods this is not possible. Consistory members simply have no time nor desire to analyze the many reports, including the often lengthy and difficult study committee reports . Nor do the latter reports make much of a contribution to the welfare of the CRC.

We must also discourage the tendency among our people to look at synod as the great “problem solver” in the denomination. Many people and consistories are much too quick to run to synod with every problem that comes along. This is a sign of immaturity, not befitting a New Testament church. We all have the Holy Spirit , says John, and we all know. We don’t need synod to solve all our problems. Besides, too often the “solution” becomes part of the problem. It is time that we get on with the work of the church, and stop spending so much time in board meetings and synodical sessions and reading lengthy reports . These are simply not the things that make a church strong and vibrant, and we could easily do with a huge reduction in bureaucracy. The ordinary man in the pew would not miss a thing, and consistories could spend their time on more important things.

We ought to keep in mind what Reformed writers of the past have said: consistories have to do with the essence (wezen) of the church, but major assemblies only with the welfare (welwezen) of the church. Too often we act as if it’s the other way around. Let’s get our priorities straight again.

J. Tuininga, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Young People Enjoy Your Youth

Anthony R. Dallison

“Young people, enjoy your youth!” “Do what you like!” “Follow your heart’s desire!”

We are living in a “youth-centered” culture today. The words quoted above occur in a rather unusual book which I was reading a few weeks ago, the concluding chapters of which give advice for young people. “Modern secular humanism,” you may retort, “or the so-called ‘new morality.’” But you are in for a shock. In fact, these words were written several thousand years ago as part of the inerrant Scriptures by an old and wise man, Ecclesiastes. Did he really mean this piece of truly extraordinary advice which he gave to young people?

On reflection, it’s surely the best possible advice that young people could have today for finding their way through what someone has called “the troubled years.” Indeed, in the context in which it occurs (Eccles. 11:9–12:1) it is the perfect prescription for wonderful, enjoyable years of young life.

The first part of the prescription challenges one of our basic attitudes about youth. “Young people, enjoy your youth!” The scene, evidently, in Ecclesiastes’ day could have been one familiar to us in our times—young people who simply couldn’t wait to grow up! How often, for instance, have you asked a young person his or her age, to be given the intriguing answer, “fourteen and one-half, nearly fifteen!” Our young people wish they were growing up more quickly! The mistaken assumption is that the “important” things in life are reached in adulthood. Against such an attitude, the wise man sets his face: “Don’t think that way,” he says, “value your youth. It is one of God’s rich gifts, “beautiful in its time” (Eccles 3:11), which will all too swiftly pass away into advancing age. Here, indeed, is biblical warrant for the familiar modern cliche that youth contains some of the best times of our whole lives. Some of us realize this, tragically, too late.

The second part of the divine prescription for vibrant, youthful days is equally challenging. “Do what you like.” Usually old men give young people advice beginning with, “Don’t . . . .” But not Ecclesiastes. His advice is amazingly positive! He sees that God has placed young people in a world full of fascinating possibilities to be explored and enjoyed in the strength and vitality of youth. It is precisely God’s purpose that they should enjoy the experience of life’s amazing variety and possibility, avoiding premature care and worry! The income tax forms will arrive all too soon! (Compare the positive, biblical attitude to youth with the negative qualification s for a successful youth leader which I heard described recently—“He must know exactly what sort of things young people enjoy doing and , secondly, be able to stop them from being done!”). The biblical picture of a well-spent youth is amazingly positive–“Enjoy your youth, be happy while you’re still young, do what you want to do.”

We may be ready to lift our hands in horror. But wait, it is not all. Ecclesiastes, the old man who speaks so positively to young people, reminds them of the third part of his prescription. They are accountable to God for every single action, every important decision, of their youthful days. When Ecclesiastes’ counsel is taken as a whole, it amounts to the beautiful and symmetrical balance expressed so succinctly by Augustine’s words “love God, and do what you like.” In other words, the purpose of youth is not simply to enquire, learn, enjoy and get the most out of a wonderful world, but to remember our accountability in all things to our Maker. (“But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment”).

Then, while you are exploring all of life’s possibilities with the “dew of your youth” upon you, “Remember your Creator.” For He has rights over you. Your life is not really yours, but His. And with the gift of your life, your Maker gave you the Maker’s handbook (the Bible) to show you how He meant your young life to be spent. One day He will say to you, “Give it back to Me, and tell me how you used it.”

How positive, balanced and wise is Ecclesiastes’ counsel for the young! And so amazingly contemporary! Value your youthful days! Enjoy them to the full! But be sure your Maker has a large place of influence! Then the result will be, as Matthew Henry, the great Puritan commentator, once said: “the flower of youth never appears more beautiful than when it bends towards the Sun of Righteousness.”

(Rev.) Anthony R. Dallison St. Andrew ‘s Presbyterian Church, King City St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church , Nobleton

This article, supplied to us by the Rev. Mr. Dollison, appeared previously as a guest editorial in the local Timothy News of April, 1980, at Rexdale, Ontario.

Dutch Admonitions To Us

One has learned over the last number of years not to expect too much from the representatives of the Geref. Kerken in the Netherlands who attend our annual synods when it comes to an honest and frank appraisal regarding the situation in their churches. Generally the addresses given to our synod boiled down to four points: 1. We have problems. 2. We are struggling with these problems. 3. Sooner or later you too will face these problems. 4. Please have patience with us.

It appears that this predictable route was pretty much follow ed at the synod of ‘85 also. According to The Banner, the delegate of the GKN (also moderator of his church president of the last two synods), Dr. H. J. Kouwenhoven, said that some in the CRC seemed to feel that the GKN had “estranged itself from the way of the Afscheiding (Secession) fathers.” But, said Kouwenhoven, “I am convinced your impressions are wrong.” Such talk is, ofcourse, in line with the official synodical direction of the GKN, and might be considered “par for the course” coming from the president of the synod. But to those who are somewhat acquainted with the theological situation in the GKN such talk is not designed to allay fears and suspicions. To the contrary.

The editor of De Wachter reports on an interview he had with Kouwenhoven while at synod. There we find more of the same. Regarding the issue of women in ecclesiastical office, Kouwenhoven said that in our modern society the place of the woman is very different than that found in the world of the Bible. Besides, we have discovered that the Bible is much more colored by the time in which it was written than we previously thought. Ergo: It is no longer possible for one to hold that women may not serve in ecclesiastical office.

I always thought the Bible told us not to “be conformed to the world,” and to “test the spirits to see whether they are of God.” See what Paul says in I Cor. I and 2 about the “wisdom” of this world being foolishness with God. If modern society is to be our guide, one begins to understand why the GKN also declared that there must be room in the church for those who live in “homofiel” relationships. This means, according to Kouwenhoven , that we may not and do not want to give them the idea that “you are living in sin.”

And still those in the CRC who think the GKN is departing from the faith of the fathers have the wrong impression! Who is try ing to fool whom?

How different is the picture painted by the Rev. A.M. Lindeboom in his recent book written in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Afscheiding (secession), Om de Grondslagen van her Christendom (a book that should be read by all who can still handle the Dutch language). Lindeboom writes: “There is now also in the Geref. Kerken complete freedom of doctrine (leervrijheid).” And he supplies the documentation to back this up. As a retired minister, he is well acquainted with what is going on in his church. It is cause for gratitude that there are men such as Lindeboom who are trying to arouse the members of his church as to what is really going on. They deserve a large audience. 

J. Tuininga, Lethbridge, Alta.