At Synod 2017, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, there are two Ed Vissers and two Kathy Smiths. The Eds, Edward W. of Classis Hamilton and Edward C. of Classis Atlantic Northeast, first came to each other’s attention in seminary.
Ed W. was actually in seminary; Ed C. was about to be. A check arrived in Ed W.’s mailbox at Calvin Seminary, a sizable check. It was written to Ed Visser. He took it as his own and cashed it. He had received unexpected gifts before. He was a Canadian student, struggling financially. He took it as a gift from the Lord. The problem was the check, a check from Classis Lake Erie, was for the pre-seminary student, Edward C. To his surprise, Ed. W. was taken into an office and told that he had cashed someone else’s check.
Kathy S. Smith is the adjunct professor of church polity at Calvin Theological Seminary (as well as an associate director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship). In her role as an expert on church polity she attends every synod. Kathy N. Smith is an elder delegate to Synod 2017 from Classis B.C. North-West. This is her first synod. She has been the chair of her council and active in her classis. They had not met until this year’s synod.
Synod 2017 is meeting at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., from June 9-15. For continuous coverage while synod is in session, 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.
About the Author
Clayton Libolt was the long time pastor of River Terrace Church in East Lansing, Mich. Since his retirement, he has served in a variety of interim positions. He is presently serving as the interim senior pastor of Sonlight Community CRC in Lynden, Wash.
