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General Synod Commissions

Commissions are standing committees of the General Synod established to advise the General Synod body in particular areas of the life of the church. Currently, there are eleven General Synod commissions.

Commissions report to the General Synod. Each year, they provide a written report on their activities along with any recommendations for action they wish General Synod to consider. Commissions also receive assignments from the General Synod by means of recommendations approved by General Synod that are assigned to them for action.

History

In the early years, General Synod was not large, so business could be done as a committee of the whole. This was especially helpful when nominating members for various roles—members were chosen from the body as it met, and business was conducted on site during the meeting. Not long after, committees were appointed to study business and report to General Synod at a later date. Present commissions have their roots in a variety of different committees, but by the early 1960s, the present commission style of organization was in place.

Serving on a Commission

RCA members are needed to serve on commissions and further the ministry of the church. To serve on a commission, you must be a confessing member of the RCA. Term lengths are three years, and you may be elected to two consecutive terms. Terms run from July 1 to June 30. Your work will include preparing studies and developing policies as recommendations to General Synod. In addition, you will have duties specific to the commission on which you serve.

Please consider whether service on a commission is something to which God is calling you. If it is, provide the Commission on Nominations with information about yourself by completing a profile form. Download it, save it, fill it out, save it again, and send as an email attachment to nominations@rca.org.

Complete a profile form