Synod 2010 Starts Soon

June 2, 2010

Synod 2010 of the Christian Reformed Church in North America will meet starting next week at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill.

Synod officially begins its sessions on Saturday, June 12, in the Martin and Janet Ozinga Chapel at Trinity. Grace Community CRC, Oak Lawn, Ill., will serve as the convening church.

"Some people are saying this is the heaviest agenda we've ever had," says Rev. Gerard Dykstra, executive director of the CRCNA. But by heaviest, he says, they are generally referring to the size and number of pages are in the Agenda book.

Synod 2010 will deal with five major reports and several issues, says Dykstra. He said the reports are likely to generate "interesting discussion."

The reports include:

  • Abuse Victims Task Force Report
  • Church Order Revision
  • The immigration/migration report
  • Faith Formation: Children at the Lord’s Table
  •  Form of Subscription Report

Other issues to be addressed include:

  • The RCA/CRC Translation of the Belgic Confession, Cannons of Dort, and Heidelberg Catechism
  • A Revised Ecumenical Charter
  • Interfaith Dialogue

Synod also will be asked to allow the CRC’s Board of Trustees to appoint and ratify a new director for Christian Reformed Home Missions, Dykstra said. Normally, Synod has to ratify these appointments. This request is so that a new director could start work without waiting for ratification by Synod 2011.

The Agenda for Synod 2010 is on the Synodical Resources page of the CRCNA website. Agenda books have been mailed to churches. To access the online agenda and sign up for Synod-related news, visit: Synod 2010.

The pastor of the convening church, Rev. Michael J. Kooy, will serve as the president pro-tem until synod elects its four officers. Kooy will also deliver the message at the Synodical Service of Prayer and Praise on Sunday, June 13, at 3 p.m. at Grace Community CRC, 10415 S. Kedvale Ave., Oak Lawn, Ill.

Congregations of the Christian Reformed Church in North America are requested to remember the synodical assembly in intercessory prayers on Sundays, June 6 and 13.

"Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will equip the synodical delegates to serve in faith and obedience and will lead the Christian Reformed Church into new and challenging areas of ministry," Gerard Dykstra says in a preface to the synod agenda.

For the first time, an online discussion forum has been created for reports and other synod-related matters. It is available on the new Network website.

CRC Communications, with reporting from The Banner