June 13, 2006, Grand Rapids, Mich. - Synod 2006 voted unanimously to appoint Rev. Gerard L. "Jerry" Dykstra to lead the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
Rev. Dykstra was the single nominee for the position of executive director. He will take up the position on July 1, 2006, succeeding Rev. Peter Borgdorff who is retiring,
During his interview by synod, Rev. Dykstra described his leadership model as that of a shepherd. A shepherd doesn't drag the sheep along behind him or push them ahead of him, he said. A shepherd walks with the sheep.
He said he had not sought the appointment, but that God had brought him to this place "and wherever God places me, I will serve." Rev. Dykstra, 56, has been a minister in the CRC since 1990, serving congregations in Michigan and California. For the past year he has served as the CRC's director of denominational ministries.
Asked about potentially troublesome issues facing the Christian Reformed Church, Rev. Dykstra noted that the church still struggles with division on the issue of women in ecclesiastical office. He said homosexuality is an issue that also "has the potential for tearing us apart," and warned that in its desire to uphold the holiness of God, the church must not lose sight of the people Christ came to redeem.
After making the appointment, synod surrounded Rev. Dykstra and his wife, Linda, with prayer.
In other business, synod approved the mandate of the Synodical Ministerial Candidacy Committee (SMCC), which was established to oversee the nurture and training of men and women preparing for ministry in the CRC.
It also witnessed the unveiling of a painting commissioned in honor of the CRC's 150th anniversary next year. The painting by Grand Rapids artist and retired Calvin College art professor Chris Stoffel Overvoorde depicts a host of figures from the churches history gathered around a communion table.
Synod also approved a 3.5 percent increase in ministry share for 2007, bringing it to $289.88 per adult professing member.
For more information visit www.crcna.org or call Henry Hess, Synod News Officer, at 616-526-8654.
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