Synod 2025: A Primer

As many of you know by now, Synod 2025 is happening June 13-19 in Ancaster, Ontario, at Redeemer University. What you may not know is what synod really does in that week of meetings. What goes on behind the scenes? I thought I’d take the time now to show you a glimpse of what goes on at synod. 

At this point at the beginning of June, we have published our Agenda for Synod 2025, portions of supplemental materials, and have already had our convening session to elect officers (see recording here). The agenda and supplement are materials from the Council of Delegates, different agencies and institutions, standing committees, study committees, and various classes or councils. All these groups, quite simply, either report to synod, have been given a task by synod, or are making a request of synod. They are given the deadline of March 15 each year to submit materials to synod. All agenda materials are submitted to me and I format them in a standardized document. They are then sent to Paul Faber in MSS for editing and cleaning up, reviewed again by Joel Vande Werken, and then sent to a publisher for final editing and eventual publication.

Since synod doesn’t happen until June, some groups (such as the Council of Delegates and boards of various agencies) meet again after the March 15 deadline and make decisions, requests, and nominate new members. They are invited to submit supplemental materials to synod that get printed in the Acts of Synod (which also includes the minutes of synod). 

At the convening session on May 28, synod met over Zoom to elect the following officers:

President - Rev. Stephen Terpstra (Heartland)
Vice President - Rev. Ken Benjamins (Hamilton)
First Clerk - Rev. Josh Christoffels (Illiana)
Second Clerk - Rev. Gary van Leeuwen (Alberta South/Saskatchewan)

These officers will run the plenary sessions, keeping order, reviewing minutes, and making various rulings. They will also make up the Program Committee following synod, which will make various decisions for Synod 2026.

Delegates and staff will arrive on Redeemer’s campus June 10-12, ready to jump into plenary sessions on June 13. Plenary sessions are when all the delegates are together making decisions. We will have worship, training, and some formalities on June 13 in the morning before heading off to Advisory Committee meetings. 

There are 7 advisory committees this year, each committee handling a portion of the agenda that has been assigned to them by the Program Committee (last year's officers, if you’re tracking). This is one way that we have found to handle the large agenda in a manageable manner. Each committee reviews the materials assigned to it, discusses the recommendations and reports, and makes their recommendations to the body of synod. These committees meet the majority of Friday and Saturday, sometimes meeting over meals to finalize some language or recommendations.

Sunday is a day of worship and rest, with a Synodical Service of Praise and Prayer, led by the convening church. The convening church is chosen in advance to be the “host” church of synod, providing a president for synod until one can be elected, worship leadership, and volunteering in various capacities. This year, the convening church is First CRC in Chatham, Ontario with Rev. Nate Van Denend as the pastor. 

Monday morning begins the full plenary sessions, where the delegates take up the reports from the advisory committees. For the next 4 days, delegates will deliberate, make recommendations, and thank various volunteers. Some highlights of the work done at synod include the presentation of candidates (new ministers of the Word), hearing from ecumenical guests (delegates from denominations all over the world), facilitating Calvin Theological Seminary Faculty interviews, hearing of the retirements of various staff, ministers of the Word, and commissioned pastors, as well as celebrating our diversity through a banquet and worship in different languages.

Please remember to keep all the CRCNA staff attending synod in your prayers over the next few weeks. Please also keep the delegates, guests, and Redeemer staff in your prayers. They are all working hard, and many delegates are attending synod for the first time and unsure of what to expect. Please pray for safe travels, easy border crossings, and good health. 

Most of all, please pray for the denomination and that through synod, God’s glory may be seen.