Synod

The Synodical Services Office is in the process of preparing for the meeting of Synod 2026, scheduled to meet virtually on May 27 to elect officers and to meet on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI, United States, June 12-18. Members can watch for information to be added over the coming months to the Synod website at crcna.org/Synod.

Below you will find information for Synod 2026.

Agenda Materials - Overtures and Communications 

Please submit any overtures and communications for Synod 2026 adopted by your classis to the Office of General Secretary (synod@crcna.org) by March 15. Be sure to review the Overture and Communication Process document and share at your next classis meeting to assist member churches with the rules for submitting overtures and communications. As items become available, they will be posted to crcna.org/synodresources.

Appointment of Delegates

• Appoint your classis delegates to synod and forward the completed “Credentials for Synod” to the Synodical Services Office by March 15. Stated clerks are expected to include the full names of all delegates and their alternates as well as ensuring that their contact information and office is correct.

• Stated Clerks are responsible to indicate whether language interpretation is needed for any of their delegates.

• Synod 2023 decided that: “each classis shall ordinarily delegate one minister, one elder, one deacon, and one other officebearer to synod. A classis may send no more than two delegates bearing the same office (Church Order Article 45).” You must still send one delegate from each office if you are able. If you are unable, you may send two delegates from two of the offices.

• Please also give careful consideration to the decision of Synod 2019, which encouraged that “each classis include at least one woman or one ethnic minority person in its delegation” (Acts of Synod 2019, pp. 814-15). Synod 2019 also encouraged classes “to send one or more delegates to synod for two consecutive years, if possible, to build continuity from synod to synod” (Acts of Synod 2019, pp. 809-10).

• Synod 2011 adopted rules to ensure the reasonable accommodation of disabled and nondisabled persons alike at synod (Acts of Synod 2011, pp. 817-18). When delegates register they will have an opportunity to share with us how we can make their experience more meaningful.

Who is eligible to serve as a delegate? 

• Church Order Supplement, Article 5-a states that officebearers who hold a confessional-difficulty gravamen should “recuse oneself from being delegated to broader assemblies while the confessional difficulty remains unresolved” (Church Order and its Supplements 2024, p. 16). Councils and classes are asked to keep these decisions in mind as they appoint delegates to Synod 2025.

• Employees of the CRCNA cannot serve as delegates to synod, unless they receive prior approval from the General Secretary.

• Ministers of the Word serving a local congregation, as well as those serving in noncongregational ministry (unless classis rules prevent it) qualify to serve as minister delegates. 

• Retired ministers of the Word must be serving either in a specialized ministry (e.g., chaplaincy, transitional pastor) or as an elder or deacon to be delegated. They should be delegated according to the office they are currently serving in. Some classes have adopted rules with regard to the appointment of retired ministers as delegates to synod (please consult your classis rules). 

• RCA pastors called as ministers of the Word to serve CRC congregations are eligible to serve as delegates (see Church Order Supplement, Article 8, D, 10). 

• Elder and deacon delegates must be ordained in their respective offices at the time of synod (ministers should not be appointed to serve as elders or deacons unless serving in the office of elder or deacon at the time of synod).

• Commissioned pastors (see Church Order Supplement, Article 45):

  • if serving in emerging churches and associate staff positions may only be delegated as elder delegates to synod. 

  • if serving as a solo pastor of an organized congregation may only be sent as ministerial delegates to synod. 

Expectations of Delegates

• Delegates are expected to attend the virtual convening session on May 27, 2026, 7:00 - 10:00 pm Eastern. 

• Delegates are expected to arrive on time and attend all scheduled meetings of synod on June 12-18, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

• Delegates, and alternates, are asked to complete the Delegate to Synod Information form by March 15 or earlier.

• As a reminder, all delegates who need to cross an international border will need an enhanced Drivers License, passport or Nexus card. If you need a new passport, please give yourself a minimum of 8 weeks for this process.

• The document, What to Expect as a Delegate to Synod, is a helpful tool to learn more about the logistics and expectations for Synod 2026.

Virtual Convening Session of Synod 2026

At its October 2024 meeting, the Council of Delegates adopted a recommendation to move forward with a virtual convening session of Synod 2025 and following.

As part of these recommendations, classes and Stated Clerks are asked to ensure all delegates have access to a device and internet for the convening session, whereas synod will ensure that all delegates have access to a device, if needed, and internet for the in person sessions of synod. Stated Clerks and Classes are also asked to support the Office of General Secretary in providing technological support to delegates in accessing the secure delegate website and Zoom meeting. Lastly, classes are asked to ensure that all delegates are able to attend both the virtual May 27 session as well as the in person sessions from June 12-18, in Grand Rapids, MI.

Advisers and Young Adult Representatives

Synod has benefited from having ethnic advisers (since 1995) and young adult representatives (since 2010) who attend synod and offer input into the deliberations. We ask that you consider nominating young adult persons and persons from our ethnic minority communities to add to the diversity of voices in the classis delegations to synod.

1. Ask the nominee(s) to complete the “Adviser and Representative Nominee Form”

2. Please complete the “Adviser and Representative Nomination Form”

Nominations are due to the Office of General Secretary by January 10, 2026.

Appointments of young adult representatives and ethnic advisers to synod will be made by the Council of Delegates (COD) in February 2025; correspondence will be sent to all nominees following the COD meeting.

Praying for Synod 2026

Rev. Jon Hoekema, the denominational prayer shepherd, will be leading a number of prayer initiatives in preparation for synod. The COD approved the theme of God’s Faithfulness for synod prayer and worship this year, in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of Calvin University and Theological Seminary. We will once again be walking through 40 days of prayer before synod. To learn more, please visit crcna.org/synod/prayer or email synodprayer@crcna.org to get involved.

As part of the celebration of God’s faithfulness, we are asking each church and/or classis to send pictures, videos (3 minutes), and stories of God’s faithfulness in their context to synod@crcna.org. Many of these videos, stories, and photos will be displayed throughout synod worship times.

For your convenience and easy access, refer to the Synod page on the Stated Clerk website to access the documents mentioned in this correspondence. We are extremely grateful for your assistance to the Synodical Services Office in preparing for synod. It is a privilege to serve with you!

Please email the Synodical Services Office (synod@crcna.org) or call  (616-224-0733) with any questions.

January – March 

• Classes appoint four delegates and alternates to synod during their winter meetings

March 15 

• Synod Credentials and Delegate Information forms due to the Synodical Services Office

• All Agenda for Synod items due to the Synodical Services Office

April

• Initial “Welcome” email is sent from Synodical Services Office in early April

• Email sent to delegates and advisers regarding access to the Synod Site (all business conducted via this Site)

• Agenda for Synod available in digital version mid-April

• Program Committee (officers of the previous synod) meets mid-April to make assignments to the advisory committees

• Important synod information is posted to the Synod Site late-April for delegate response

  • Review Program Committee Report (contains delegate assignments to advisory committees and materials assigned)

  • Plan travel (refer to Travel Guidelines before booking flights)

  • Complete synod delegate and adviser Registration Form (due by mid-May)

  • Submit nominations for synod officers (due by mid-May)

  • Watch/listen to synod orientation series

• Log-in to Synod Site by end of April

May

• Delegate and Adviser registration and nominations for synod officers due mid-May

• Synod Agenda Supplement is posted (be sure to read—considered with the Agenda for Synod)

• On the Wednesday 3 weeks prior to synod a virtual convening session is held to elect officers

June

• Synod gathers in person

For more information about submitting an Overture or Communication to synod, see the process available at here.

Following is a list of definitions of the major types of matters legally before synod (see Rules for Synodical Procedure 2023, p. 12, downloadable at: crcna.org/SynodResources).

1. Appeal:

An appeal is a procedure by which a decision or action of an assembly, board, agency, or committee is brought to the appropriate assembly for review in light of existing policies and standards of the church.

2. Communication:

A communication is a document presenting information, ideas, thoughts, opinions, complaints, or objections for consideration of the assemblies. A communication is distinguished from an overture in that an overture proposes specific action, and a communication does not. One type of communication is a protest, which expresses a complaint or objection to a decision or course of action followed by an assembly. An assembly is not required to take any action with respect to a communication.

3. Overture:

An overture is a formal written proposal sent to an assembly requesting adoption or amendment of a policy or other legislative action by the assembly.

4. Report:

A report is a document of a board, committee, or agency of an assembly indicating the work performed in response to assembly mandates and presenting recommendations for assembly action.

Following is a list of “Matters Legally before Synod,” including the deadline for overtures in section 8 below. (See Rules for Synodical Procedure 2023, pp. 12-15; and the Church Order and Its Supplement at crcna.org/SynodResources.)

All materials should be submitted as Microsoft Word documents by the legal due date. Pdfs will not be accepted. 

1. Gravamina: 

Gravamina come in as overtures (if from a classis) or appeals (if a classis has turned down a gravamen and the individual or council sends it to synod). Gravamina should be clearly identified as such in the language of the overture or appeal, such as “Classis so-and-so overtures synod, as a confessional revision gravamen, to change the Canons of Dort in such-and-such a way.” (For further guidelines and regulations see Supplement, Article 5.)

2. Reports:

Reports of standing committees, boards, study committees, and task forces appointed by previous synods.

3. Overtures and Communications to Synod:

   1. Overtures and communications from a classis (whether originated by or adopted by a classis) or from an assembly organized according to Article 44-b of the Church Order.

(Acts of Synod 1993, p. 574)

2. Overtures and communications which have failed to gain adoption of a council and/or classis but which an individual or council desire to submit for synod’s consideration:

   1. Overtures and communications from a council (whether originated by or adopted by council) which have been submitted to classis but not adopted by classis as its own.

   2. Overtures and communications of an individual which have been submitted to council and classis but which have not been adopted by either council or classis.

   3. Overtures and communications of an individual which were submitted to council, adopted by council as its own, and submitted to classis by council, but which classis has not adopted as its own, which council has not submitted to synod, and which the initiating individual submits to synod.

3. Assemblies and members should refrain from overtures, appeals, or communications which are repetitious or mere expressions of agreement or disagreement with matters already on the agenda of synod.

   2. 1. 1. 1. The general secretary is authorized to omit such items from the printed Agenda. In such cases they shall merely be listed and accepted as communications. The senders shall be notified, and their materials shall be given to one of the advisory committees of synod to be received as information. Matters received as information will not ordinarily be mentioned in advisory committee reports or the Acts of Synod.

4. Appeals in Which the Judicial Code Has Not Been Invoked:

(For procedural rules governing appeals, see Supplement, Article 30-a- 30-b, Part B.)

5. Appeals and Other Matters Properly Presented to Synod under the Provisions of the Judicial Code:

(See Supplement, Article 30-c for the Judicial Code.)

6. Application for Candidacy by Persons Not Recommended by the Candidacy Committee:

(For the applicable procedural rules see Supplement, Article 30-b, Part A.)

7. Unprocessed Overtures or Communications:

Overtures or communications of an individual when such a person has been unable first to present such to council and classis. Such matters shall be received as information, provided that the general secretary receives evidence that it was impossible for the communicant to present the matter to council and classis. Synod shall decide whether to act upon such matters received as information.

8. Late Reports and Overtures:

No study reports or recommendations from boards or standing committees which affect doctrinal or ethical statements or Church Order provisions received by the general secretary after September 15 or overtures received after March 15 shall be considered by synod, with the exception of overtures which deal with matters relevant to reports found in the printed Agenda. Any other overture or study report shall be considered only by special decision of synod on the basis of most weighty grounds.

9. The Printed Agenda and Study Committee Reports:

Study committee reports shall be filed with the general secretary on or before September 15, and the general secretary shall distribute them to the churches no later than November 1. The Agenda shall be published not later than early April. It shall include reports of standing, study, and special committees; overtures of classes, councils, or individuals; printed appeals; notices of non-printed appeals; a list of communications; the name of the delegates; and pertinent announcements, with the understanding, however, that the Council of Delegates, upon recommendation of the general secretary, may, for good cause, determine not to print an item or to print an abbreviated version. If an abbreviated version is printed, the entire item shall be forwarded to the appropriate advisory committee of synod. Items not printed shall be listed in the Agenda. All such material shall be in the hands of the general secretary not later than the following deadlines: September 15 for study committee reports; February 15 for the reports of standing committees and authorized representatives; ten days after conclusion of board meetings for board reports, but not later than March 1; and March 15 for overtures and appeals.

10. Supplementary Reports:

The Council of Delegates of the CRCNA, including reports by Back to God Ministries International and Resonate Global Mission; the Board of Trustees of Calvin Theological Seminary; the Board of Trustees of Calvin University; the Board of World Renew; the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee; the Historical Committee; and the Candidacy Committee are permitted to file a supplementary report after March 15. These boards and standing committees are expected to incorporate as much of their materials as possible in the printed Agenda, and matters for the supplementary reports must be kept to a minimum.

11. Confidential Matters:

Non-printed appeals, communications, or other materials legally before synod judged by the General Secretary, in consultation with the Program Committee or Council of Delegates, to be confidential in nature, will be distributed only to the advisory committee to which they are assigned. Any disclosure of names in cases where such disclosure is judged to be potentially damaging to their reputation will be removed from the document, and the matter will be dealt with by the advisory committee in executive session.

(Acts of Synod 2013, p. 549; 2017, p. 641)

12. Other Matters:

All other matters may be considered which synod by a majority vote declares acceptable.

13. Nondenominational Organizations:

Nondenominational organizations receiving denominational support shall not ordinarily send speakers to synod. They may place displays at synod in designated areas.

Classes must delegate one minister, one elder, one deacon and one other officebearer to synod. A classis may send no more than two delegates bearing the same office (Church Order Article 45). By November of each year, the credentials for synod will be posted here for Stated Clerks to fill out and submit. 

The Stated Clerk is responsible for:

• accurately filling out the credentials with the delegates full name, and title, the office they currently serve, email address, and church membership

• ensuring that each delegate will be actively serving in their role for the duration of synod

• ensuring that the delegates are not currently under limited suspension (Acts of Synod 2024, p. 886-88)

• sending each delegate the Delegate Information Form and working with the Synodical Services office to ensure that each delegate fills it out