June 19, 2008

After hearing from fraternal delegate Dr. Kobus Gerber of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) in South Africa about the growing crisis in Zimbabwe, Synod 2008 today passed a resolution urging the governments of Canada, of the United States and of South Africa, and church leaders across Africa and North America, to take emergency diplomatic action.

The synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America "notes with growing alarm the rapidly deteriorating human security situation in Zimbabwe – particularly the sharp increase in officially sanctioned attacks on churches and the arrest of church leaders – and urges the governments of Canada and the United States to take emergency diplomatic action to resolve this crisis and avoid the violence and bloodshed that threatens to engulf Zimbabwe," the resolution said.

"We wish also to express our solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe – and in particular those Christian leaders who, in obedience to God are risking their lives by standing for justice in the face of raw power, caring for those who suffer in the face of oppression, and who live the gospel of love in the face of hatred and violence.

"Finally, we have heard the urgent and well documented message of our brother, Dr. Kobus Gerber, General Secretary of the Dutch Reformed Church in Southern Africa concerning the depth of the suffering, the urgency of action, and the steps already taken by our sister churches in Southern Africa to compel regional political leaders to act. We wish to not only support the actions already taken by the Dutch Reformed Church in Southern Africa and the Uniting Reformed Church in Sothern Africa but in addition, urge you to increase your activity in this regard."

Synod instructed the Board of Trustees to "quickly communicate this resolution to the appropriate government officials in the US and Canada, to the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa, the Dutch Reformed Church of Southern Africa, church leaders in Zimbabwe, the members of the CRCNA, and other bodies or institutions who should be aware of our views."

Christian Reformed Church in North America