Recruiting Synod Delegates

The selection of synodical delegates is one of the key roles that a classis must fulfill. Each year, by March 15, stated clerks must submit a document to the synodical services office indicating the four delegates (normally a pastor, elder, deacon, and one additional officebearer from any of those categories) who will represent their classis at the upcoming synod. The credentials form also indicates any alternates who could serve if one of the primary delegates is unable to attend. 

Most classes make the appointment process part of the winter or spring meeting agenda. While this is logical, it sometimes means that classes run out of time to fill these roles. In many cases, especially with elders and deacons, pastors make last-minute calls to officebearers they think might be available. Although most of these last-minute appointments serve well and faithfully, this process of “appointment by afterthought” seems less than ideal.

Ministers and commissioned pastors can view synod attendance as part of their ministry responsibilities. However, elders and deacons must find time beyond their ordinary schedules to read the agenda, travel, and participate in synod’s deliberations. Rather than lament the challenges, however, classes can also look at ways to invite leaders to see synodical delegation as a joyful opportunity. This may require some level of intentionality on the part of classis clerks and interim committees, but the entire church would benefit when classes are able to make deliberate and wise choices for those who would represent them at synod. Here are some suggestions for a more intentional, invitational process:

1. Start early. Remind churches already at the fall classis meeting that you will need to choose delegates in a few months, and encourage councils to set aside specific time to discuss this and presenting any nominee(s) ahead of the next classis meeting. Taking a week away to attend synod may require some adjustment to a potential delegate’s schedule, and advance notice helps provide time for these adjustments.
2. Make expectations clear. Provide a formal communication so that council members (especially those not present at classis to hear a verbal invitation) are clear about what’s being asked of synod delegates. The denominational web site provides information for potential synod delegates to explore what serving at synod might mean. Encourage councils to set aside specific time to discern who should be encouraged to serve in this way.
3. Tell stories. One of the best recruitment tools is the good experiences of delegates to a previous synod. Supplement your own delegates’ stories with those of officebearers from across the denomination (like this one). When delegates have enjoyed their time at synod and understand the importance of this role, they can inspire others to consider serving in this way.
4. Pray. Synod (and all church assemblies) are designed to be deliberative bodies.  (This document describes some of the spiritual aspects of synod). While no one comes as a blank slate, synod requires spiritually mature delegates who are willing to listen to the ways that the Spirit may speak through others at synod, including some with whom they may disagree. Also, although it is important to bring new voices into synod’s deliberations, it is also important to recognize the value of seasoned delegates. Synod is not designed as a kind of “denominational orientation” for new pastors, but requires leaders attentive to the direction of God’s leading for the CRC. Ask your churches to pray about who best embodies such a spirit. 
5. Actually decide. In some cases, classes defer decisions about synod delegates to the interim committee when volunteers are not available at the time of the classis meeting. This is contrary to Reformed polity, because it undermines the prerogative of classis delegates to determine who will represent them at synod. It also causes hard feelings when the process for appointing synod delegates is not clear: does the interim committee go with the first willing delegates? What if more than one individual volunteers for this role? Where the election of synod delegates is deferred, I’ve encouraged a special meeting of classis (over Zoom if necessary) to complete the vote.
6. Encourage humility and wonder. I’ve heard many people say that they’ve never understood the church as well as when they’ve seen it at synod - for better and for worse. In my experience, it’s mostly been for the better: to see the amazing things God is doing through the CRC, and to experience up close the variety of faithful servants of Christ who serve across the denomination.  And when things don’t go as we’d like, then we are able to see all the more the need to trust Christ’s power of grace and forgiveness to sustain the witness of his church.

These are conversations that require more than just a 10-minute window in the spring meeting of classis, but that are cultivated through an intentional return to these themes throughout the year. Classis is the place where denominational ministries are connected to the work of local congregations. The intentional formation of the necessary leadership qualities in our delegates to synod adds important value to that point of connection.