Deputies on representation have sent the letter below to church councils on the upcoming General Synod.
As you may have already heard, the church council of Hoogeveen decided - with the advice and approval of the Private Synod of the North - to convene early the General Synod of 2027. The ‘weighty reasons’ for doing so (art. 50 R.D.), were put forward from three private synods, and can be summarised as: the need of the church body. With this letter, deputies of representation wish to inform you of a number of important matters in the run-up to the approaching General Synod.
Dates and calendar
Calling Church has since published the first dates. Deputies of representation wish to serve the synod and the moderate to be elected with substantiated proposals for how the synod might organise its work. In this letter, we outline a possible route that, given the exceptional situation in the churches, we believe could be considered. Of course, the General Synod itself determines its agenda and working method, in accordance with article 30 R.D. We will offer detailed proposals to the Synod itself.
Deo volente, an evening of prayer will take place on Monday 28 September from the Christian Reformed Church of Hoogeveen. On 29 September, the General Synod will then be opened in the usual way, and a moderation committee will be elected. What is different now is that the delegates will not return home after the first synodal duties, to spend the next few months mainly occupied with various dossiers in synodal committees of enquiry. Indeed, to do so, all the documents to be dealt with (instructions, deputation reports, etc.) would have to be available before the summer holidays, and that is impossible. Moreover, the deputies advise the synod to heed a call that is widely heard in the churches, to give priority at the Hoogeveen synod to discussion and decision-making regarding the situation in the churches. After all, this is also the reason for convening the synod early. In connection with the early General Synod, an early deadline is required for the submission of the documents to be put on the agenda. The church council of the calling church has set this date as 17 July next, and requested deputies to mention this date in their letter. The Church Council realises that it will not be possible to have all deputies' reports, instructions, etc. in by that date, and will ask the Moderator's Committee to be elected to consider this. However, the Church Council does want to insist that the documents relating to the situation in the church context be received by the specified date, so that they will be available if the Synod decides to follow the proposal of the Deputies on this point.
First session week
Therefore, delegates remain in the proposal of deputies representation the entire week of opening in Hoogeveen to set the agenda of the synod, and agree a process for ongoing reflection on the situation in the churches. During that week, the synod could consider the desirability of establishing a committee to guide the further process.
Second session week
In our proposal, this committee will prepare a second plenary session week (8 to 10 December), both in terms of content and organisation. This second session week will also be entirely devoted to the situation in the churches. This can be done, among other things, on the basis of a number of documents that were already before the Synod of 2024, but were not dealt with then. In one way or another, the questions concerning the nature and limits of the church and the understanding and authority of the Scriptures should then be addressed. The report Seek first the Kingdom of God can serve as a starting point for this in terms of content and spiritual intention. While this report does not have church status, it was received with great approval at the 2019-2022 Synod. It was also decided then to offer it to the churches for discussion and consideration. From the reflection, the synod should then draw preliminary conclusions, with an application to the current situation in our churches, possibly in different directions. In their first letter to you (dated 30 October 2025), the deputies already suggested a number of them, ranging between adaptation of the Presbyterian-synodal form of church-going to dissolution of the church body. According to the deputies, after this second week of session, the synod would do well to also seek dialogue with representatives of the churches that have organised and expressed themselves on the initiative of the Rijnsburg church council.
Third session week
Prior to a third session week, based on the preliminary conclusions, the synod could hold a consultation round in the churches, possibly by private synod. In the third session week (tentatively on 16 to 19 March 2027), the committee on church affiliation could report from the consultation round and organise further reflection. On the basis of proposals from the synod, the synod should then come to a decision on the situation in the church context. And also on the agenda for the continuation of the synod.
Fourth session week
As long as the denomination of the Christian Reformed Churches exists, the General Synod is bound to deal with ‘what could not be dealt with in the lesser [assemblies], or what belongs to the churches of the superior assembly in general (article 30 K.O.). Therefore, there should be the prospect of a fourth and possibly fifth session week, in which instructions, revision requests, deputation reports, etc. could be dealt with. However, deputies have advised the calling church not to set dates for these session weeks yet. Indeed, it is not inconceivable that after the decisions of the third session week, local churches and also deputies may feel the need to process those decisions and draw consequences for themselves. It is also possible that the synod may deem it advisable to conduct a new round of consultations with the churches after decisions in the third week. If the synod can proceed to deal with deputation reports, etc., it must be able to prepare properly. That too requires time.
Composition
It seems of great importance to us that the delegation to the General Synod from the churches will be as broad as possible. We therefore appeal to all ministers who have the opportunity to do so to make themselves available to be delegated either as primus or secundus. For the legality of the meeting, see: annex 11. Deputies assume that churches that have committed themselves as ‘participants’ in the Rijnsburg initiative will not send delegates to the General Synod, as they are organising towards their own synodal structure and in their publications deny the legitimacy of the Hoogeveen General Synod. The assessment of their ecclesiastical position is in the first instance up to the classis and in the last instance up to the General Synod. Deputies deeply regret that it is expected that brothers from the 33 churches of the Rijnsburg group can no longer be called upon. They will be sorely missed. Deputies would like to urge that the synod, even in their absence, will take them into account because of the deep connection with these churches as well. See further on composition Annex 22.
Unity in the municipality
Deputies are reaching signals of increasing tension, or even splits in local congregations. Without knowing the local circumstances, these signals fill deputies with great emotion. In all their meetings they pray for the local churches. That unity may be preserved there. This is always a gift of God's grace, but it also requires our commitment.
Collaboration
In preaching, let the fullness of God in Christ and through the Spirit be displayed. That binds together! Invest in the community, in which it is becoming increasingly difficult to let go of one another. As a congregation, also reach out to those on the outside, which helps to avoid being completely overwhelmed and paralysed by what is happening ‘inside’. Rejoice in the good that God gives despite the great need and our guilt. In many congregations these weeks, young people are publicly professing their faith. The Spirit is working. Godlof!
Unified leadership
Let church councils be united, even if they do not agree on everything. This is possible if each minister realises that he or she may serve the congregation as a whole, and may seek together with his or her fellow ministers what best serves the honour of God and the spiritual welfare of the congregation. What we ask of each other at a synod also already applies in the church council: preferably we take a decision unanimously, but if that is not possible, the minority joins the majority, so that one can face the congregation as a unit. Unless one with a conscientious objection would like to take the ecclesiastical path of revision and appeal. This does not break the unity, as all ministers have signed up for this path. But going down an individual track, with or without the knowledge of the church council, rarely does any good.
Pentecost
We celebrated the feast of Pentecost. The life of the first Christian congregation is drawn to us in Acts 2. Remarkably, Luke gives such a congregational profile again and again further on. Even after the first tribulation, after the first deception, after the first internal conflict. As if he wants to say: no matter how people and powers work against us, God works through. We experience this best when we desire to respond to that profile: And they persevered in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in breaking bread and in prayers (Acts 2:42). Let us long for it, work for it and above all, indeed, pray for it assiduously.
With brotherly greetings,
On behalf of the deputation representing churches,
Rev. J. Oosterbroek
