All officers elected to serve Synod 2019 took turns chairing during deliberations of the Christian Reformed Church’s general assembly. 

Synod 2019 is just the fourth annual general assembly of the CRC to include deacons as delegates. While not every classis sent a deacon delegate this year, deacons who came found the participation valuable and eye-opening.

Synod 2019 has moved ahead on stronger requirements to address abuse of power that happens all too often in the church.

Hearing and reading from a litany written by Sharon Fennema, delegates and gathered visitors lamented: “For the breaching of relationships and the abuse of sacred trust, we cry out.”

Sometimes it’s the slow train that eludes detection. 

Over the past 15 years, the office of commissioned pastor has burgeoned.

More pastors are trained now in places like Western Seminary, Regent College, and Fuller Seminary.

Synod 2019 made changes in how pastors who have been ordained in other churches can enter the CRC.

Bivocational pastors can help small churches maintain their life together when financial resources are scarce.

Church planters who come to synod said they sometimes feel like “fish out of water.” 

One group that was closely following the debate about a new ministry share system were the presidents of the colleges associated with the Christian Reformed Church.

Now that Synod 2019 has adopted radical changes to the ministry share system, how will the new system be rolled out?

Synod 2019 upends the ministry share system that has been in place for more than 150 years. 

Synod 2019 (annual meeting of the Christian Reformed Church) radically changed the ministry share system, but the change has been a long time coming. 

Synod 2019 joyfully welcomed 42 new candidates for the office of minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church.

Synod 2019 approved appointing a task force to study “the advisability, legality, and morality of ecclesiastical (non-civil) marriage.”

Before taking up the Abuse of Power report, Synod 2019 paused to listen to an interview that illustrated just how much damage abuse causes to so many people.

Synod 2019 (the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church) clarified the rules governing Judicial Code hearings

Synod 2019 didn’t assign missionaries to regions for financial support, but encouraged regions to consider it.

The CRC won’t keep an immigration lawyer on retainer.

Ecumenical delegates addressed Synod 2019, sharing experiences from their churches and encouraging the CRC in its work.

CCC was born in the throes of World War II. Noteboom said, “The pursuit of peace is built into our DNA.” 

The Reformed Church in America is at a crossroads.