Synod

The Council of Delegates (COD) voted to cancel Synod 2021 and to defer any discussion or decision about the report from the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-Laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality until Synod 2022.

Synod 2020 was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Synod 2021 was cancelled because the pandemic is ongoing at this time. This short FAQ may assist with any questions you may have about synod being cancelled.

The synodical Program Committee (the officers who served at synod in 2019) will carefully review matters submitted for the Agenda for Synod 2021, as well as the Deferred Agenda for Synod 2020, and will decide in April which matters are essential to be dealt with this year, and which should be deferred to Synod 2022. Similar to 2020, essential items will be referred to a special, virtual meeting of the COD to be held in June. 

Three significant synodical reports have been made available to churches and classes for study and response by overture or communications prior to their consideration:  (download at crcna.org/SynodResources)

• Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality
• Ecclesiastical Marriage Task Force
• Study of Bivocationality Task Force

Churches/classes may respond to matters within the Agenda for Synod 2021 by way of overture or communication according to the Rules for Synodical Procedure, which may then be addressed in 2022 if the matter is deferred to Synod 2022 by the Program Committee. The list of the matters decided by the Program Committee will be made available as soon as possible.

We anticipate a similar process taking place after the Agenda Supplement reports of denominational boards and synodical standing committees are received in mid-May.

To get news updates throughout the year, subscribe to the CRC News weekly email. Or follow the CRCNA on Facebook or on Twitter.

Print versions of the Deferred Agenda and Agenda for Synod, marked with shading of the matters to be addressed by the COD, will not be mailed to churches, but may be ordered by churches or CRC ordained personnel free of charge from Faith Alive Christian Resources (faithaliveresources.org).