June 9, 2007, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The annual synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America began its week-long meetings on Saturday at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich.
To mark the 150th anniversary of the denomination, synod was convened by pastors of the three oldest churches in the denomination: Rev. Mark Vande Zande of Noordeloos CRC, Holland, Mich.; Rev. William De Vries of First CRC, Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Rev. Stanley Scripps of Graafschap CRC, Holland, Mich.
In his opening address to synod, De Vries told delegates: "I bring you greetings from one of your mothers . . . and, by the way, if you make a mess this week, you'll have to clean it up yourself."
De Vries reflected on the reason for the prayer of the Apostle Paul for the church in Ephesians 1. He believes the reason is that Paul was responding to what God is already doing through the church. De Vries pointed out that that "the revelation of the wisdom of God in the world" has also been taking place within the CRC denomination for 150 years-although, he admitted that it is "sometimes hard to see." But that revelation has always been there because God insists on it.
De Vries went on to observe that the church will align itself with God's plan when it aligns itself with Christ's love, as it lifts up those who are crushed, outcast, and poor: "Living in us is God's plan for the new age." De Vries concluded with his own prayer for synod: "Because of what God is insisting on doing in this church, I pray that in this week you will know the love of Jesus Christ."
Synod elected Rev. Joel Boot as its president; Rev. Cecil Van Niejenhuis as its vice president, elder Henry Baron as first clerk, and Rev. Jake Kuipers as second clerk.
Boot is a pastor at Ridgewood CRC in Jenison, Mich. and has served as president before in 2004 and as vice-president in 2001. Van Niejenhuis is pastor of First CRC, Edmonton, Alberta. Elder Henry Baron is a professor-emeritus of Calvin College and a member of Neland Ave. CRC in Grand Rapids. Kuipers is a pastor at Ebenezer CRC, Trenton, Ont.
Looking ahead
Delegates will spend the rest of Saturday in advisory committees and enjoying an "International Cookout" with attendees of the Multiethnic Conference, also meeting on the Calvin campus.
On Sunday delegates will join 15,000 fellow CRC members in downtown Grand Rapids, in a special service of celebration marking the denomination's 150th anniversary.
Contact: Henry Hess, Synod News Officer, 616-526-8654, mailto:hessh@crcna.ca To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church, please visit www.crcna.org