Written by: Erin Knight | July 3, 2025
When it comes to Deacons at Classis and Synod (C&S), what is your immediate reaction? It’s been a few years since the Diakonia Remixed Report came out and Synod made the decision to include Deacons as delegates to these denominational meetings.
In our many discussions with Deacons (and other ministry leaders), we have quickly realized it has remained a pretty hot topic. It’s even conjured up an “F” word or two from time-to-time! Words like…FOREIGN! FARAWAY! FORMAL! FUTILE!
- FOREIGN! Many deacons don’t understand why they need to be there.
- FARAWAY! Many can’t go (for a variety of reasons) even if they do want to go.
- FORMAL! Some churches don’t want their deacons there (yikes!). Some are okay with deacons being there but believe they should be excluded from certain parts of the agenda that involve doctrinal or disciplinary matters.
It can be easy for deacons to blame the system and say changes need to be made to welcome them to the table and make it more engaging and “meaningful” for them. But what is the Deacon’s role in all of this? What needs to change in them?
And what about “the system”: how do “they” feel about deacons now being seated at these larger assemblies? And what have “they” done to accommodate and welcome deacons? What could they do better?
We hope that we can all agree on at least this: in order for there to be full representation at these larger denominational gatherings, we NEED deacons at C&S.
So before reading this final article, go back and read the first few in this series, “The Four “F” Words Deacons Utter About Classis and Synod”, using the links above below:
So for our final “F” word; what if instead of shouting ‘FUTILE!’, we can together say FRUITFUL! How can we make these meetings more worthwhile and make a real difference in our local contexts?
Classis & Synod – What is it good for?
The biggest question we get from deacons is: Are classis and synod really making a difference? Why can’t churches just focus on their own mission and vision, gifts and passions, and where God is calling them in their local contexts?
A while back, the Classis Renewal Team listened to classis leaders around the denomination as they shared their understanding of the purpose of Classis. Through this process, they began to sense these four basic expectations or desires, which are laid out in the 2018 Classis Renewal Group Report:
- A place of discerning the Spirit in community
- A network of support and accountability
- Living into a collective calling
- A connection into the wider church
Did you notice a theme running through these 4 points? Community, network, collective, connection. Remember what we said in one of our previous articles? “Community means doing things not only for our own good – but also for the good of others.” Classis and synod (C&S) meetings strengthen the entire church – the Body of Christ, while at the same time, equipping and empowering the individual members and particularly those who are part of these larger gatherings.
Ephesians 4:16 reminds us: “[Christ] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (NLT) When every part is working as it should, the entire body (or ‘system’) is kept healthy, alive, and vibrant!
So deacons, since your calling and mandate are quite distinct and vital to the health of the church, we need you at these larger assemblies! Before deacons were officially seated at synod, Louis Tamminga, in his article, argued that, “in the absence of deacons, the full voice of the church is not heard, nor is the full ministry of the church under discussion. The purpose of the major assemblies (classis and synod) is not simply governance but a deliberation of the church’s character and ministry in which deacons ought to participate.” We couldn’t agree more! In fact, check out our Top Reasons Deacons are Needed at Classis & Synod resource in case you’re not convinced yet!
But getting back to our opening question: are classis and synod really making a difference. And another one: If not, how could we do things better?
From Futile to Fruitful
I stumbled across a quote the other day from Naomi Klein. She says that if you want people to take a leap (ie. move forward, change, grow), they need somewhere to leap to otherwise they’re just “jumping up and down”. While this article was primarily about how Canada should take on the climate change crisis, that quote just kept spinning around in my mind. I couldn’t let it go. I really thought that this was one of the best leadership quotes that I had ever read.
Let’s be honest; in life, most of us need goals. We need targets. We need to set our sights on something and work toward it. This is called living intentionally. Whether it’s saving for retirement, working for a promotion at work, or aiming to be a better Christ-follower, we all function better and actually get somewhere when we set goals and create disciplines. This is because we know what we are aiming and striving for. We can track progress (or stagnation!)
This is also true in the church. While some of us may not agree with having mission and vision statements, and some may even think that they are hokey, I don’t think we can disagree that they can help us stay razor-sharp focused on what we are about and what we’re trying to accomplish.
This is why, back in 2018, the Classis Renewal Team recommended those four (4) goals for classis. The proposed text that was approved for Article 39 and it now reads as follows: (new text in bold and italics)
Article 39: A classis is a group of Christian Reformed churches that come together to seek, discern, and submit to God’s will; offer one another mutual support and accountability; find ways to live out a collective calling within their region; and allow for a healthy and sustained connection to the wider denomination. A classis shall consist of a group of neighboring churches. The organization of a new classis and the redistricting of classes require the approval of synod.
As for synod, Article 47 lays out its tasks, which include the adoption of the creeds, of the Church Order, and of the principles and elements of worship. While at a quick glance, deacons may believe that these are issues related to the offices of pastor and elder, they do apply to deacons as well!
But we do believe that there are benefits to participating as a synod delegate. Synod represents God’s church coming together. What a blessing to be a part of this! Another blessing is hearing where God is at work in North America and beyond. Also, the work of synod impacts the future of the church and our denomination. The decisions that delegates make, the issues and concerns that they bring to the table, and the ideas that are shared have an incredible impact on the future of the denomination and (directly and indirectly) on your local church. Just think what could happen if every classis sent two (2) deacons to synod each year! That would be 98 deacons out of a possible 196 delegates!
What Can Deacons Do?
- Read our “Top Reasons Why Deacons are Needed at Classis & Synod” handout. In it, we lay out the reasons we need deacons at these larger assemblies. Take a read HERE and then get back to this article!
- Talk about these gatherings at your Deacon and Council meetings. Make them a priority. Ask others in your church about their experiences.
- Start by attending a Classis meeting this coming year. Be open. Listen. Learn. Engage. Then tell us about it; the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s a great way to get resources and also network with other deacons in attendance!
- And while you’re there, visit our table and/or attend our Deacon’s Lunch: Did you know that we encourage our Diaconal Coaches and field staff to arrange a deacon’s table at the lunch time? We love to hear about what your churches are up to, answer any questions or help you address challenges you’re facing, and let you network with the other deacons there! The ideas shared around the table are always a highlight, so we’ve heard. Sometimes our staff even get some talking time on the agenda to share about diaconal work. We want deacons to find value in attending these larger gatherings and we also want to ensure their ministry is ‘on the agenda’ and kept in front of the pastors and elders there.
- Once you’ve attended a classis meeting or two, sign up to go to synod. Again, be open. Listen to what is going on in the denomination. Engage – Feel empowered to speak into the overtures being brought forth. Ask questions and learn about the resources the denomination offers. Again! Just think of the impact if every classis sent two (2) deacon delegates to synod each year! How this could impact the decisions and ultimately the direction of the CRC!
- Find out what to expect as a (deacon) delegate to synod: A helpful resource is HERE on the CRCNA website. One particular way deacons can ‘have a voice’ at synod is in an advisory committee. These committees meet after the convening session on Friday and into Saturday.
- And while you’re there, attend our annual Deacon’s Dinner at Synod! We have been co-hosting a deacon’s dinner at synod each year with our friends at World Renew (USA & Canada). We set aside a special meeting room so we can share about what Diaconal Ministries and World Renew are doing in the areas of justice, benevolence, stewardship, and community engagement and how deacons can be an active part! We also take time to hear YOUR feedback and input on how we can equip and empower you better. We bring along some of our key resources and have staff available to answer your questions. (Here’s an article The Banner did on last year’s deacon dinner!)
- DON’T FORGET; ALL OFFICE-BEARERS have an opportunity to speak at these larger meetings AND submit overtures. An overture is a formal written proposal sent to classis or synod that raises a question or concern about something the assembly (council, classis, or synod) has authority over. This page on the CRCNA website is very helpful!
- One overture a council could consider is to ask synod to consider removing the word “ordinarily” from Article 45 which lays out which delegates a classis should send. See this article from The Banner from June 15, 2023.
What Can Classis and Synod Do?
- Make these meetings meaningful and memorable – for everyone! Just as the 2018 Classis renewal report sets out, there are so many ways classis (& synod) can “recapture the value of connecting and working together regionally.” Ensure that these larger gatherings are effective and that they are making a real and lasting difference.
- Model and live more fully into Ephesians 4, where Paul pleads with the church to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
- Keep encouraging churches to send deacon delegates to synod.
Our greatest hope for deacons (and all council members really) is that they will see these larger gatherings as much more than just ‘another meeting’. A wise deacon once said that these gatherings can be an opportunity to listen and learn and see where God is at work in our denomination and how deacons can be a part of that!