On 21 June, the general synod of 2024 opened. The first meeting is scheduled for 12 November. What happens in that intervening period and what precedes a synod? In short: how does the synod work? A nice infographic in The Alarm Clock 20 September 2024 gives a picture of the whole process.
Long preparation
The various deputies and committees of the CGK have to account for their work and submit a proposal for their activities in the coming period. After the inaugural meeting, various committees set to work on those reports of the deputations. The reports of synod committees go to synod members so that they can prepare properly. In the meetings the reports are discussed and ultimately the synod takes decisions. These are recorded in a decision booklet.
Discuss and decide
At the meetings the reports are discussed and ultimately the synod takes decisions. These are recorded in a decision booklet.
Some of the topics
- A proposal to abolish private synods.
- An instruction the aims to admit children to the Lord's Supper.
- A proposal to achieve an overall classical redistribution.
- A report that aims to make missional churchhood much more decisive in the whole of church life.
- A proposal to amend provisions on marriage and divorce.
- A proposal to establish a national deputation for appellate matters and thus take this away from the classes.
On the composition of the synod
In 2019 the newspaper Reformatorisch Dagblad video below with a clear explanation of the general synod and the church structure of the CGK. The interview with the president of that synod, Rev Schenau, was recorded for the 2019 synod.
