Fresh Faces on Synod 2018 Executive

Pictured, left to right: Cal Hoogendoorn, Scott Greenway, Elizabeth Vander Haagen, Mary-Lee Bouma

Delegates to Synod 2018 elected a young group (by synod standards) as its executive officers, a group that has only 11 synods between them but extensive experience serving the church. 

Scott Greenway, 54, is president. He has been to synod six times before and served as president in 2014. He is a pastor in Caledonia, Mich.

Elizabeth Vander Haagen, 43, at her second synod, was elected vice-president. She has served as president of Classis Grand Rapids East, a regional group of churches in Michigan. She is a pastor in Grand Rapids, Mich. 

Mary-Lee Bouma, 55, is also at her second synod. She was elected first clerk. A pastor in Vancouver, B.C., she serves on the synodical committee for the theology of human sexuality.

Cal Hoogendoorn, 57, will be second clerk. This is his fourth synod. He has served on the denomination’s Board of Trustees and Council of Delegates and has served on several denominational boards and study committees. He is a pastor in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Greenway said he is looking forward to a great week. “I hope we can make headway on how we work together as a denomination considering our differences over social justice. People have different passions—human life, immigration,” he said. Echoing the message from the morning worship, he said that it if turns into winners and losers, some people go home disenfranchised and the church loses.

His advice to delegates? “Get to know your fellow delegates. Listen to them, hear their stories.” And, he added, do what the president says!

Synod 2018 is meeting at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., from June 7-14. 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.