One Year Out: Update on Transition to Middle Assemblies

The Reformed Church in America will transition to a structure of middle assemblies on December 30, 2026, combining regional synods and classes into one body as approved by General Synod 2025. With approximately one year until that effective date, the following provides an update on how regional synods are continuing to transition and form initial middle assemblies. It is important to note that the regional synods are at different points in the process, and much of the restructuring work is still subject to change.

Currently, the denomination is anticipating 20-24 middle assemblies. Some middle assemblies may have five or six churches, while others will have 80 churches.

“When the restructuring team proposed middle assemblies, we were hoping for enough flexibility so that assemblies could be structured in ways that best support their churches, and we recognized that might not look the same across the whole denomination,” says Rev. Eddy Alemán, general secretary. “The variety we are seeing so far in these middle assemblies tells me that people are embracing this opportunity and tailoring their middle assemblies to their needs.”

Following the formation of initial middle assemblies, the middle assemblies can be changed as time goes on, similar to how the current structure has allowed churches and classes to transfer between bodies.

Updates from the regional synods

The regional synod executives last met at the end of September and provided the following updates. (The previous update was provided in May ahead of General Synod.)

• Regional Synod of Albany is forming two middle assemblies: 1) North Eastern Middle Assembly and 2) Abiding Middle Assembly. 
• Regional Synod of the Great Lakes is forming three middle assemblies: 1) Holland, 2) Great Lakes City, and 3) North Grand Rapids. The combining of existing classes will happen by January 1, 2026.
• Regional Synod of Mid-Atlantics is turning each of its five classes into middle assemblies. 
• Regional Synod of New York expects to form three or four middle assemblies. Classis of Orange and Classis of Mid-Hudson are merging and will begin operating as one middle assembly beginning January 1, 2026.
• Regional Synod of the Heartland is forming two middle assemblies: 1) Reformed Global Assembly and 2) Middle Assembly of the Midwest.
• Regional Synod of the Far West is turning Classis of the Americas into a middle assembly. Cascades Classis is joining the Reformed Global Assembly coming out of the Heartland. California Classis and Central California Classis will probably each become a middle assembly. Southwest Classis and Rocky Mountain Classis may combine; that’s still being determined. 
• Regional Synod of Mid-America is still in the process of discernment. 
• Regional Synod of Canada will become one middle assembly.

Altogether, these current plans outline twenty middle assemblies, with another four that are possible.

“The plans evolve a little more every time I meet with the regional synod executives,” says Alemán, who meets with synod executives regularly to pray and share updates around the restructuring. The next meeting is scheduled for January.

Other in-process restructuring decisions

The 2025 General Synod made an additional three significant decisions to restructure the denomination, all of which are now before the classes for approval. Those that receive at least two-thirds approval will go before General Synod 2026 to be considered for final approval and incorporation in the Book of Church Order.

• The size of the General Synod delegation will be reduced to better fit the size and budget of the denomination. 
• When a constitutional change requires approval by the middle assemblies, the vote of the middle assemblies will be weighted by the General Synod delegation size of the assembly.
• General Synod will be able to meet in-person or virtually, with a mandate that it must meet in-person at least every three years.