Episode 136: Reflections on Synod 2023 with Patrick Anthony (Part 1)
"To say that I don't know for any other reason than you actually don't know is to sin...There would be so much freedom that would come from being able to stand firmly…and say, ‘This is what we believe.’” -Patrick Anthony
Summary of This Episode
This week on the podcast, Jason and Willy are joined by another member of the Synod 2023 Advisory Committee 8, Rev. Patrick Anthony. Patrick is a pastor at Immanuel CRC in Ripon, CA, and previously pastored in nearby Escalon CRC. He attended Talbot School of Theology, interned in a PCA congregation, and ended up in the CRC, especially with the influence of his wife. As he shares about his time at Talbot, they reflect on various preaching methods and influences that have shaped how they preach today as well as what led Patrick to move from a youth pastor to pastor.
Jason turns the conversation to Synod and Patrick’s process to being a delegate to Synod. It was not something he initially wanted or expected to go to. However, with some encouragement from colleagues and his wife, particularly so he could contribute to changes rather than just complaining about things going on in the CRC, he was nominated and delegated. Being placed on a committee with such important work, he found himself not only reading with zeal but figuring out his convictions and exploring the differences between CRC and Presbyterian polity. Patrick shares a real-life test case of the church he serves hiring someone to be a worship pastor—and needing ordination as part of the visa process, but who was Baptist. His wrestling was leading him to see that a gravamen was not an exception, which may cause issues, but the worship pastor became convinced of infant baptism and even had his children baptized. The whole experience has led him to be more interested in church order matters.
Patrick proposes what is really at the heart of the CRC’s struggles right now is the search for our identity. This isn’t just about what’s come before Synod 2022 and 2023, but he began to see this in decisions being made several years ago. “…The CRC is doomed unless we value theology and our unity around theology ahead of being unified. Because if you value unity ahead of something that you’re unified about, what you end up being unified around is the fact that we're unified, which is absurd…We have all these disparate groups now that have sort of come into the CRC or have emerged out of the CRC…but what is it that's going to truly unify us?”
Jason reminds us of a document that should be helping us find our identity: the Covenant for Officebearers. This Covenant—which is to be signed by professors, ministers, commissioned pastors, elders and deacons—states, “Grateful for these expressions of faith [the Ecumenical Creeds and Reformed Confessions], we promise to be formed and governed by them. We heartily believe and will promote and defend their doctrines faithfully, conforming our preaching, teaching, writing, serving, and living to them.” How can some “heartily” covenant to do these things when they also want to take exception. You can’t promote and defend that which you disagree with. Willy points out, before promoting and defending, there is also the expectation and covenant that officebearers believe these things. Patrick shares an appreciation that these expressions don’t assume we’re the only saved believers, but the Covenant qualifies that they “…locate us within the larger body of Christ.”
Before digging more into his experience of Synod (where next week’s episode begins), the group discusses this idea we hear floating among some in the denomination: “I don’t know.” Patrick states, “…To say that I don't know for any other reason than you actually don't know is to sin.” Some people give that answer out of fear of man more than fear of God. Yet he thinks, “There would be so much freedom that would come from being able to stand firmly…and say, ‘This is what we believe.’” The confessions are the hard work that’s been done—and they are changeable (by process)—but their current form is so helpful. Jason offers the strict-subscriptionist model is a great position for the CRC currently because people want to know what we believe it, why we believe it, and where we stand—especially if it’s grounded in the Word of God.
