Armed with a colorful, water-squirting blaster, Synod 2022’s sergeant-at-arms is pastor Daryl J. DeKlerk, Classis B.C. Southeast. Addressing synod’s president Jose Rayas from the floor of synod Friday morning, Deklerk found the microphone was not on. “You’ll have to talk loud,” suggested a fellow delegate. Raising his voice, DeKlerk said, “That’s my job, so I’ll talk loud.” The sergeant-at-arms each year is tasked with encouraging delegates back to the meeting session after a break so sessions can start on time.
DeKlerk thanked synod for the responsibility, joking that the assignment is one that is well-suited to someone with imposing physicality. (DeKlerk is 5 feet, 7 inches tall.) Rayas replied, quoting, “The stature of a man is not to be measured from his feet to his head but from his head to heaven.”
This is DeKlerk’s first year to be delegated to synod. He is pastor of East Hill Community Christian Reformed Church in Vernon, B.C.
Synod 2022 is meeting June 10-16 at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. Find daily coverage from The Banner news team at thebanner.org/synod, download the Banner app on your mobile device, follow The Banner Magazine on Facebook, or subscribe to the daily synod news digest. On Twitter follow #crcsynod or twitter.com/crcna. Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church (it did not gather in 2020 or 2021). Connect to the meeting’s livestream, read advisory committee reports, and find other resources at crcna.org/synod.
About the Author
Alissa Vernon is the news editor for The Banner.