General Synod Daily Recap: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Racial and ethnic councils receive initial approval for increased voice and representation at General Synod

On Saturday morning, the General Synod Council (GSC) brought a joint recommendation from the denomination’s four racial and ethnic councils—the African American Black Council (AABC), the Council for Pacific and Asian American Ministries (CPAAM), the Global Council for Hispanic Ministries (GCHM), and the Native American Indigenous Ministries (NAIM) Council—that amends the bylaws of the General Synod to allow each racial and ethnic council to appoint two corresponding delegates to the General Synod as a way to “strengthen connection, understanding, and representation.”

“We are not simply asking to report to the church; we’re asking to help shape the church,” said Tony Davis, on behalf of the AABC. “We’re not simply asking to be remembered; we’re asking to be structurally included. We’re not simply asking for appreciation; we are asking for partnership, investment, and faithful discernment.”

“Many NAIM members have had little exposure to RCA polity and governance, limiting participation in denominational leadership pathways,” said Rainey Enjady, a NAIM Council representative, during her report to the synod in which she voiced concern over low participation of NAIM members at General Synod. “The lack of representation both reflects and reinforces NAIM’s sense of disconnection.”

“NAIM could not send me, and we had to reach out and plead to people who did not know me to see if they’d be willing to send me here,” said Jessica LaTray, NAIM secretary and corresponding youth delegate from the Regional Synod of the Heartland. “I’m really blessed to be here and to be learning and be a part of this, but I also feel very nervous that it will take so long to get a voice.”

As advisory bodies to the GSC, the councils cannot directly bring recommendations to the General Synod; at its March meeting, the GSC found the provided rationale to be persuasive and fulfilled the councils’ request to bring this to General Synod.

“Councils, we hear you. We thank you. You belong,” said Rev. Joshua Scheid, moderator of the GSC, when bringing the recommendation to the synod. “We are glad to partner with you in being and becoming a multicultural, multiracial, multigenerational, multi-abled expression of Christ’s church on earth. … For us to continue dismantling racism in attitudes and structures in all assemblies of the RCA, it is vital for the racial and ethnic councils to have [this] opportunity.”

The recommendation spurred robust conversation among the delegation, many of whom expressed concern that giving voice without vote was not sufficient. (Corresponding delegates, representing boards, commissions, and others within the RCA, can speak to issues on the floor but can’t vote, make motions, or hold office.)

As a result, an amendment was brought to the floor—and eventually adopted—that added an instruction for the Commission on Church Order to explore the concept of making these corresponding delegates into voting delegates in the future, with a report back to General Synod 2027. This piece was also discussed in-depth, as delegates expressed a desire to move more quickly in step with the Spirit while others voiced appreciation and confidence in the RCA’s process to do things “decently and in good order.”

“I recognize the concern … but what I have heard from the pulpit at this General Synod and in prayer [asks the] Spirit of God [to] descend upon us,” said Rev. Bill Te Winkle from the Classis of Wisconsin. “Think of the message it would send as we expand the table and say, ‘Synod, now is the time for the church to be the church.’ I think the picture of the church includes these delegates as voting delegates.”

“I am particularly concerned about the idea of adding voting delegates who may not be elders or ministers or come from our other assemblies,” said Rev. Tim TenClay, corresponding delegate from the GSC. “I’m not saying we can’t do it, but it is a massive change to how we bring votes to the floor of synod. Studying it is great; doing it diligently and with prudence would be wonderful. [Making these changes] on the floor of synod without thinking about the implications would be a terrible idea.”

“This is a potentially fundamental shift in a 400-year history,” agreed Rev. Dr. Edie Lenz, corresponding delegate from the Regional Synod of Mid-America and a voting delegate from the Classis of Chicago. “It might be wonderful. It might be what God is calling us to next. It might be the Spirit at work among us, but we’ve always done things decently and in order. The spirit of this body has been gracious, open, and welcoming. … I love the idea of using this as a concept that we could explore, potentially challenge one another with, and maybe shift where we fundamentally stand after we have considered carefully and prayerfully what the Spirit is saying to the church.”

In the end, after an hour of diligent discussion, the joint recommendation—as amended to instruct the exploration of giving the corresponding delegates a vote in the future—passed with 144 approving votes and 20 disapproving votes. The adopted recommendation now requires approval by a subsequent General Synod in order to be incorporated into the BCO. If approved at General Synod 2027, the racial and ethnic councils would each be able to appoint two corresponding delegates for the 2028 General Synod.

Middle assemblies encouraged to establish equitable, supportive structures

In her report to the General Synod on behalf of the Commission for Women, moderator Patricia Johnson celebrated women in the RCA, past and present, faithfully serving and leading in the church, specifically naming this year’s General Synod president, Rev. Sarah Palsma, as well as the other five women who have served as General Synod president. She also elevated the commission’s concern that, in some contexts, women continue to face significant challenges that affect their ability to utilize God-given gifts, pursue leadership, and fully flourish. To address this, the commission brought a recommendation to the delegation encouraging each middle assembly to “establish educationally grounded, equitable, and culturally supportive leadership structures by December 2026.”

Delegates spoke overwhelmingly in favor of the recommendation, many emotionally sharing personal stories of challenges they experienced but also with appreciation for the support they’ve found in the RCA to live out their callings and gifts.

“I was introduced to Jesus by beloved Sunday school teachers who told me that one day I would be a missionary, for that was the only way they could imagine a woman could preach,” shared Rev. Bethany Popkes. “My pastor would not bring my request to come under care to my consistory. My ordination was delayed two years. It has taken 40 years for me to claim confidently my call to preach and proclaim God’s Word. And I know there are areas of the country where I could not find a call today if I wanted. Yet today, I come as the pastor of the congregation who first filed the charge who brought women’s ordination to the General Synod. And I am fully embraced and supported in my call. There is healing and reconciliation that is possible still for the RCA.”

“I am the first commissioned pastor in the Classis of Queens,” said Pastor Janet Cardillo. “And that is because of the support and encouragement I received from my She Is Called sisters who have walked beside me and lifted me up; there were 25 of them with me at my commissioning. We do not have a spirit of competition but we have a spirit of collaboration as we walk shoulder to shoulder on the shoulders of giants who went before us.”

“I speak in favor of this as a pastor and a leader but also as a girl dad,” said Tony Davis. “My daughter is here at the synod with me. She has been watching, listening, learning what kind of church this is. The RCA has decades of history supporting voices, leadership, scholarship, and preaching of women. That legacy matters. We should not retreat from it. We should build on it. When young women come through our church doors, they should not wonder whether there is room for them at the table. They should see women preaching, leading, moderating, teaching, shaping mission, and helping discern the future of this great RCA church, not as exceptions but as part of the life and the body of Christ.

“To every young woman here: Do not let this moment in historical reference stay here in this room,” he added. “I need you to go home and recruit. I need you to go home and bring other women here to show them what leadership and real support of young women is—and how we believe in it and how we will continue to believe in it for decades to come.”

The recommendation passed almost unanimously.

“I want to commend and thank the body for seeing your sisters right now, holding our tears, and having the patience to have this conversation today and sacrifice [your time],” said Rev. Sarah Palsma, synod president, after conversation came to an end.

At the conclusion of the commission’s report, the synod body rose to sing the doxology, as requested by a delegate, in appreciation of the women in leadership throughout the denomination and particularly for those who bravely trusted the body with their stories.

General Synod calls for immigration and refugee care

In its final plenary session of the day, the General Synod heard from Pastor Janet Cardillo from the Commission on Christian Action (CCA). Taking seriously its responsibility to call the church to faithful and persistent witness and action in the world, the commission brought seven recommendations to the General Synod; two of them, related to immigration and refugee care, were acted upon by the synod on Saturday evening.

“Fear grips our communities, our neighbors, our coworkers, and our church members,” said Cardillo. “A Christian response to immigration must reflect both biblical justice and mercy. It is our obligation as the RCA to speak out with concrete actionable steps that can be taken by members of the Reformed church.”

The first recommendation from the commission called for the GSC to write and put forth a statement on behalf of the General Synod denouncing immigration enforcement–related actions and policies. The Advisory Committee on Overtures and New Business advised referring the action back to the commission to draft and bring back to General Synod 2027, since statements from General Synod typically are written by the relevant commission rather than the GSC, then approved by General Synod.

Parliamentary procedure was upheld as motions and even substitute motions came to the floor. In the end, with many delegates expressing concern that this matter is timely and should be acted upon now, the General Synod voted to appoint a small group to draft a statement according to the CCA’s parameters, for approval later in this General Synod meeting.

“It is an honor to be here, and I want to deeply thank you for taking this position as a church, being the voice of Christ, the hands of Christ, and the feet of Christ,” said Rev. Edwin Gil. “I want to celebrate and salute you for thinking about our Latino community and especially immigrants.”

The second recommendation from the CCA passed by large majority and without discussion. The directives of the adopted recommendation are to instruct the general secretary to write a letter to the U.S. president urging the protection and fair and dignified treatment of immigrants, and to encourage classes (middle assemblies) and congregations to engage in public advocacy on behalf of immigrant communities by writing letters to their government representatives urging the same, as well as writing letters to media outlets, asking them to cover immigration-related news items in a fair and dignified manner and to fully cover important immigration-related issues.

Other business:

• Each of the four racial and ethnic councils presented their reports to the synod on Saturday morning, each providing highlights from the past year and naming where they see the Revelation 7:9 vision coming to life throughout the RCA and in their constituencies. Representatives pointed to Scripture to affirm the RCA as one body with many diverse members and also called for the denomination to keep listening and expanding inclusion so that the councils can do their job to help the RCA live more faithfully into its own commitments. The councils’ written reports can be found at www.rca.org/workbook. 
• The General Synod heard from the Center for Church Multiplication and Ministry, whose team presented a robust and inspiring report of ways they’ve seen transformation in individuals and congregations in the past year. The center provides hope and strengthens Christ’s church through equipping in three key areas: discipleship and church innovation, Revelation 7:9, and church multiplication. In the next year, the team looks forward to working with middle assemblies, giving particular attention to pastoral and congregational care, especially to the RCA’s more than 100 churches with vacant pastoral positions. Read the more in-depth overview of the center’s work in their report.
• Church multiplication recognized six new church starts that have officially organized in the last year. Rev. Dr. Tom Smith, interim director for church multiplication, called the delegation to heartfelt recognition after the church names had been read: “Let’s rejoice with the angels and shout to the Lord! People are coming into the kingdom of God!”
• The General Synod approved a 2.5 percent covenant shares rate for 2027, of which $207,500 will be provided for theological education. This rate has been maintained the last two years. Mario Vargas, representing the GSC, additionally reported that all three entities—the GSC, the Board of Benefits Services, and the Church Growth Fund—received unmodified (clean) audits, and that the GSC operating budget deficit has improved materially over the last two years, reflecting active cost management and a strategic plan by the general secretary to achieve a balanced budget by fiscal year 2027. Read the finance report here.
• General Synod approved the Commission for Women’s second recommendation, urging RCA members to review and re-engage the We Are Speaking statement and resources, which was created in 2018 as a call to the church to end harassment, abuse, and sexual violence against women and girls.
• The Commission on History will have one less responsibility, following the General Synod’s favorable vote to remove the commission’s mandate to “provide a ‘history center’ by regularly reporting on the activities of the Reformed Church in America’s educational institutions as these relate to the history and traditions of the denomination” (Book of Church Order Chapter 3, Part I, Article 5, Section 5b). According to the commission, that item has never actually been implemented, the language is unclear in its scope or purpose, and the commission would like the stated BCO directives to match its actual work.
• The Commission on Church Order asked the General Synod to simplify a portion of the BCO, such that the points of doctrine contained in the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belhar Confession should be “regularly referenced” in worship services, rather than “explained by the minister.” The adopted amendment also removes the stipulation that the exposition of the catechism and confession is completed within four years.
• The General Synod responded to overtures from classes by reducing the required number of votes for vice president nomination; instructing the GSC to give a brief update on the progress toward reexamining the scope of work of the General Synod; instructing the Pastoral Formation Oversight Board to review the 24-month requirement for supervision of candidates for ministry; and instructing the GSC to form a working group to perform a thorough re-examination of church order and policies surrounding retirement and end of installment for ministers.