Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Whither Synods?


Pastor Lance at Full Court Presby wonders why we have Synods in the PCUSA today. I've asked the same question myself. I agree with his conclusion Synods are a relic of the horse-and-buggy era that only add expense and bureaucracy to the denomination. What do you think? Join the conversation at his blog.

(Gretel update for those of you kind enough to ask: no change in her condition this morning.)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Synod of the Pacific performs one useful function for our local congregations and presbytery - they purchase the group insurance and provide one rep. It's true that it could be done in other ways and probably cheaper, but it seems to function well. Perhaps everything else is a dinosaur!

Jan said...

Prayers for Gretel. Know how you're feeling these days. Scratch and I would love to hear an update when you have one.

Gannet Girl said...

Oh, I just saw this. Prayers for the Noble Hunter Gretel, Diana of Dogs.

reverendmother said...

Plus people never know how to pronounce it.

Eh, it's not a hill I'm willing to die on either way. I can take or leave 'em. So long as the Synod of the Sun's camp and conference center keeps on keepin' on I'm good. Viva Mo-Ranch!

Anonymous said...

I wonder too. My in-laws synod (in PA) apparently does all kinds of good stuff --educational conferences, etc. Ours, uh, not so much.

Anonymous said...

Common sense must have us ditch the Synods and use the money to develop effective ministries.

Sorry about Gretel...but dachshunds are tireless fighters and I will not count her out yet!

Jules said...

Synods have varying purposes. The one where I used to live was a funding institution. The one where I am a minister member of Presby (and member of Synod PJC) does a kick-ass Synod school in the summer, but little else, if you ask me.

St. Casserole said...

Our synod helps us with campus ministry, larger mission projects and the exec resource skills are great.

I hope today is a better one for Gretel. Thinking of all of you.

Karen Sapio said...

I was a Synod Commissioner for my former Presbytery. I met some interesting people, and there were some mission funding structures that seemed to be doing their job--but I couldn't see much that couldn't have been done another way--and with less expense.

Becky Ardell Downs said...

I agree-- keep Mo-Ranch, ditch the rest.