wfn.org | CRC NEWS: Synod 2008 Opens Historic Session

["Henry Hess" <hessh@crcna.ca>]

June 14, 2008 - Synod 2008 of the Christian Reformed Church in North  America made history by welcoming women as delegates and then by  electing a woman to its executive.

Rev. Thea Leunk, pastor of Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church in  Grand Rapids, was elected as vice president of the Christian Reformed  Church in North America's annual general assembly, which opened Saturday  morning at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Rev. Joel Boot, the pastor of Ridgewood CRC in Jenison, Mich., was  elected as president of synod for the second year in a row.

"Sisters and brothers, this has been a long time in coming. This is an  historic occasion. I consider it to be a distinct honor and privilege to  be leading you through this," said Boot in his opening remarks.

"Last year's synod made what is happening at this synod permissible.  This year's synod must show that this is possible."

Last year's synod voted to allow women to serve as delegates, a change  that this year has brought 26 women to synod among the 188 delegates.

Elected as first clerk of this year's synod was Rev. Leslie Kuiper,  pastor of First CRC in Oostburg, Wisc. Rev. Laryn Zoerhof, pastor of  First CRC in De Motte, Ind., was elected second clerk.

Delegates to synod, which is scheduled to meet June 14-21, will discuss  and make decisions on issues ranging from a revised contemporary  testimony to a review of the form of subscription that church  officebearers must sign.

Also on the agenda is a recommendation to enter into full fellowship  with the Protestant Church of the Netherlands as well as an extensive  report calling for a more pastoral approach to ministering to persons  who have been abused as well as the abusers themselves.

Rev. Richard Verkaik, pastor of the River Walk Community CRC in Battle  Creek, Mich., the convening church for Synod 2008, opened the morning  session by welcoming the women delegates. He called on all delegates to  do their job in love and with consideration for all of the views and  beliefs that they bring to the meeting.

"The church wins if you serve in love," he said. "If you love ... God  will be glorified and what would be better than that."

Verkaik also asked for prayers for agencies of the CRC, particularly the  Christian Reformed World Relief Committee that "must be stretched to its  very limits responding to all of the world's crises overseas" and now in  the Midwest that has been battered by tornadoes, heavy rains and floods.

During the opening session, delegates and visitors filled the Fine Arts  Center with their voices of praise. In addition, Rev. Herman Keizer,  director of the CRC's Chaplaincy Services, introduced the more than 80  CRC chaplains who were in town to attend an annual chaplain's  conference.

Rev. Jerry Dykstra, executive director of the CRCNA, ended the morning  session by telling delegates that they will be asked to work hard in  various study committees prior to the first plenary session of synod,  which could be Monday.

The Christian Reformed Church in North America is a Protestant  denomination with about 275,000 members in 1,000 congregations in the  United States and Canada.  For more information visit www.crcna.org.