Four alternatives to SALT
CCC2 added some pepper to the SALT report. Spirited discussion of other options continues in informal dialogues. The options presented to 95 people on Zoom are not mutually exclusive or complete. They could be reframed as steps on a path, and they need more detailed study than could be done for an informal meeting.
The nature of the January 29 meeting did not allow for formal votes, but the discussion and feedback from small group discussions suggest a few trends that warrant more deliberation. The SALT solution seems inadequate to many, although it may offer short-term improvements. Strong interest was shown in the co-director or ecclesiastical fellowship models. Both of these would see a strong U.S. and a strong Canadian church, each shaping ministry in their own context, with more equal partnerships where it serves common needs or goals. There was some interest in the concept of a looser, multinational network that might include groups of Reformed churches in more countries, each working in their own context. An underlying theme was the need to also recognize different contexts within Canada, including, for example, differences between B.C. and Ontario.
An overture from Classis Quinte, proposing a close ecclesiastical fellowship model, ensures this matter will receive some attention at Synod 2022. More dialogue between now and then may chart a clearer path. It is unfinished business, with a high level of interest.
