The plan for a joint meeting of the synods is part of a move toward greater cooperation between the kindred denominations. “The opportunity to have our synods meet at the same time, in the same place will allow us to . . . continue the momentum that we have in joining together in mission and ministry,” said Paul Boice, director of communications for the RCA.

The Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has recommended that Synod 2012 accept an invitation from the Reformed Church in America (RCA) to hold their synods at the same time and in the same place in 2014.

The proposal — pending a favorable site review — is that both synods would meet on the campus of Central College in Pella, Iowa, with some sessions held jointly.

“Meeting at the same time at the same location would allow both groups to meet separately and at times together,” says Rev. Joel Boot, executive director of the CRCNA.
Boot made his remarks during a videoconference in which he gave CRC staff in Canada and the United States a rundown of the highlights of the Board of Trustee’s meeting in late February.

The plan for a joint meeting of the synods is part of a move toward greater cooperation between the kindred denominations.

“The opportunity to have our synods meet at the same time, in the same place will allow us to . . . continue the momentum that we have in joining together in mission and ministry,” said Paul Boice, director of communications for the RCA.

Boice said a recent joint classes meeting of CRC and RCA delegates in California is another example of the cooperation.

The joint classes meeting involved more than 150 CRC and RCA delegates, who gathered earlier this month Ripon, Calif. The CRC delegates represented the CRC Classes of Central California.

The joint meeting, and especially times of worship, was a wonderful chance for the RCA and CRC to celebrate the fact that they share similar traditions and “comparable convictions and commitments” allowing them to work and worship together in various ways, said Tom De Vries, the RCA’s general secretary.

More than 300 people attended the opening worship service at Almond Valley CRC. The sermon was delivered by Boot and De Vries.

“It was a great experience . . . to worship together, and then be able to share the preaching responsibility with Joel Boot,” De Vries says.

“These times of joint worship have been rare,” said De Vries.”I valued the opportunity to remind us that we are not two denominations, but one body.”

Two round-table discussions took place after worship the following morning. One was on seminary education and the other on joint church-planting efforts that are being undertaken by the CRC and RCA in four targeted zones in the United States.

Before closing worship, the RCA and CRC classes held meetings at which they conducted their own business.

Last year, the CRC’s Synod 2011 and the RCA’s General Synod 2011 met consecutively on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids. As their synod came to a close, CRC delegates held a joint session with the RCA, after which the two groups worshipped together in the Calvin College chapel.

A group of formerly RCA churches in West Michigan formed the new denomination in 1857.

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