Episode 131: Reflections on Synod 2023 with Ryan Braam (Part 1)
"But one of the things that really struck me as I was driving home was how this just feels really dishonoring to my view and my voice. That if all of your words weren't able to change my mind, therefore I'm not even worthy being in a conversation with anymore...I feel like there were assumptions thrown as to why people voted the way they did...The way things were stated as people walked out was really flinging mud at everyone who voted with the majority. I was highly dishonored by that. How can I even get back into a place of of harmony with my brothers and sisters when I feel like I was just defamed without really having any conversation as to why am I voting the way that I am?" -Ryan Braam
Summary of This Episode
Jason and Willy’s first guest post-Synod is Rev. Ryan Braam, pastor at Fellowship CRC in the rural town of Brighton, ON. Ryan was born and raised in Canada and in the CRC, went to Calvin Theological Seminary, and previously pastored at Grace CRC in Welland, ON. He was drawn to ministry in the CRC by its rich theology after exploring other Christian traditions.
Ryan was a delegate from Classis Quinte at Synod 2023 and served as the reporter for Advisory Committee 2 (Church Order), which notably dealt with matters around the Code of Conduct. He shares how being in that leadership role excited him. With 18 years of ministry experience and used to being a “wingman” to Council chairs, he was up for the challenge. Working with the Committee Chair (and past Messy Reformation guest) Rev. Matt Ford, he was pleasantly surprised to find someone who was the exact opposite of his assumptions and, “whose clarity of thought and…theology were rock solid [as well as having] a deeply pastoral heart.” All of that showed not only in their relationship but how he led the advisory committee.
One of the encouraging things about Synod for Ryan was meeting so many solid officebearers, especially elders and deacons. He shares the idea of there being a “cultural chill effect”: meaning everything and everyone feels like it’s on the opposite side. Especially in Canada, both in the CRC and broader society, the great fracturing of opinions/views/beliefs sometimes squelches conservative voices. There’s no valid alternate that pushes back or balances ideas, the dominant culture doesn’t always make sense, and it’s hard to speak against. What he found at Synod is that the denomination is not as fractured as he thought. There are many who he found agreement with.
Jason highlights, and Ryan agrees, “It feels like people are trying harder to misunderstand you than to actually understand…trying to take everything I say and twist it or distort it to make me look like the bad guy.” Ryan points out he’s been trying to be blunter in those situations by drawing people into conversation, but finds some just stick to their line of thinking—claiming to know your ideas better than you. Jason reminds us of Proverbs 26:4-5, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.”
Addressing the discouraging parts of Synod, Ryan brings up the end and how quickly things spun out of control. He felt throughout Synod a lot of space was given despite how decisions clearly went one direction. Delegates walking out shocked him, though. It’s not just that they walked out, but he explains, “The rich irony was…they make a statement and they walk out, which means that there’s no opportunity for us to even hear or…have a conversation about where they’re at.” There was no opportunity to discuss or recalibrate as a body. The traditional side was choosing not to speak largely because there was nothing to add, and it would simply prolong discussions. “If the other side…those who wanted to see a different outcome from Committee 8, were hoping for better dialogue, I think they should have asked better questions. They should have…highlighted where this is not right…Help us understand…None of that was ever brought forward. It was things that were tangential to the motion, which made it really hard to have any dialogue.”
The three address that it was and has been difficult not to be cynical and see political actions at play. Plenty has been said in the aftermath of synod about filibustering and actions done when Rev. Chad Steenwyk was chairing due to his role with The Abide Project. Whether there’s truth to certain delegates’ actions being political or not, Jason’s words ring loud: “It’s devastating that…11 or 12 people can derail 180 delegates worth of work.”