Synod begins its sessions

Tuesday, June 14, 2011: Rev. Van Overloop, the president of Synod 2010, led synod in singing, Scripture, reading, and prayer to ask God’s blessings on our work. After synod 2011 was declared properly constituted, synod began its work by electing the following officers: President – Rev. Jim Slopsema; Vice-President – Rev. Ken Koole; First Clerk – Rev. Doug Kuiper; Second Clerk – Rev. Garry Eriks. The delegates arose and gave assent to the Public Declaration of Agreement with the Forms of Unity, as read by the president. Synod also took the time to welcome Rev. Martyn McGeown, who is attending synod as a representative of our sister-church in Northern Ireland.

President – Rev. Jim Slopsema; Vice-President – Rev. Ken Koole; First Clerk – Rev. Doug Kuiper; Second Clerk – Rev. Garry Eriks
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After these beginning decisions were taken, the synod and its visitors assembled in the sanctuary of Grandville PRC to hear the specimen sermons of Mr. Nathan Decker, Mr. Brian Huizinga, and Mr. Jonathan Mahtani. Synod was blessed with three edifying sermons that displayed the unique gifts given to each of the men and the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon their work. Synod approved the sermons, agreeing that the sermons were Reformed and that the men displayed the gifts to preach a sermon for the edification of God’s people. Synod took this opportunity to thank God for these men and to thank the seminary faculty for their faithful labors in preparing these men to preach the Word.

After approving the sermons of the seminarians, synod recessed for the rest of the day so that the committees of pre-advice could do their work. All of the material found in the agenda is divided between five committees of pre-advice which bring recommendations to the synod for how to deal with the matters before synod.
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Synod will begin again at 8:30am Wednesday morning for the oral examination of the seminarians in Dogmatics. May the Lord through His Spirit sustain them as they confess the truth of God’s word in their examinations.