Summer Shuffle

This is what denominational restructuring looks like: 120 staffers in the denominational building in Grand Rapids, each taking his or her chair, placing a box or two of personal items in the chair, and scooting down the hallway from one part of the building to another. The desks stay; the chairs and the people move. The “summer shuffle,” as it is called, takes place June 29 and 30.

The reorganization of the building accommodates the reorganization of the denominational agencies in three ways. First, it brings together the staffs of what were until now two mission agencies, World Missions and Home Missions, into one new mission agency. Second, the move provides space in the denominational building for the media ministry Back to God Ministries International, which is moving to Grand Rapids from Palos Heights, Ill. Third, it groups together, as far as possible, the various ministries and agencies housed in the building in relationship to the categories of ministry included in the set of ministry priorities adopted by synod: faith formation, servant leadership, global mission, mercy and justice, and gospel proclamation.

Transition managers Colin Watson, director of ministries and administration, and John Bolt, director of finance and operations, expressed optimism that the complex move would go well. They have instructed the staff to give it a month before making changes.

Synod 2017 is meeting at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., from June 9-15. For continuous coverage, download the Banner app on your mobile device or follow The Banner Magazine on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted at thebanner.org several times daily. For CRC Communications releases and the webcast, please visit crcna.org. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are by Karen Huttenga.