Synod 2012 Preview

June 6, 2012

Synod is set to convene on Friday, June 8, at 8:30 a.m. Delegates from the U.S. and Canada will gather at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario. The last time synod met in Canada was in 1999, also at Redeemer.

Delegates at this year's synod are slightly more experienced than average. Only 77 of the 188 delegates are first-timers; 49 delegates have already attended two previous synods. The oldest delegate this year is 81, and the youngest is 28.

Six years after synod started allowing women to serve as delegates, seven percent of this year's delegates are female.

Three issues expected to generate the most discussion this year are:

  • whether to adopt the Belhar Confession as the fourth confessional standard for the CRC (joining the Canons of Dort, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession);
  • whether to replace the Form of Subscription with the new Covenant for Officebearers;
  • and whether to adopt the report of the Creation Stewardship Task Force.

Synod also will interview and be asked to ratify two senior appointments: Michael Le Roy as president of Calvin College, and Kurt Selles as director of Back to God Ministries International.

The synod-appointed Task Force to Study Culture and Structure of the denomination's administrative structure will make its first report to synod this year. Synod also will decide if the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) may change its name to World Renew, as the agency has requested. Another issue is whether to change the title of Ministry Associate to Commissioned Pastors.

Synod will be preceded by reKindle, a Young Adult Summit being held nearby from June 7-9. Synod delegates will interact with the young adults on Friday evening, when Joel Boot, CRCNA executive director, will also deliver his 'state of the church' address.

For the synod agenda, supplementary agendas and other information, please visit www.crcna.org/synod. At that location you can also watch the synod webcast, read Synod news, and sign up for daily email updates.

CRC Communications, with reporting from The Banner