At the opening of General Synod, Rev. J.G. Slaa, counsellor of the convening church at Fergus, pastor of the church at Elora, addressed the delegates with the following words.
Esteemed brothers in the Lord,
On behalf of the consistory and congregation of Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church, I bid you a heartfelt welcome to Fergus, Ontario, Canada! We hope that you will enjoy the warm hospitality, and that you will have fond memories of it for years to come. The brothers and sisters of Fergus have been working steadily and steadfastly to prepare for this assembly of the churches. And now the day has arrived for Synod to begin. We have good reasons to expect that these same brothers and sisters will serve you in the next 3 weeks with the same dedication they have shown in the past 3 years. Thus, you may concentrate on the task at hand!
And this is good, because, as I understand, every bit of concentration will help! The task which is before you today is an important one. And it is also a difficult one.
It is an important task, because the matters at hand pertain to the well-being of the churches which are gathered under their one Shepherd and Head Jesus Christ. Christ has shed His precious blood for His church, and has made her His own possession. This church consists of His people, gathered together throughout all times and places, who through the office-bearers in the local church receive direction and guidance in their daily lives of thanksgiving. As God's people, we read in Eph 1, they have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of His glory. You, brother delegates, have received the special calling to care for these lambs of Christ, so that they are able to live in such a way before Christ. God has entrusted to you the task of caring for them by completing the matters lawfully placed on the table of this ecclesiatical assembly. Thus, these are not idle matters, but important ones, for they concern the well-being of God's precious children in this world.
Not only is the task before you important, but it is also difficult. You must make decisions on behalf of the churches. That is a great and heavy responsibility that will not be easy. Individuals and churches appeal to you, because they believe they have been wronged by previous decisions. Some churches have sent overtures, of which there are a number that call for change that will affect us in a variety of ways. Committees have served you with reports which make significant recommendations. And of course, you are also aware of the voices coming out of the churches in response to these matters. From the provisional agenda, it is clear that the churches have spoken. They even offer advice which in many instances appears to conflict. Undoubtedly, you are hearing those different voices in your heart, too. Thus, the solutions to these matters do not come easily. Your inclination, perhaps, is to find solutions that will appease and satisfy all those voices. But that may not always be possible. To add to this, as was already alluded to last night, we can expect to hear those different voices during the discussions here at synod. Yes, your task is difficult.
Whatever your discussion, brothers, whatever your feeling, let your decisions be based on God's Word, and let them render justice to God's holy Name. That is, after all your task: to point both individuals and churches, in the considerations and decisions of Synod, to God's Word. Your task is to show the churches on what Scriptural basis and by what biblical principles you are being guided in your decisions.
Remain hopeful in the fact that Jesus Christ will bless those who are faithful to him, who labour for His church, and not for themselves. Be hopeful in the fact that God is above all, and that He has placed Christ in control of all things for the church, as we could read this morning in Ephesians 1: "He has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all." May you take courage in the fact that Christ has power over life and death, and that He rules heaven and earth, also in these weeks, for the church. This we teach and learn so well in these weeks of commemoration of Christ's death, resurrection, ascension and outpouring of His Spirit. Brothers, if your focus is on Jesus Christ, the ruler of heaven and earth, and if it is your desire to obey and please Him, the Head of the church, in all your decisions, and if what you want is the growth of the churches, then you may be assured that Christ will bless you. Christ has given His Spirit, so that men, having a sinful condition, but changed by the power of Christ, can make sound and faithful decisions that will be a blessing for the churches. Therefore, you may hand over all of these matters to Him, who will give His guidance.
Today, in other regions of the world, there is tension and instability. There are wars, and there are also rumours of wars. Also today, in another city, a different sort of meeting is taking place that may well have a profound impact on the political future course of this world. We know and therefore pray that God has His hand in those discussions. You are meeting, in this place, to deal with different responsibilities. But we also know that God will use your decisions to shape the course of the churches here in this country. Therefore, we pray for God's hand in and His guidance over the discussions and decisions of Synod Fergus 1998. We also pray that it will be your heartfelt desire to treat each other as brothers in the Lord who seek together to worship God's name, and who work together for the benefit of Christ's church-gathering work in this world.
And now, it's time to get to work. With the apostle Paul, we express our desire that God will give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened. God bless you. You will be constantly in our prayers. With these words I declare Synod Fergus 1998 opened.
I invite you to sing with me now from the 122nd Psalm, stanza 3.
