Every year, as part of the rules of synod, delegates stand to indicate their agreement with a public declaration of the beliefs of the church. As Synod 2024 president Derek Buikema introduced the declaration this year, he asked people to consider carefully their ability to stand in agreement and directed those who could not to have a conversation with synod’s officers. The outcome of that conversation is not yet public.
Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It is meeting June 14-20 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Public Declaration of Agreement with the Beliefs of the CRCNA is found on page 30 in the Rules for Synodical Procedure.
The declaration specifies that delegates are “in full agreement with what the congregations of the Christian Reformed Church in North America confess.” Because Synod 2022 and Synod 2023 defined and reaffirmed “that ‘unchastity’ in Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108 encompasses adultery, premarital sex, extramarital sex, polyamory, pornography, and homosexual sex, all of which violate the seventh commandment” (p. 922 Acts of Synod 2022), there are overtures to Synod 2024 (Overture 67, deferred from 2023, for example) that call into question the ability for delegates who do not agree with that stance to rightly be seated as delegates. Buikema told synod they would not take those matters up yet. “I want to pledge to you that I’m going to do my utmost to operate within the accordance of the rules we’ve established.” He continued, “I’m going to rule that those (overtures relating to the seating of delegates) need to be processed by advisory committees before they come to the floor.”
This ruling was initially challenged, but delegates voted to sustain Buikema’s decision to proceed with the reading of the declaration and the response of delegates. Paul Verhoef, Classis Alberta South/Saskatchewan, asked for clarity. He said he has a confessional difficulty gravamen, a statement intended to “allow officebearers to honestly question doctrinal matters contained in our confessions,” and that his classis sent him knowing this. Ryan Schreiber, Classis Grand Rapids East, also asked for clarification, saying, “Everyone with a confessional difficulty gravamen should speak with you?”
Buikema confirmed that he was encouraging “anyone with a settled conviction that misaligns with the CRCNA should come to speak with us,” adding, “I’m going to trust your consciences. If there are questions, you can remain seated and come talk to the officers, and we can find a way to move forward.”
About 10 delegates remained seated and then had a group conversation with synodical officers in the officer’s lounge—a separate room where they could have a private conversation—after the opening session was completed.
Delegates are not scheduled to meet again in plenary until Saturday morning (June 15). No update on any outcome of the officers’ conversation will happen before that time.
Synod 2024 is meeting June 14-20 at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. Find daily coverage from The Banner news team at thebanner.org/synod. Visit crcna.org/synod for the synod schedule, webcast, recordings, photos, committee reports, and liveblog. Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church.
About the Author
Kristen Parker is a freelance writer. She has a passion for words and creativity. Kristen and her husband Chris, enjoy board games and thrift shopping. They attend Stratford CRC in Stratford, Ont.