A report by Rev A.A.L. Aalderink
You can't call it a week, but no one knows at the beginning of the day how long it will be. The agenda covers one day, but in advance the moderation committee informs us that two days are needed. In the course of the Tuesday, it soon becomes clear that those two days are indeed needed.
Discussion of the moderation committee's proposals require a lot of time and discussion. This is not surprising, considering that the proposals are quite far-reaching. Given the crisis in which we find ourselves, the proposals can be placed somewhere, but give much food for thought. Does the General Synod stop here, without having finished all the agenda items or even identifying a calling church for a next synod? That is the mindset of the moderation committee. Or are there still ways to find a future for the denomination, in whatever form, if only to at least accompany the break as controlled as possible?
In the evening, there are about eight (counter)proposals to be discussed. At the end of a long day of meetings, the result is that the moderamen's proposal, with some amendments, receives the majority of votes. What had been feared prior to these days is thus confirmed: the synod is concluded without knowing how it will proceed next.
Church-wise, we stand empty-handed. But empty hands can be folded. Praying for mercy and grace, the day came to a close.
