At the close of the Christian Reformed Church’s general assembly, officers Aaron Vriesman, Jose Rayas, Derek Buikema, and Luann Sankey shared brief thoughts.

Executive director Colin Watson Sr. presented plaques for three churches celebrating 150 years, and synod did a lot of other things as it met June 10-16, 2022.

For the first time in three years, the CRC’s synod was finally able to meet face to face, but debates and votes on issues around human sexuality show a deeply divided denomination.

The oldest and youngest delegates at Synod 2022 are from the same classis and sat beside each other the whole week.

Synod delegates worked through a series of proposals as a response to Classis Greater Los Angeles’ overture to “oppose white supremacy and systemic racism.”

For many years, holding two services on Sunday was a mark of the Christian Reformed Church. A change to Church Order has ended that era.

Debra Chee and Evelyn Bennally are the first two women to be ordained as commissioned pastors through the Christian Reformed Church’s Red Mesa classis Leadership Development Network program.

In an extremely rare move, delegate Dominic Palacios was judged to have violated the rules of decorum during discussions about the human sexuality report.

The general assembly of the CRC put in place a committee to see that the Grand Rapids, Mich., congregation complies with synod’s rulings on same-sex marriage.

Church of the Servant, a Christian Reformed congregation celebrating 50 years in 2023, will be host church for the next synod.

Delegates at Synod 2022 questioned Zachary King and learned more about his views before appointing him to be the general secretary of the Christian Reformed Church.

LGBTQ allies, dressed in all black, gathered to lament the decisions made at synod.

Synod 2022, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, decided it wanted a year for member churches to review a Code of Conduct code before adopting it, so it will come back to Synod 2023.

Colin Watson Sr., serving as the Christian Reformed Church’s executive director since February 2020, and John Bolt, deputy executive director and chief financial officer, are leaving their jobs July 1, having already delayed retirement for over a year.

In the tradition of the church and in the Bible itself there are many ways to portray the meaning of the cross.

“The word unchastity in our confessions has to have meaning,” said one delegate to Synod 2022. The assembly affirmed its meaning includes “adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography, and homosexual sex."

Jose Rayas is the first Hispanic pastor to be elected president of the synod of the Christian Reformed Church, and Harold Cacieda noted other “historic” moments at the general assembly.

Delegates to Synod 2022 voted 74% in favor of upholding the Christian Reformed Church’s traditional stance regarding homosexuality and same-sex relationships. It still has to decide whether to give the decision confessional status.

Synod 2022 opened online May 25, and in-person meetings began June 10. Here are some highlights of the meetings so far.

Synod delegates walked from their session to dinner through a group of more than 100 people waving rainbow flags and singing.

Synod 2022 prefaced its discussion of human sexuality with prayers of lament and grief.

Synod 2022 closed its discussion of the 2020 human sexuality report to outside viewers, with the goal to limit distractions and undue influence.

Seeing the confessions held by the Christian Reformed Church as clear on the teaching of the cross, Synod 2022 determined denying it is “a serious deviation” in doctrine.

Twenty-seven years after the Christian Reformed Church recognized two biblical positions on women in church office, synod still experiences some tension.

With a video and a presentation of some denominational history by women’s leadership developer Elaine May, Synod 2022 marked 25 years (plus 2) of women’s ordination.

Identical twins Dale and Dwayne Nienhuis get to experience a day at synod together.

Synod 2022 received 23 candidates for ministry in the Christian Reformed Church, greeting and praying for 11 of them in person.

The Christian Reformed Church’s Synod 2022 addressed three matters connected to the CRC’s relationship with the Reformed Church in America.

New professor Wilson de Angelo Cunha said he loves the Old Testament because it “addresses life gone wrong. … The God who defeated chaos once can defeat it again.”

Synod 2022, meeting June 10-16 in Grand Rapids, Mich., appointed Yudha Thianto, Ph.D., as professor of history of Christianity and Reformed theology.

Mary Ann Stronk, breakfast and lunch check-in person at the main dining hall where Synod 2022 is meeting, says “My goal is to make people’s day better.”

Hyung Jun Kim, Darlene Silversmith, and John Sideco are serving as ethnic advisers at Synod 2022.

Six young adult representatives are excited to see what will happen at Synod 2022.

Hope Zigterman, a young adult representative to the Christian Reformed Church’s synod, is happy to have her mom, Bonnie, also in Grand Rapids, Mich., as an elder delegate.

Seven lawyers are at Synod 2022, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, and using their experience to offer insight.

Synod 2022 acted to help Christian Reformed churches respond to abuse allegations more effectively.

Leo Jonker, an elder delegate from Classis Quinte, is at his second synod of the Christian Reformed Church.

Future Christian Reformed Church synods might allow classes to delegate four representatives without specifically filling all three offices of the church.

“It’s overwhelming, but I also feel like it’s an honor to be here,” said Marilyn Stulen, a deacon from Classis Lake Superior.

Pastor Rebecca Jordan Heys offered a prayer for the transition of presidents for Calvin University as LeRoy retires.

Some delegates had concerns about changes to Biblical language and preaching training requirements; but synod accepted modifications that reflect a vocational model of training.

“Hopeful, promising, and at a crossroads” is how executive director Colin Watson Sr. sees the state of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

Speaking to delegates of the Christian Reformed Church’s general assembly, Andy de Ruyter, chair of the Council of Delegates, recapped the interim committee’s past two years of actions.

Participants of the Christian Reformed Church’s synod heard the Word of God from pastor Dirk vanEyk and celebrated the Lord’s Supper.

Co-directors of World Renew shared the origin story of relief and development in the Christian Reformed Church to recognize the agency’s 60th anniversary.

Two ecumenical guests from denominations in communion with the Christian Reformed Church and two guests from ecunemical groups greeted Synod 2022.

The Christian Reformed Church’s new ministry share pledge system is simplifying financial work at Synod 2022.

Prayer is front and center at this year’s synod. A “prayer tabernacle,” staffed by eight volunteers, sits in the front foyer of the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College.

Pastor Daryl J. DeKlerk from Classis B.C. Southeast has the role of encouraging delegates to return to session after a break.

For the fourth time, a special dinner was held for women in leadership in the CRCNA.

Synod 2022 is being surrounded by prayer and worship. You can join.

When Synod 2022 convened in person June 10, delegates were presented with guidance for discussions, and reminders of new rules adopted by Synod 2019

The synod webcast will have a 20-minute delay to prevent delegates from being influenced by real-time texts and social media posts.

A guide, produced in collaboration with the CRC’s Office of Synodical Services, as a kind of life jacket to keep you afloat in a sea of words, rules, and practices.

Anticipating Synod 2022’s discussion of the Report of the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality, CRC members and local congregations also are talking and listening.

May 26, 2022 - Synod 2022, the Christian Reformed Church’s general assembly, convened on May 25 via Zoom video conferencing, while observers could follow it via a livestream.

May 26, 2022 - On May 25, 2022, synod opened with a virtual convening at 6 p.m. Eastern, running a bit over time and closing at 9:30 p.m.

May 13, 2022 - Synod—the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church—hasn’t met since 2019. Here’s a reminder of what it is and what it does.

May 13, 2022 - Meeting June 10-16 in Grand Rapids, Mich., the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church might already be on your radar because of the human sexuality report. Here’s what else to watch for.

April 27, 2022 - The Agenda for Synod 2022 and the Deferred Agenda for Synods 2020-2021 are now available online at crcna.org/SynodResources and on the Synod 2022 webpage, where you can also sign up to receive Synod News.

April 27, 2022 - Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS) recently announced plans for Dr. Wilson de Angelo Cunha to join the seminary faculty in fall 2022 as a professor of Old Testament studies.

April 1, 2022 - Delegates to Synod 2022, the first synod since 2019, were invited to the first of three all-synod prayer meetings.

February 17, 2022 - The Council of Delegates has selected Rev. Dr. Zachary King as the nominee for the position of general secretary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. His nomination will go to Synod 2022 for approval.

January 12, 2022 - Jon Hoekema, pastor of Horizon Community Church in Downers Grove, Ill., has stepped into the role of serving as prayer leader—or prayer shepherd—for the CRC.