A Korean Delegate Reflects on Synod 2026

Synod 2026 was an impactful experience—not only for the denomination and its churches but also for the delegates who dedicated their time and energy to further the mission of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Joseph Kim, an elder who chairs the council of Vision Church in Las Vegas, Nev., shares his insights and reflections on his experience as a delegate at Synod 2026: 

I have lived within the Reformed faith all my life, but this was my very first time directly interacting with the Dutch Reformed tradition. Attending Synod 2026 on the Calvin University campus as an elder delegate representing Classis Hanmi, I experienced what was for me the most powerful among countless church gatherings I have attended through the years. 

This synod was a well-organized event. The worship and prayer services held before the start of each plenary session were moving and inspirational. 

Because the decisions made at synod carry spiritual authority in guiding the direction of our local churches, I approached every moment of praise, worship, fellowship, and voting with a humble and prayerful heart.

Days 1-2: Advisory Committee Meetings

The first two days were the most difficult. About two weeks before our arrival, the synod provided us with a 424-page Agenda for Synod 2026 book as well as a downloadable Agenda Supplement, containing background material for 37 overtures (requests for decisions) submitted by various classes. The synod formed nine advisory committees, assigning each delegate to one committee and tasking each committee with reviewing about four overtures in order to draft recommendations about them. I had not finished reading the Agenda and its Supplement before arriving, so I felt a bit lost at times.

My committee handled each overture with an impressively orderly approach. The members raised meaningful and deeply considered questions, and the committee called in representatives from the Council of Delegates (COD) and denominational staff for questioning in order to better understand the subject matter. The process was meticulous. When drafting the final recommendations, the committee wrote carefully and precisely. The entire process felt simultaneously nerdy yet outward-looking, scholarly yet deeply pastoral. All the while, prayer warriors were silently interceding for us in the back. It was a deeply human, reasonable, gospel-centered environment filled with a prayerful attitude.

Day 3: Sunday

After two days of intense committee work, I spent Sunday worshiping at Grace Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Pastor Moonbae Kim ministers. Pastor Kim is a wonderful servant of God. Despite the tight synod schedule, he continually looked after and encouraged our group throughout the week. He went above and beyond by inviting us to his church, treating us to a warm Korean dinner, and hosting other fellowship events.

Days 4-7: Plenary Sessions

The plenary sessions officially commenced on Monday morning, beginning a series of marathon days that included morning, afternoon, and evening sessions, with brief one-hour breaks for meals. Each day started at 8:15 a.m. and wrapped up around 8:30 p.m. All sessions were live-streamed and remain available on YouTube.

When the president of the Synod called out for discussion on an overture, the chair of the respective advisory committee would step forward to present their recommendation, followed by an open-floor discussion. Many delegates spoke with great eloquence, and their words moved me deeply at times. Even when discussing administrative or contentious topics, every speech was rooted in the gospel and served as a testimony of the lives led by the speakers. The difficult "work" of the synod served to joyously affirm and display intense passion for the gospel.

I was also deeply impressed by the orderliness, controlled passion, and strict adherence to parliamentary synodical procedures. No one shouted, and no one showed disrespect to another. Delegates spoke passionately for their positions, but once a vote was cast and the body had spoken, everyone simply moved on to the next agenda item. Whenever discussions grew contentious, a designated "prayer warrior" would step up to invite everyone into prayer, instantly calming the room. The power of prayer to quiet our restless hearts was profoundly moving.

Looking Ahead

I always tell my children: "96 percent of life is showing up." While it would be easy to dismiss attending the CRC synod due to language barriers or a lack of time, based on my experience and my conversations with fellow Korean and Anglo delegates, this is an indispensable spiritual asset. Our denomination is striving with all its might to remain gospel-centered, to grow, and to evangelize. A world without the CRC is a world that would lose a massive, clear voice for the gospel, and God would certainly not be pleased with that.

There are currently 49 classes across the United States and Canada, two of which (Classis Hanmi and Classis Ko-Am) are Korean-speaking. Out of approximately 180 delegates at the synod, only 11 were Korean. Given that Korean congregations make up roughly 10 percent of the CRC, I sincerely hope to see a matching 10 percent of Korean delegates step up and participate in future synods.

We must actively support our denomination. We need to fulfill our obligations through ministry shares and offerings—and as rightful stakeholders within this body, our voices must be heard. Let us continually encourage one another within this beautiful faith community and pray earnestly to expand the kingdom of God together.

Elder Joseph (“Joe”) Kim was born in Korea and moved to the United States in 1970 at the age of eight years. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pa., as a “pastor’s kid.” He is a graduate of Princeton University (A.B.), Johns Hopkins University (Ph.D.), and the University of Maryland (J.D.), and he works as a patent attorney partner at FisherBroyles. He has been married to Lauren for 44 years and has three grown children—Sarah (Danny), Joy (Jay) and Isaac—and one grandchild, Ethan. He currently serves as council chair at Vision Church in Las Vegas, Nev. His interests include listening to classical music, playing viola, and face-timing with Ethan.