Synod 2017 Executive Has Fresh Faces

This year’s synod elected an executive with 17 years combined synod experience, but only one has experience as an officer.

Synod elected Cornelius Pool as president. Representing Classis California South, this is his ninth synod, his first time as an officer. Elected vice president was Thea Leunk, representing Classis Grand Rapids East. This is Leunk’s third synod. She also served as vice president in 2008, the first woman to fill that role, and as first clerk in 2012.

Rudy Gonzalez, also from California South, is attending his second synod, and this is his first time as an officer. He was elected first clerk. Synod 2017 elected Ed Visser from Classis Hamilton as second clerk. This is his seventh synod, his first time as an officer.

Pool said he is honored to serve synod as its president. He predicts the top three items on the agenda will be the status of the Belhar Confession, the changes being recommended for Article 23 regarding commissioned pastors, and the massive change in administrative structure from a Board of Trustees to a much larger Council of Delegates.

“I hope that delegates will keep their eyes on Jesus,” he said. “As Rev. Drew Brown reminded us in worship this morning, this is about God’s kingdom, mission, and glory. It is not about building our own little kingdoms. Sometimes in the midst of all the details and minutiae of committee work, we can lose our focus.”

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.