Reformed Church in America approves restructuring at annual meeting

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Reformed Church in America approves restructuring at annual meeting

The General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, or RCA, concluded its annual meeting on Tuesday after gathering in Tucson, Ariz., for nearly a week. The assembly of delegates made several decisions to restructure the denomination, namely by voting to combine local governing bodies, known as classes, and regional synods into bodies known as middle assemblies. The change will take effect by the end of 2026 and was passed with no debate and a strong majority, according to the RCA.

Delegates also approved three other significant restructuring decisions, which individual classes must also vote to approve:

General Synod’s delegation size will be reduced to better fit the denomination’s size and budget.
When middle assemblies vote to approve a constitutional change, the individual assembly’s votes will be weighed by the membership size of the assembly.
Delegates will have the option to meet in person or virtually, but an in-person meeting will be mandatory at least every three years.

What else did the delegates decide?

Central College, Hope College, and Northwestern College will now be “affiliated” with the RCA rather than “officially related,” according to the synod. The change will enhance the church’s relationship to the schools by moving from a governing relationship to a covenantal, more sacred relationship, Hope College President Matt Scogin told delegates.
The delegates finalized a change to the denomination’s Book of Church Order to allow gifted elders to supervise churches without an installed minister
Called for a task force to examine the implications of having classes or middle assemblies based on race or ethnicity.

Delegates also tapped Ohio Rev. Sarah Palsma to serve as the next General Synod president, with Michigan elder Brad Prince as her vice president.

Dig deeper: Read my report from earlier this year about a swath of pastors leaving the Christian Reformed Church in North America to join the RCA over disagreements on sexuality.