Synod 2013 Elected Experienced Executive

Synod 2013 will be guided by an executive with 27 years of combined experience.

Rev. William Koopmans, Classis Chatham, will serve as president for the week. This is his 15th synod, eighth as a delegate, with seven more representing various synodical committees. He also served as president in 2009.

Koopmans invited delegates to intentionally make this a synod of prayer. “We cannot anticipate what the discussions will be. There will be times of enthusiasm, times of tediousness, and times of weariness, but through the leading of God, we will accomplish significant work for the kingdom of God,” he said.

Rev. Reginald Smith, Classis Grand Rapids South, will serve synod as vice president. This is his third synod. He is also pastor of the host church of Synod 2013, Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church.

Elder Loren Veldhuizen, Classis Heartland, will serve as synod’s first clerk. This is Veldhuizen’s third synod. He has also served most recently as a member of the CRC’s Board of Trustees.

Rev. William Verhoef, Classis California South, will be second clerk. This is his 10th synod and second time serving on the executive.

Koopmans said he does not expect this to be a contentious synod. “I think it will be significant in terms of visioning,” he said, “where is God leading us together as a denomination while recognizing our diversity and trying to build positive momentum.”

Synod 2013 is meeting at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. from June 7-14. For continuous Banner coverage of Synod 2013, please follow The Banner on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted at www.thebanner.org several times daily. For CRC Communications releases, webcast, and live blogging, please visit www.crcna.org/synod. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are by Karen Huttenga.