The ethnic advisors to Synod 2016 are Darleen Litson, John Lendein, and Sheila Johnson.
Litson, from Classis Red Mesa, said she enjoyed being part of the advisory committee as a smaller, more intimate group for interaction. The larger assembly is a more difficult place to feel at home.
Johnson, Grand Rapids, Mich, said she enjoyed being part of an assembly of people who love the Lord and who want to move forward in serving the Lord. She also experienced a sense of belonging as part of multicultural discussions.
Lendein calls Edmonton, Alta., home and is enjoying meeting different people and watching synod at work. This is his second time as an ethnic advisor. As someone who has worked hard to have his home church, Bethel CRC, change from being a monocultural to a multicultural congregation, he appreciates synod’s increased diversity.
Up to seven ethnic advisors can be appointed to synod, but that number is decreased if the percentage of delegates to synod who are from ethnic backgrounds increases.
Synod 2016 is meeting at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., from June 10-17. For continuous Banner coverage, please follow The Banner Magazine on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted at thebanner.org several times daily. For CRC Communications releases, webcast, and live blogging, please visit crcna.org/synod. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are by Karen Huttenga.
About the Author
George Vink is retired after 50 years as a Christian Reformed pastor. One of his sons is an accident investigator for the Calgary (Alta.) Police Service, and his two brothers are retired from that position. He and his wife, Shirley, are members of Covenant CRC in Cutlerville, Mich.
