July 2017

A new director. A new agency. A new—and surprising—name

Synod 2017, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, denied an appeal

After long and careful consideration, Synod 2017 adopted the Belhar Confession as a non-binding, footnoted contemporary testimony.

In short order, Synod 2017 (the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church) approved a complex set of revisions to the corporate bylaws

When Amy Vander Vliet and Paul De Weerd came to synod in 2010, they and five others were featured on the cover of The Banner.

Aaron Abma is one of 10 students from across the United States selected for the Lilly Fellows Graduate Program.

Synod 2017 met the Christian Reformed Church’s new director of Chaplaincy and Care on Monday.

Nate Dreesmann brought greetings to Synod 2017 from the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterian Church

When Christian Reformed Church chaplains gathered for their annual conference, they celebrated their 75th anniversary by honoring 12 “pioneers of the past.” 

Synod 2017 accepted a request from its daughter church in Sierra Leone to forge an ecumenical relationship.

We can all be extraordinary.

It wasn’t a quiet week in Palos Heights, Ill., when Synod 2017 convened at Trinity Christian College.

In a country where churches are shrinking, the Dutch Reformed Church has maintained its number of members since 2014.

On Tuesday morning, a group of East African church leaders spoke in a panel discussion at Synod 2017,

Christian Reformed Church executive director Steven Timmermans spent part of his annual state of the church address to Synod 2017 defending the denomination’s social justice ministries.

For Rev. John Medendorp and Ashley Bootsma, a match made in heaven started at Synod 2016

In a calm and factual manner, using packed PowerPoint slides, Patrick Jok of the Sudanese Reformed Church presented both the hope and the horror of South Sudan 

Schoolteacher, missionary pastor, church planter, chaplain, superb athlete, loving father, model caregiver.

Interested in ministry from an early age and actively preaching through his 92nd year,

Jelle Nutma lived the last 21 years of his life with limitations as the result of a debilitating stroke,

Prior to serving as a pastor and chaplain for 65 years, Samuel Vander Jagt served his country with distinction during WW II.

It took only a few minutes for Synod 2017 to unanimously pass a minor change to the Council of Delegates Governance Handbook

Two-and-a-half years after starting the process of unifying Christian Reformed World Missions and Christian Reformed Home Missions into a new mission agency,

Only a week after returning from the mission field in Haiti, Rev. Zachary King is preparing to direct the Christian Reformed Church’s new mission agency,

Synod 2017, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, took steps to define and regulate the office of commissioned pastor. 

Synod 2017 denied a request from Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse) to be included on the Christian Reformed Church’s list of accredited agencies for church offerings.

Risimati Hobyane and Henk Stoker traveled from Potchefstroom to bring greetings to Synod 2017 from Reformed Churches of South Africa (GKSA).

Synod 2017 affirmed again the denomination’s commitment to the poor and the hungry.

This June, after decades of dedication and leadership, Peter Vandermeulen will retire

This is what denominational restructuring looks like:

Beginning in 2018, the synod of the Christian Reformed Church, the denomination’s general assembly, encourages its churches,

In response to an instruction from Synod 2016, the current synod (the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church) divided into groups

This year’s synod elected an executive with 17 years combined synod experience, but only one has experience as an officer.

Delegates of Synod 2017 learned about the work of Global Christian Forum (GCF) from David Han on Tuesday

Cornelius Pool, in his capacity as president of Synod 2017, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, gave a final address to synod, urging delegates to keep pressing on.

In a ceremony marked by joy and laughter,

It began with a missed email.

Synod 2017 chose not to follow up on a West Michigan church’s request for guidance on same-sex issues.

Synod 2017, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), briefly looked at the question of funding for divinity students.

Synod, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, has set the week preceding the third Sunday in October as Disability Awareness Week. 

In anticipation of joint meetings planned for 2018, Synod 2017, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), explored three alternatives for the future of the partnership

Four fraternal delegates from Africa brought greetings to Synod 2017 in a panel discussion.

Synod 2017 discussed declining church membership and responded with a few directives. 

Many classes (regional groups of churches) and individual congregations make requests to synod. Here are some of the requests

In an interview with The Banner, the vice president of synod Thea Leunk expressed concern and cautious optimism

The Banner is pleased to announce the appointment of Alissa Vernon as news editor

At Synod 2017, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, there are two Ed Vissers and two Kathy Smiths.

To enhance a planned joint session with the Reformed Church in America (RCA), Synod 2018 will be hosted by a church that symbolizes unity between the denominations.

Synod 2017 allowed a church in Classis Wisconsin (a regional group of churches) to move to a neighboring classis 

On Monday evening during Synod 2017, about 35 women met to discuss—and celebrate— their roles as female leaders