Vision 21 (October, 1986) is a proposal to restructure the bureaucracy of the Christian Reformed Church. It aims to more efficiently organize the massive and confused administrative complexity of boards, ministries, and committees operating with synodical mandate so as to help move our denomination alive and well into the next century. Although the audacious proposal to rein in the run–away bureaucracy may look appealing, it has a number of serious draw-backs.

The proposed change would re move the church agencies and boards another step away from the original authority and responsibility of the councils of elders and deacons Christ placed within each congregation. The reorganization would make the denomination less manageable by the councils of the congregations. Organizational structure appears already difficult to grasp for the members of the denomination in general and for the office bearers in particular. Members of the denomination on the whole understand little of the constitutional lines of communication and responsibility. To add a superboard will produce more confusion.

THE BASIC STRUCTURE TILL NOW.

From the inception of the Christian Reformed Church until the present the structural organization has in principle been:

Councils

Classes

Synods

Under this simple structure are the various boards, ministries, and committees. The Synodical Interim Committee and the Denominational Stated Clerk supervise, in addition to many administrative duties, between the annual sessions of synod, the many organizations responsible to synod. The list of these organizations is staggering: We encounter the Ministry with Retarded persons, the Quebec Theological Education committee, the committees for the Psalter Hymnal and on the Canons of Dort, there are boards and committees on World Ministries (CRWM and CRWRC), Ordination of Multiracial Pastors, Covenant Children at the Lord’s Supper, Alcohol Issues, Authority and Function of Deacons, Review of the Calling System, and the Spirit and Truth Fellowship. Responsible to synods also are the Back to God Hour, Calvin College and Seminary, Board of Home Missions, CRC Publications. In this bureaucratic confusion move also the Chaplain Committee, the Denominational Loan Fund, the Fund for Needy Churches, the World Literature Committee . Here appear the Ministers‘ Pension Fund, Synodical Committee on Race Regulations, Unordained Employees’ Pension Fund, the Committee for Educational Assistance to Churches Abroad, the Pastor-Church Relations Committee, the Sermons for Reading Services Committee, the Historical Committee, the Ministerial Information Service, the Interchurch Relations Committee, and the Judicial Code Committee.

A COMMITTEE RESPONSE TO THE BUREAUCRACY: VISION 21

The Structure Study Committee in Vision 21 proposes to bring order among the agencies by means of common guidelines, a unifying purpose, and an overall strategy, aiming to keep them functioning as the servants of the faith of the Church . The Committee recognizes the original authority of the elders and deacons, that classes derive their authority from councils, and synod’s from the classes , and that synodical responsibility and authority require limits (cf. CO art 27). The lines of denominational responsibility run from council to classis to synod, and return, from synod to classis to council (cf. CO art. 34). Through consistorial neglect over years, the complexity of the times, and the inherent tendency of bureaucracy to “bureaucratize,” it sees a growing need to restore order among the confusion of boards , committees, and service agencies. To bring about such order, it is regrettable that the Committee proposes a decision-making process more congenial to a multi-national corporation than to a church. The structural change it proposes would place an Executive Board of Synod and an Executive Secretary between the synod and the boards and agencies. Since the synods meet only once a year, and the Executive Board infrequently during the year, the executive secretary would really manage all of the agencies. Now under his control, the boards, committees, services, and relations will remain intact, except for some trimming of classical delegates.

CRITICAL OBSERVATION

The intent is to save money. Whether moneys would be saved is debatable since there might be more bureaucracy instead of less. The intent is to present an overall strategy by the super-board. But that is the mandate for synods.

Under the proposal the authority and responsibility of those mandated with original authority and responsibility will be replaced by the authority of executives and the operation of the denomination will fall into the hands of experts . The effect will be a greater concentration and centralization of influence in the Executive Board, away from the elders and deacons, away from those duly ordained into office. Though the Executive Board and the General Secretary will be accountable to each synod, the councils will find it more difficult to scrutinize the affairs of such a board and to hold it accountable. The proposed restructuring is more suitable to a multi-national corporation than to a church.

Rather than anew group of powerful executives, our churches need continuous and concentrated study by elders and deacons, and by the members of the denomination, to restore our Biblical, Reformed Church Order. Office holders who are wise and know the principles and practice of our Reformed Church Order can better contain the proliferation of boards, committees, agencies, relations, and services. And perhaps initiate a weeding-out process.

T. Hoogsteen is the pastor of the Brantford Christian Reformed Church in Ontario, Canada.