The oldest and youngest delegates at Synod 2022 are both from Classis Zeeland, so they sat beside each other the whole week. Shane Langeland, 22, and Bob Brower, 82, attend separate churches and didn’t meet until synod. This is Langeland’s first synod and Brower’s fifth.
Langeland, a deacon, didn’t see his age as a factor in his role. “Scripture is clear in how we serve the church, and I don’t think it’s different for ages,” he said.
Brower, an elder, said he’s been “impressed with the younger generations,” and Langeland added, “I’ve been blessed to have wisdom from older generations.”
The average age of the Synod 2022 delegates is 54 years.
Synod 2022 is meeting at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich., from June 10-16. Find daily coverage from The Banner news team at thebanner.org/synod, download the Banner app on your mobile device, or follow The Banner Magazine on Facebook. 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
With a passion for words and creativity, Kristen Parker has been a freelance news correspondent for The Banner since 2019. She became the communications coordinator for Canada with Christian Reformed Church Communications in 2025. Kristen and her husband Chris, enjoy running and thrift shopping. They attend Stratford CRC in Stratford, Ont.
