Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has issued a pastoral letter regarding the actions of the Reformed Church in America’s (RCA) Oct. 14-19 General Synod meeting in Tuscon, Ariz. “For nearly a quarter century, we have grown in full communion with the RCA, sharing in mutual ministry and mission. We have come to know each other through our common witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” the letter read, in part.
“In recent years, we have accompanied the RCA as it has wrestled with differences in theology and practice with regard to human sexuality,” the letter continued. “After being postponed due to the pandemic, the final Vision 2020 Report was presented to the General Synod in Tucson. This report offered recommendations for the future of the denomination with regard to staying together, radical restructure and grace-filled separation.
“The synod said yes to all three by affirming the central place of global mission in the RCA, forming a restructuring team, and adopting regulations to provide an unobstructed pathway for those local churches that will depart the denomination. On the whole, these actions reflect the RCA’s commitment to walking together, respecting differences, and affirming common mission and ministry. Importantly, the spirit of the synod was conciliatory and hope-filled, as delegates shared their disagreements in the bond of peace. We give thanks to God that the RCA, and our full communion partnership, will continue.”
