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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
CRC Synod begins with 34 fewer churches after LGBTQ decision
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As the Christian Reformed Church of North America convenes for its annual assembly, it's doing so with about 34 fewer members in its midst. Delegates and church leaders on Friday began the denomination's annual Synod, meeting at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario in Canada. Through June 19, almost 200 delegates will be working through a packed agenda. 'It's exciting to get together — people from all different backgrounds and walks of life — to talk about the business of the church and make big decisions,' CRCNA General Secretary Zachary King told News 8. 'Even though there can be some tense and difficult moments, it's just really wonderful and cool to see people work together to walk on path together. ….There's a lot of energy and hope in doing this work, even though it can be really difficult sometimes.' Churches prepare to leave CRC following LGBTQ+ decision This year's Synod follows a contentious meeting in 2024, when the denomination determined LGBTQ-affirming churches must repent — or leave. Around 34 churches have since disaffiliated, King said, adding that that number is expected to grow. That includes a number of churches in Grand Rapids. 'We're sad and we're disappointed of course that a significant number of churches … have disaffiliated with our denomination,' he said. 'We pray that somehow in the future, and even in the present, that we might have a good connection. … We hope that they flourish in their communities. … That's heavy, but we feel like it's a necessary moment and we want to navigate it with as much grace and kindness as we can.' After a few years of dialogue around the church's belief that LGBTQ+ relationships are sinful, King said this year, the conversation has 'a different tenor.' 'Obviously we've had a big discussion about human sexuality,' he said. 'I think we completed that discussion. Now we're trying to understand how we can work … better together.' CRC doubles down on forbidding deacon in same-sex marriage at GR church There's now more inner unity, he said, and the direction the denomination is going is more clear. Some items on this year's agenda will work through the impact of last year's decision. A report from CRC-affiliated Calvin University Board of Trustees clarifies how it will approach faculty members who disagree with the denomination's belief on LGBTQ+ relationships and other core beliefs (called confessional issues) of the denomination. Another item will determine the future of its relationship with the Reformed Church of America based on that denomination's stance on LGBTQ relationships, which is to 'live together in the midst of disagreement,' the RCA General Secretary Rev. Eddy Aleman wrote in a letter to the CRC Synod. Also on the agenda is a report from a task force that examined how the church should approach assisted suicide while showing love and support for families and individuals. In its report, the task force affirmed 'that life is precious, so we should not act to end life.' If you or someone you know need help, call the National Suicide Line at 988. Delegates will also discuss questions of funding, church planting and the role of virtual ministry, King said. Many young churches are leaning into using technology like Zoom for worship services, and the CRC is exploring how to leverage that for ministry and connection. 'We also realize that the in-person connection is important too,' King said. 'There's some tension there and we're trying to sort out you know how can we leverage the best of technology while avoiding some of the pitfalls.' Under God, Divisible: Political conflict deepens rift among Christians Overall, the denomination has several churches that are flourishing and growing, King said. 'We have a number of churches that may feel that they're plateaued in terms of their numbers, but they're really impacting their community in a positive way and seeing just a lot of fruit to their ministry,' King said. 'We do have churches that are struggling — as many denominations — but … God is really working through their community connections and some of them are just doing amazing things that only small churches could do.' The CRCNA is streaming Synod proceedings . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
11-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton family confirms death of baby Musa in Panama
The family of a Hamilton man who disappeared in Panama with his two young children says they've received DNA confirmation that remains recovered from a river late last month belong to seven-month-old Musa Iqbal. The heartbreaking development comes almost three weeks after Ghussan Iqbal, 31, vanished into the dense jungle near the border of Panama and Costa Rica along with his son Musa and two-year-old daughter Nousaybah. On May 31, federal Panamanian police announced they discovered the body of a minor on the banks of the Changuinola River. Musa's aunt said the family received the dreaded DNA confirmation Monday evening. 'It's been a difficult day,' a grieving Nagham Azzam-Iqbal told The Spectator on Tuesday, as she and her husband, Sulman Iqbal, drove around looking for a cemetery that keeps with traditional Muslim burial customs. 'The closest Muslim cemetery is four hours away,' she added, noting blockades in the region — the province of Bocas Del Toro recently declared a state of emergency amid government protests — have further challenged things. 'We are currently going (from) cemetery to cemetery trying to find a burial plot.' Ghussan Iqbal, 31, graduated from McMaster University and lived on the Hamilton Mountain before he moved to the Panamanian city of Changuinola about a year ago, just before his wife, Fatima, gave birth to their now seven-month-old son. He went missing with his kids on May 21. The Ancaster couple plan to fly back to Hamilton this weekend after supporting burial arrangements. They arrived in Panama on May 22, a day after Iqbal's wife, Fatima, awoke to find her husband and kids missing. Azzam-Iqbal said her brother-in-law — who moved to his wife's native country about a year ago, before Musa's birth — has a history of untreated mental illness and prior psychotic episodes. Although initially beset by a lack of resources and personnel, efforts to find Iqbal and his kids were upped last week with the deployment of dogs and dive teams to the search area, according to family. A new prosecutor was also assigned to the lead the case. The intensification of the search came as the family expressed frustration over progress and communication from authorities. In several social media videos, Azzam-Iqbal and Sulman pleaded with Canadian officials to step in. 'We were really hoping to come back with closure,' Azzam-Iqbal said Tuesday, adding she and Sulman have two young children and jobs waiting in Hamilton. 'We will continue advocating from home.' The search for Iqbal and two-year-old Nousaybah remains ongoing. Azzam-Iqbal said there have been no reported sightings of her niece since May 24, while sightings of her brother-in-law have been 'random, sporadic and none confirmed.' In light of Musa's death, a reward for information leading to the location of Iqbal and his daughter has been upped from $1,000 to $3,000, the family announced on social media Tuesday. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
09-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Family clings to hope after child's body found near Panama jungle where Hamilton man and two kids vanished
The family of a 31-year-old Hamilton man who vanished into the Panamanian jungle with his two young children last month says they're 'holding onto hope' after authorities discovered the body of a minor on the banks of a river. According to federal Panama police , the remains were found in the Changuinola River near the Panama-Costa Rica border May 31, a little more than a week after Ghussan Iqbal, his two-year-old daughter Nousaybah and seven-month-old son Musa went missing. The unidentified body has been sent for DNA testing. 'Our family is sitting and waiting, and it's very challenging to not know … if we're grieving or we're not grieving,' sister-in-law Nagham Azzam-Iqbal said in an Instagram clip June 2, one of many update videos she's posted since she and her husband, Sulman Iqbal, left Hamilton to help with the search. The Ancaster couple flew to Costa Rica on the night of May 22 before crossing into Panama by bus and foot. A day earlier, Iqbal's wife, Fatima, woke up to find her husband and kids gone. The three haven't been seen since. Iqbal graduated from McMaster University and lived on the Mountain before he came to the city of Changuinola about a year ago, just before Fatima gave birth to their first son, said Azzam-Iqbal in a previous interview. She noted Fatima is also originally from Panama. Ghussan Iqbal, 31, graduated from McMaster University and lived on the Hamilton Mountain before he moved to the Panamanian city of Changuinola about a year ago, just before his wife, Fatima, gave birth to their now seven-month-old son. He went missing with his kids on May 21. Prior to the move, Azzam-Iqbal said Iqbal was hospitalized for psychosis at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. He has untreated mental-health issues and 'tends to disappear' during psychotic episodes, she added. The family is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to the location of Iqbal or his children. 'We're holding onto hope given everything,' said Sulman, Iqbal's brother, in an Instagram video, adding he and his wife plan to stay in the country at least until DNA results for the recovered child arrive. 'Thank you to everyone for standing with us.' Initial search efforts for the trio were hampered by a slew of issues. Changuinola is sparsely populated with just more than 30,000 residents, a good chunk of whom live in remote, tucked away Indigenous communities. The terrain is difficult to traverse; tall trees, thick greenery and tangled vines surround a few mountain roads flanked by a low-lying river. And then there's the weather: bouts of torrential rain and persistent heat have pummelled Changuinola since May 21 — with more of it forecast for the next week and change. Meanwhile, despite the involvement of police and firefighters, Iqbal's family has expressed frustration about the scarcity of resources. Early in the search, they relied on traditional methods like flashlights, megaphones, word of mouth and volunteers, including one who Azzam-Iqbal said flew down to Changuinola to supply a drone for overhead monitoring. But in recent days efforts have intensified, according to the family, with dogs and dive teams now being deployed to the search area. Azzam-Iqbal said in a video a new prosecutor has been assigned to lead the case. After lamenting over the lack of clear communication from authorities, she said the prosecutor has promised to connect with the family every night for daily updates. 'He made a real effort to build those lines of communications,' Sulman said alongside his wife, who later clarified their frustrations were never directed at police, firefighters and search and rescue teams. 'Since day one, they've been out in the field searching for Ghussan, Nousaybah and Musa, and we're so grateful,' Azzam-Iqbal added. 'The weather is hot, the conditions are difficult, and the teams go out and spend time away from their families to look for ours.' In another development, Panama's attorney general announced last week it was creating a specialized unit for missing persons. Among the functions of the unit is to ensure co-ordination between prosecutors, police, family and national or international organizations involved in the search, thereby improving response times and 'providing comprehensive care to victims and their families.' The unit comes amid involvement from Canadian government officials — Iqbal and Nousaybah are both citizens. What that involvement has entailed remains unclear. Hamilton Mountain MP Lisa Hepfner said she is in 'frequent contact' with Iqbal's Hamilton-based family and working closely with Global Affairs Canada to resolve the situation. 'I continue to be very concerned about this distressing situation,' she said in a statement. Global Affairs said officials are actively engaged with local authorities and consular assistance is being provided to the family. No other information was shared due to privacy considerations. 'The safety and security of Canadian citizens abroad is a top priority for the Government of Canada,' the federal office said over email. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
The Redhill Valleys among local winners at CMAOntario Awards
Hamilton-grown musicians, a band and a radio station took home CMAOntario awards Sunday. Three-member band the Redhill Valleys won 'Group or Duo of the Year,' Ancaster's Mackenzie Leigh Meyer won 'Roots Artist or Group of the Year,' Waterdown's Josh Ross won the 'Compass Award' and KX94.7, Hamilton's country station, won 'Radio Station of the Year.' The win was a first for the Redhill Valleys. 'Winning Group of the Year in our hometown makes this moment extra special,' said Chelsea McWilliams, the bass player and singer. 'Hamilton has a rich, resilient music scene, and we're proud to be part of a community that keeps showing up, creating, and lifting each other up. It's a win for all the local bands out there making noise.' The CMAOntario Awards and Festival was Sunday at several venues across Hamilton, including the Textile Building and the Music Hall. The 13th annual awards show was the last to be hosted by Canadian country star Jason McCoy. McCoy announced 20 winners at the show, which ended off a weekend of workshops, intimate performances and open mics. Country singer-songwriter Owen Riegling won the most awards, taking home five trophies. Riegling is from Mildmay, Ont., a small town about 150 kilometres northwest of Hamilton, past Elmira, Ont. The show featured performances from country singers such as Andrew Hyatt, Sacha, Nate Haller and Robyn Ottolini. The Redhill Valleys also performed. McCoy was also honoured with the first Real McCoy Award, sponsored by Slaight Music. The award will honour an individual who represents the compassion, integrity and commitment to the craft of Ontario's country music community. The Country Music Association of Ontario was founded in 2007. Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@
Hamilton Spectator
30-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘A needle in a haystack': Hamilton family scours Panama jungle for missing dad and kids
Walking across a narrow bridge in northwest Panama — a low, tea-coloured river to her left and boundless jungle rising to her right — Nagham Azzam-Iqbal pauses to reflect on the task ahead. 'We're searching for a needle in a haystack.' The Ancaster woman is thousands of kilometres from home in a desperate effort to find her brother-in-law, Ghussan Iqbal, who vanished into the dense forests near the border of Panama and Costa Rica with his two young children last week. Azzam-Iqbal said Iqbal, 31, graduated from McMaster University and lived on the Hamilton Mountain before he moved to the Panamanian city of Changuinola about a year ago, just before his wife, Fatima, gave birth to their son. He went missing with his seven-month-old son and two-year-old daughter on May 21, when Fatima woke up to find them gone. 'We just came as quick as we could,' Azzam-Iqbal said over video call Thursday, tilting her phone to show her husband, Sulman Iqbal, as they walked on the bridge Thursday to meet a search team that includes police, firefighters and several members of Fatima's Panama-based family. The couple flew to Costa Rica on the night of May 22 before crossing into Panama by bus and foot the following day. Azzam-Iqbal, 31, said her brother-in-law has untreated mental-health issues. Prior to moving to Panama, he was hospitalized at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton for an episode of psychosis, she added. 'We know Ghussan has psychosis and during psychotic episodes, he tends to disappear,' she said. 'He's someone who's unwell and vulnerable, and he has even more vulnerable children with him.' Despite reported sightings — local authorities have put out multiple Amber Alerts — the search for Iqbal, his daughter Nousaybah and his son Musa has so far turned up naught, with the three believed to be somewhere in the jungle. Azzam-Iqbal said the terrain in the area — tall trees, thick greenery and tangled vines surround a few narrow mountain roads flanked by a river — has made the situation 'dire.' As has the weather: rain and humid heat, north of 30 C, is forecast in Changuinola for the next seven days. There are other things that are out of the family's control. Changuinola is sparsely populated with just over 30,000 residents, many of whom live in remote, tucked away Indigenous communities. Meanwhile, Bocas Del Toro, the province where the city is located, recently declared a state of emergency amid protests against the local government. 'Can you see the blockade right behind me?' Azzam-Iqbal said, pointing to police and barricades at one end of the bridge. While local police are helping with the search, Azzam-Iqbal said they lack resources. She said they don't have any search dogs, night-vision goggles or drones. Instead, they've relied on more traditional means: boots on the ground, megaphones, flashlights and word of mouth. 'The people in the remote Indigenous communities, when they see us, they come running to tell us where they spotted him,' she said. 'It's not a well-resourced search, but it's one where everyone's invested in the well-being of these kids and Ghussan.' 'We have no idea how a seven-month-old and two-year-old would survive. There's a lot of vegetation and farmers in the area — maybe he's stealing fruit to feed them. We don't want to think of the worst outcome,' she added. As they continue the search, the family is also pleading with Canadian officials to step in — Iqbal and his two-year-old daughter are both citizens. Azzam-Iqbal said Global Affairs Canada has assigned them a case manager from Latin America to help liaise with local authorities. They've also provided consular services, 'but they said they can't interfere with a foreign investigation. 'Emotional support, but nothing tangible,' Azzam-Iqbal said. In a statement, Global Affairs said it's aware of the missing-person cases but that local law enforcement is responsible investigating such reports in their jurisdiction. 'Consular officials are actively engaged with local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the family,' a spokesperson for the agency said. 'The safety and security of Canadian citizens abroad is a top priority for the Government of Canada.' No other information was shared. Azzam-Iqbal said the family is pleading with anyone who might have had contact recently with Ghussan to contact the family or Hamilton police, who she noted have been made aware of the situation. 'Our number-one priority is the children, but we want him to know that we're here for him and we want to support him,' she said.
