July 2007

Two morticians at a new undertaking: elder Ron Bielema, Classis Muskegon (left), and elder Glenn Smits, Classis Illiana, were among the d

Synod delegates declined a request from Classis Toronto to reinstate a Canadian director of Chaplaincy Ministries but shone a spotlight o

Synod 2007 instructed the denomination’s Board of Trustees to undertake an “orderly updating” of the Church Order of th

Synod 2007 decided that church planters may vote at classis (regional meetings).

Synod 2007 voted to allow First Christian Reformed Church of Prinsburg, Minn., to switch from Classis Lake Superior to Classis Minnkota,

An overture (request) from Classis Zeeland reportedly caused some hurt feelings but led synod to create a new study committee on immigrat

Richard van Houten, general secretary of the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC), brought greetings and an update to Synod 2007.

On Tuesday night, June 12, when synod debated removing the word male from the Church Order, a record 360 people tuned in to the live vide

Ministry Share Breakdown for 2008*

Synod 2007 discouraged infant dedication and affirmed the Christian Reformed Church’s commitment to the sacrament of infant baptism

Synod warmly welcomed 30 new candidates for CRC ministry this year.

Synod 2007 adopted a ministry share for calendar year 2008 of $298.58 per active, professing CRC member 18 years and older.

Synod 2007 called for a study of all the covenantal, communal commitments we have as a denomination that will consider how best to financ

Controversy erupted around synod’s discussion on Third Wave Pentecostalism when, in a process CRC Executive Director Jerry Dykstra

More than 90 people gathered in Grand Rapids, Mich., for the 2007 Multiethnic Conference held in conjunction with synod.

Synod approved the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible for use in Christian Reformed worship services.

Synod 2007 approved plans for a new hymnal, scheduled to hit the pews in 2013.

Synod delegates gave a standing ovation to Rev.

Synod 2007 said that Christian Reformed churches may not call candidates from the seminaries of the Reformed Church in America (RCA).

Synod 2007 declined to adopt the proposal of Synod 2006 to allow all baptized children to the Lord’s Table.

Synod president Rev. Joel Boot appointed Rev. Karl House, Classis Quinte, as the sergeant at arms.

The CRC’s Korean-speaking classis, Pacific Hanmi, will continue to exist past its original mandate, Synod 2007 decided.

Twelve thousand worshipers, including synod delegates, gathered Sunday afternoon in the Van Andel arena, downtown Grand Rapids, Mich.&mda

Rev. Evert Overeem of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PCN) brought greetings to Synod 2007.

“This is only your first 150 years,” said Rev. Kobus J. J.

Synod 2007 made it clear that every classis must have child-safety policies and a Safe Church Team to protect its most vulnerable members

Synod 2007 urged the churches to become familiar with the Belhar Confession, a declaration focusing on racial and ethnic unity and reconc

Synod 2007 took the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Christian Reformed Church to urge the congregations and especially the leade

I have been to eleven synods now, not quite as many as Banner Editor Bob De Moor (see p. 53).

Synod 2007’s ethnic advisers were, from left (back row): Irene Bakker, Jonathon Kim, Helen Brent; (front row) Elaine Yu, Yatta Foryoh,

Delegates went with experience in electing Synod 2007’s officers.

The synod news team, providing news reports during synod and Banner coverage afterward: (back row, from left) Henry Hess, Gayla Postma, a

Synod 2007 made a historic decision that allows women who are elders and ministers to be delegated to synod starting next year.

Synod 2007 opened its last day with a service of repentance for personal and institutional racism, focusing particularly on a 1920 synodi

After receiving not one but two reports from the study committee looking at Third Wave Pentecostalism, Synod 2007 decided not to adopt ei

Synod 2007 made it more difficult to become a minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church without first obtaining the prescribe

Rarely are an individual’s contributions to the church noted by a formal act of synod.

Serving as women advisers to Synod 2007 were, from left, Kathy Vandergrift, Gloria Sanchez, Marilyn Baker, Mary Baas, Karen De Mol, Lydia

Rev. Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), brought greetings to this year’s synod.

“Can we as Christians in the East and West, the South and the North, engage as partners in God’s reconciling mission in spite