Office Bearers

GS 2025 Article 139 – Synod Guidelines re Officers of General Synods

1.   Material

  • 1.1    Letter from Guelph (Emmanuel) (8.1.7).

2. Admissibility

  • 2.1    The letter was declared admissible.
    • Ground: It pertains to the operations of a general synod and was received on time.

3.   Observations

  • 3.1    The Guelph (Emmanuel) CanRC has submitted a letter expressing appreciation for the work of general synod and offering a recommendation regarding the election of officers.
  • 3.2    Guelph (Emmanuel) affirms the value of having new voices at general synod and cautions against perceptions of entrenched leadership by repeatedly appointing the same brothers as officers.
  • 3.3    The letter does not question the character or objectivity of those who have served but emphasizes the importance of preserving broad trust and avoiding the appearance of synodical hierarchy.
  • 3.4    Guelph (Emmanuel) proposes an amendment to Section I, Point H of the Guidelines for General Synod, encouraging Synod to “consider avoiding the reappointment of the same officers for more than two consecutive synods.”

4.   Considerations

  • 4.1    The submission of Guelph (Emmanuel) aligns with the long-standing Reformed concern to avoid hierarchical patterns in church governance.
  • 4.2    While continuity of experience has value, the suggested amendment is worded as a consideration rather than a binding rule and therefore maintains the autonomy of each general synod to elect its officers freely.
  • 4.3    Including such a guideline would encourage a healthy pattern of rotation, avoid the appearance of “synod rulers,” and foster wider participation without disrupting Synod’s orderly functioning.

5.   Recommendations

  • 5.1    That Synod accede to the proposal of the Guelph (Emmanuel) CanRC and amend Section I, Point H of the Guidelines for General Synods to read as follows:
    • “Officers of Synod shall be chosen by ballot in this order: chairman, vice-chairman, first clerk, and second clerk, with consideration made to avoid the reappointment of the same individuals to the same position for more than two (2) consecutive synods. Election to office is to be by majority of valid votes cast.”  

ADOPTED

K. Janssen had his abstention recorded.

Note: The Synod Guidelines as last revised by GS 2025 can be found in Appendix 25.

Synod was adjourned for committee work.