These two opposites have to learn to work together. In the first seasons, they fight a lot. As time goes on, they learn to appreciate each
other’s strengths. Brennan can tell
things from the bones of murder victims that Booth would never be able to. Booth can tell when a suspect is lying and
pick up subtle social interactions.
Together they make a great team. After a few seasons, they start to rub off on each other. Booth starts to appreciate what science can
tell them about the murder. Brennan
starts to become better at people interactions.
Getting to that point is not without its conflicts, though. Booth and Brennan fight and hurt each other,
again and again. But they stick to it;
they forgive each other and keep working at it.
This week is the Christian Reformed Church’s Synod, our
highest governing body. They have
covered many topics this week: homosexuality, capital punishment, the role of
deacons, ethnic diversity in leadership, and how to live with our decisions on
women in office. These are big issues
that we do not all agree on. As I
watched the discussion that related to the ordination of women, I was struck
with how thoughtful most of the dialogue was.
The issue at hand this year is what classis (regional group of churches) two churches who do not believe in women
in office should belong to. Our official denominational position is that you can read scripture with a good Reformed hermeneutic and
come to two valid interpretations of the Bible—that women either can be ordained
or should not be ordained. This sounds
like a wonderful compromise, but it is often difficult to live out, for people
who hold both positions.
Three years ago, these two churches asked synod to move from
their classes in Michigan, both of whom seat women as delegates to their
classis meeting, to a classis in Minnesota/South Dakota that does not seat
women as delegates. At that time, synod
said no for a variety of reasons. This
year, they came back with a new overture (proposal) to create a new classis in
Michigan for churches who do not believe in women in office. Synod denied their request to create a new classis but did permit them to move to the other existing classis.
The overwhelming majority of speakers who spoke were most
concerned with how we can live together despite our differences. These churches don’t want to leave the
denomination, and I am thankful for their commitment, even though I disagree with their interpretation of scripture. At the same time, I don’t want to have to leave the denomination because
no church will call me, because I love the CRC, too. We need each other, like Booth and
Brennan. Our differences can make us
stronger. We don’t all have the same
gifts. And it is hard to work
together. Delegate Rev. Doug Bouws said it well: “Doing
church together is a whole lot harder than doing church by yourself.” We fight.
It is hard. But we need to find
unity in Christ and forgive one another.
I also really appreciated the comments of Rev. Timothy Howerzyl of
Classis Zeeland, which I know has struggled hard with this issue. He said, “I hope there are not churches
thinking about leaving our classis…In our classis we have a great diversity of
opinions, but we’ve forged a careful policy of holding together.”
I pray for our denomination, that we would continue to work
together for unity in our diversity. I
pray that we will continue to work together, even when we don’t agree with one
another on this, or any number of other issues. I pray
that we will offer grace and forgiveness to each other, even on those days when
it is hard and we just want to leave. I pray that we will stick it out and do church together, even when it is the harder thing to do.
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