June 10, 2006 - The annual synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America convened today at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Rev. David Kromminga, the pastor of Sherman Street Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, welcomed the 186 delegates. Sherman Street CRC is the convening congregation for Synod 2006.
In his opening devotion Kromminga reminded synod of God's promise to Israel in Exodus 33 that he would be with them. That is what makes this gathering special, Kromminga said: "God is with us and he will lead his church, if we are willing."
Synod elected Rev. W. Wayne Leys as president, Rev. William Veenstra as vice president, elder William Weidenaar as first clerk, and Rev. Cecil Van Niejenhuis as second clerk.
Leys, 62, is the pastor of Community Life Christian Reformed Church in Lockport, Ill. This is his fourth synod. He is also the past chairman of the CRC's Board of Trustees.
Veenstra, 54, is senior pastor of the Ancaster (Ontario) Christian Reformed Church and the former director of Canadian Ministries. This is also his fourth time as a delegate.
Weidenaar, 69, is the only non-pastor on the executive. He is an elder at Grace Community CRC in Chicago and headed the denomination's board of trustees for several years. This is his third synod.
Van Niejenhuis, 51, is pastor of the First Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alberta. He has served on the boards of two of the denomination's agencies. This is his eighth synod.
While the four officers are veterans of 15 synods among them, none had ever served on the executive before.
Delegates will spend the rest of Saturday in committee meetings.
On Sunday, the synodical service of prayer and praise will be held at 3 p.m. at Sherman Street CRC. In the evening, delegates are invited to the Calvin Theological Seminary chapel to view the video "Our Family Album" about the history of the Christian Reformed Church.
Synod 2006 will reconvene on Monday morning.
For more information contact Henry Hess, Synod News Officer, at 616-526-8654 or visit www.crcna.org.
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