Synod 2012 Opens, Elects Officers

Synod 2012 opened with rousing worship and election of officers. Rev. Jeff Klingenberg, pastor of Ancaster Christian Reformed Church, the host church of Synod 2012, welcomed everyone to Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario.

Chief Bryan LaForme brought greetings from the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and Dr. Hubert Krysgman, president of Redeemer, welcomed delegates to the campus.

Klingenberg led synod in worship and brought a message based on the gospel of Matthew.

Synod 2012 elected executive officers with a combined 23 years of synod experience.

Rev. Leslie Kuiper was elected as president of Synod 2012. Kuiper just recently retired as a pastor in Oostburg, Wisconsin, and will now be a pastor for churches in transition. This is his eighth synod, and he served as first clerk in 2008.

Rev. Bruce Persenaire was elected as vice president of Synod 2012. He is a pastor in Escalon, Calif., and this is his 11th synod.

Rev. Thea Leunk was elected first clerk. She is a pastor in Grand Rapids, Mich. This is her fourth synod. She attended her first two synods as a female advisor, and was a delegate in 2008. She also served as vice president of synod that year.

Second clerk this year is Martin Bosveld, an elder delegate from Chatham, Ontario. This is his fifth synod.

Kuiper addressed synod briefly, saying, “We come with a variety of spiritual gifts and insights, but all as members of the church of Jesus Christ.

“I look forward to serving Jesus Christ with you in this coming week. I trust his Spirit will be obvious in our decisions and the manner in which we reach them.”

Delegates are meeting in advisory committees this afternoon. Tonight, synod delegates will convene at Meadowlands Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, adjacent to the Redeemer campus, together with delegates attending the young adult leadership summit (YALT). Rev. Joel Boot, executive director of the denomination, also will give his report at that time.

For complete Synod 2012 coverage including news, photos, webcast, and more, visit www.crcna.org/Synod.