From 1857 to 1865 the highest governing body in the denomination was the classical assembly. Once a second classis was formed in 1865, the general assembly was formed to adjudicate questions beyond the scope of the classes. In 1880 the general assembly was renamed the synod. Below is a listing of the meetings of these governing bodies, the location of the meeting, and the officers. The classis met several times per year, while the general assembly/synod met annually or bi-annually.

Learn how the original Dutch minutes were translated into English.

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1857-1869

1870-1888

1890-1908

1910-1928

1930-1949

1950-1969

1970-1989

1990-2009

2010-2023

Indices of Synodical Decisions

1857

April - in Holland, MI: Hendrik Klijn, president; Koenraad Vanden Bosch, clerk

Minutes lost (see below for details)

October - in Vriesland, MI: Koenraad Van den Bosch, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

1858

February - in Grand Rapids, MI: Gijsbert Haan, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

June - in Noordeloos, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

October - in Graafschap, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

1859

February - in Grand Rapids, MI: Gijsbert Haan, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

June - in Vriesland, MI: Hendrik W. Dam, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

October - in Graafschap, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

1860

February - in Grand Rapids, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

June - in Vriesland, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Johannes Gezon, clerk

October - in Graafschap, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Abraham Krabshuis, clerk

1861

February - in Grand Rapids, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Abraham Krabshuis, clerk

April - (special session) – in Grand Rapids, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Adrian Pleune, clerk

June - in Vriesland, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; clerk's name not recorded

1862

February – in Graafschap, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; clerk's name not recorded

June – in Graafschap, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; clerk's name not recorded

October 1862 – in Grand Rapids, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; clerk's name not recorded

1863

February – in Graafschap, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Geert Van Tubbergen, clerk

July – in Zeeland, MI: Wilhelmus H. Van Leeuwen, president; Geert Van Tubbergen, clerk

October – in Grand Rapids, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Adrian Pluene, clerk

1864

February – in Graafschap, MI: Wilhelmus H. Van Leeuwen, president; Pieter Heyboer, clerk

June – in Vriesland, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Pieter Heyboer, clerk

August – in Noordeloos, MI: Wilhelmus H. Van Leeuwen, president; Pieter Heyboer, clerk

October – in Graafschap, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Pieter Heyboer, clerk

1865

January – in Zeeland, MI: Douwe J. Van der Werp, president; Pieter Heyboer, clerk

April – in Grand Rapids, MI: Wilhelmus H. Van Leeuwen, president; Pieter Heyboer, clerk

June – in Vriesland, MI: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Pieter Heyboer, clerk

October – in Graafschap, MI: Douwe J. Van der Werp, president; Pieter Heyboer, clerk

1866

Grand Rapids, MI: Douwe J. Van der Werp, president; Jan Gelok, clerk

1867

Grand Rapids, MI: Douwe J. Van der Werp, president; clerk's name not recorded

1868

Graafschap, MI: Roelof Duiker, president; Douwe J. Van der Werp, clerk

1869

Chicago, IL: Koenraad Vanden Bosch, president; Douwe J. Van der Werp, clerk

1870

Chicago, IL: Willem H. Frieling, president; Frederikus B. Hulst, clerk

1871

Chicago, IL: Roelof Duiker, president; Douwe J. Van der Werp, vice president; Frederikus B. Hulst, first clerk; Leonard Rietdijk, second clerk

1872

Chicago, IL: Douwe J. Van der Werp, president; Willem H. Frieling, vice president; Frederikus B. Hulst, first clerk; Leonard Rietdijk, second clerk

1873

Chicago, IL: Koenraad Van den Bosch, president; Hendrik Baron, vice president; Frederikus B. Hulst, first clerk; Leonard Rietdijk, second clerk

1874

Chicago, IL: Douwe J. Van der Werp, president; Willem H. Frieling, vice president; Leonard Rietdijk, first clerk; Jacob Noordewier, second clerk

1875

Chicago, IL: Willem H. Frieling, president; Gerrit E. Boer, vice president; Wilhelmus H. Van Leeuwen, first clerk; Leonard Rietdijk, second clerk

1876

Chicago, IL: Gerrit E. Boer, president; Leonard Rietdijk, vice president; Jacob Noordewier, first clerk; Wilhelmus H. Van Leeuwen, second clerk

1877

Chicago, IL: Willem H. Frieling, president; Leonard Rietdijk, vice president; Jacob Noordewier, first clerk; Wilhelmus H. Van Leeuwen, second clerk

1878

Chicago, IL: John Kremer, president; Kooenraad Vanden Bosch, vice president; Jacob Noordewier, first clerk; Leonard Rietdijk, second clerk

1879

Chicago, IL: Leonard Rietdijk, president; Gerrit K. Hemkes, vice president; Jacob Noordewier, first clerk; Geert H. Hoeksema, second clerk

1880

Chicago, IL: Roelof T. Kuiper, president; Willem H. Frieling, vice president; Gerrit K. Hemkes, first clerk; Jacob Noordewier, second clerk

1881

Grand Rapids, MI: Leonard Rietdijk, president; Willem H. Frieling, vice president; Gerrit K. Hemkes, first clerk; Roelof T. Kuiper, second clerk

1882

Grand Rapids, MI: Willem H. Frieling, president; Jan H. Vos, vice president; Gerrit K. Hemkes, first clerk; Jacob Noordewier, second clerk

1883

Grand Rapids, MI: Jan H. Vos, president; Roelof T. Kuiper, vice-president; Gerrit K. Hemkes, first clerk; Leonard Rietdijk, second clerk

1884

Grand Rapids, MI: Lammert J. Hulst, president; Leonard Rietdijk, vice-president; Gerrit K. Hemkes, first clerk; Jacob Noordewier, second clerk

1886

Grand Rapids, MI: Leonard Rietdijk, president; Roelof Duiker, vice-president; Peter Schut, first clerk; Jacob Noordewier, second clerk

1888

Grand Rapids, MI: Evert Bos, president; Jacob Noordewier, vice-president; Peter Schut, first clerk; John Post, second clerk

1890

Grand Rapids, MI: Lammert J. Hulst, president; Roelof T. Kuiper, vice-president; Andrew Keizer, first clerk; John Riemersma, second clerk

1892

Grand Rapids, MI: Andrew Keizer, president; Jan H. Vos, vice-president; John Riemersma, first clerk; Gabriel D. De Jong, second clerk

1894

Grand Rapids, MI: Klaas Kuiper, president; Jacob Noordewier, vice-president; William W. Heyns, first clerk; Peter Schut, second clerk

1896

Grand Rapids, MI: Andrew Keizer, president; Jacob Manni, vice-president; John B. Hoekstra, first clerk; William W. Heyns, second clerk

1898

Grand Rapids, MI: Jacob Manni, president; Gabriel D. De Jong, vice-president; William W. Heyns, first clerk; Peter Ekster, second clerk

1900

Grand Rapids, MI: Andrew Keizer, president; Evert Breen, vice-president; Foppe M. Ten Hoor, first clerk; John W. Brink, second clerk

1902

Holland, MI: Gabriel D. De Jong, president; Evert Breen, vice-president; John B. Hoekstra, first clerk; Peter Ekster, second clerk

1904

Holland, MI: Evert Breen, president; Johannes Groen, vice-president; Henry Beets, first clerk; Marinus Van Vessem, second clerk

1906

Holland, MI: Hendrik Van Hoogen, president; Louis Berkhof, vice-president; John W. Brink, first clerk; John H. Hoekstra, second clerk

1908

Muskegon, MI: Jacob Manni, president; Idzerd Van Bellen, vice-president; Henry Beets, first clerk; Marinus Van Vessem, second clerk

1910

Muskegon, MI John W. Brink, president; Johannes Groen, vice-president; Marinus Van Vessem, first clerk; William Stuart, second clerk

1912

Chicago, IL: Andrew Keizer, president; Idzerd Van Dellen, vice-president; John B. Hoekstra, first clerk; John Timmermann, second clerk

1914

Chicago, IL: Jacob Manni, president; William Stuart, vice-president; Marinus Van Vessem, first clerk; Herman M. Vander Ploeg, second clerk

1916

Grand Rapids, MI: Andrew Keizer, president; William P. Van Wyk, vice-president; John B. Hoekstra, first clerk; Edward J. Tuuk, second clerk

1918

Grand Rapids, MI: Idzerd Van Dellen, president; Herman M. Vander Ploeg, vice-president; William Stuart, first clerk; William D. Vander Werp, second clerk

1920

Grand Rapids, MI: William P. Brink, president; Henry Beets, vice-president; Henry Keegstra, first clerk; Herman M. Vander Ploeg, second clerk

1922

Orange City, IA: Jacob Manni, president; Gabriel D. De Jong, vice-president; Henry Keegstra, first clerk; Peter A. Hoekstra, second clerk

1924

Kalamazoo, MI: Idzerd Van Dellen, president; Ymen P. De Jong, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; John Dolfin, second clerk

1926

Chicago, IL: William P. Van Wijk, president; Henry Keegstrsa, vice-president; George W. Hylkema, first clerk; Daniel Zwier, second clerk

1928

Holland, MI: Henry Keegstra, president; Henry J. Kuiper, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; John Dolfin, second clerk

1930

Grand Rapids, MI: William P. Brink, president; Henry Beets, vice-president; Henry Keegstra, first clerk; Herman M. Vander Ploeg, second clerk

1932

Grand Rapids, MI: Idzerd Van Dellen, Henry J. Kuiper, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; George W. Hylkema, second clerk

1934

Grand Rapids, MI: William P. Van Wijk, president; Herman Kuiper, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; John M. Vande Kieft, second clerk

1936

Grand Rapids, MI: Henry J. Kuiper, president; Herman Bel, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; Gerrit K. Hemkes, second clerk

1937

Grand Rapids, MI: Henry J. Kuiper, president; Herman Bel, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; Gerrit K. Hemkes, second clerk

1938

Grand Rapids, MI: Idzerd Van Dellen, president; Edward J. Tanis, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; John M. Vande Kieft, second clerk

1939

Grand Rapids, MI: Watson Groen, president; John J. Hiemenga, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; John Gritter, second clerk

1940

Grand Rapids, MI: Watson Groen, president; Ymen P. De Jong, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; John M. Vande Kieft, second clerk

1941

Grand Rapids, MI: Nicholas J. Monsma, president; George Goris, vice-president; Daniel Zwier, first clerk; Henry Keegstra, second clerk

1942

Grand Rapids, MI: Herman Bel, president; Herman Kuiper, vice-president; Emo F. J. Van Halsema, first clerk; John Breuker, second clerk

1943

Grand Rapids, MI: Gerrit Hoeksema, president; William H. Rutgers, vice-president; Ralph J. Danhof, first clerk; Lambertus J. Lamberts, second clerk

1944

Grand Rapids, MI: Gerrit Hoeksema, president; George Goris, vice-president; Ralph J. Danhof, first clerk; Edward J. Tanis, second clerk

1945

Grand Rapids, MI: Martin Monsma, president; William Kok, vice-president; John Breuker, first clerk; Peter G. Holwerda, second clerk

1946

Grand Rapids, MI: Herman Kuiper, president; Martin Monsma, vice-president; George Goris, first clerk; Lambertus Van Laar, second clerk

1947

Grand Rapids, MI: Emo F.J. Van Halsema, John Gritter, vice-president; Peter G. Holwerda, first clerk; John Weidenaar, second clerk

1948

Grand Rapids, MI: Henry Baker, president; John Weidenaar, vice-president; William Haverkamp, first clerk; Henry J. Evenhouse, second clerk

1949

Grand Rapids, MI: Emo F. J. Van Halsema, president; Nicholas J. Monsma, vice-president; Peter G. Holwerda, first clerk; John Breuker, second clerk

1950

Grand Rapids, MI: Martin Monsma, president; John Gritter, vice-president; Henry J. Evenhouse, first clerk; Ralph Bronkema, second clerk

1951

Grand Rapids, MI: Henry Baker, president; Martin Monsma, vice-president; William Haverkamp, first clerk; John Gritter, second clerk

1952

Grand Rapids, MI: Herman Bel, president; William Kok, vice-president; Peter G. Holwerda, first clerk; Peter Van Tuinen, second clerk

1953

Grand Rapids, MI: Emo F.J. Van Halsema, president; George Goris, vice-president; John Gritter, first clerk; John Breuker, second clerk

1954

Grand Rapids, MI: Herman Bel, president; Nicholas J. Monsma, vice-president; Peter Van Tuinen, first clerk; John W. C. Ehlers, second clerk

1955

Grand Rapids, MI: Henry Baker, president; Henry Baker, vice-president; William Haverkamp, first clerk; John C. Verbrugge, second clerk

1956

Grand Rapids, MI: Herman Bel, president; John Vander Ploeg, vice-president; Peter G. Holwerda, first clerk; R. Tolsma, second clerk

1957

Grand Rapids, MI: Nicholas J. Monsma, president; John Gritter, vice-president; John Breuker, first clerk; John T. Holwerda, second clerk

1958

Grand Rapids, MI: Tenis C. Van Kooten, president; William Haverkamp, vice-president; Peter Van Tuinen, first clerk; Hero Bratt, second clerk

1959

Grand Rapids, MI: John Gritter, president; John C. Verbrugge, vice-president; Peter G. Holwerda, first clerk; Peter Y. De Jong, second clerk

1960

Grand Rapids, MI: Tenis C. Van Kooten, president; William H. Rutgers, vice-president; George Gritter, first clerk; William P. Brink, second clerk

1961

Grand Rapids, MI: William Haverkamp, president; Adam Persenaire, vice-president; Richard J. Frens, first clerk; Hero Bratt, second clerk

1962

Grand Rapids, MI: John C. Verbrugge, president; Peter Holwerda, vice-president; Paul G. Schrotenboer, first clerk; Raymond Holwerda, second clerk

1963

Grand Rapids, MI: William Haverkamp, president; Henry Vander Kam, vice-president; Peter Van Tuinen, first clerk; John Vriend, second clerk

1964

Grand Rapids, MI: Peter Y. De Jong, president; John Gritter, vice-president; Richard J. Frens, first clerk; Bastiaan Nederlof, second clerk

1965

Sioux Center, IA: William Haverkamp, president; John Verbrugge, vice-president; Lawrence Veltkamp, first clerk; John Vriend, second clerk

1966

Pella, IA: William P. Brink, president; Henry Vander Kam, vice-president; John Vriend, first clerk; Arnold Brink, second clerk

1967

Grand Rapids, MI: William Haverkamp, president; Henry Vander Kam, vice-president; John Vriend, first clerk; John T. Holwerda, second clerk

1968

Grand Rapids, MI: John C. Verbrugge, president; Tenis C. Van Kooten, vice-president; Bastiaan Nederlof, first clerk; John A. De Kruyter, second clerk

1969

Grand Rapids, MI: William P. Brink, president; Henry Vander Kam, vice-president; Arnold Brink, first clerk; Henry R. De Bolster, second clerk

1970

Grand Rapids, MI: Henry De Mots, president; Marinus Goote, vice-president; Bastiaan Nederlof, first clerk; John A. Mulder, second clerk

1971

Grand Rapids, MI: George Gritter, president; Peter M. Jonker, vice-president; Arnold Brink, first clerk; Andrew H. Kuyvenhoven, second clerk

1972

Grand Rapids, MI: Clarence Boomsma, president; William Haverkamp, vice-president; Bastiaan Nederlof, first clerk; Raymond Holwerda, second clerk

1973

Grand Rapids, MI: Leonard Greenway, president; John Vriend, vice-president; John A. De Kruyter, first clerk; Howard B. Spaan, second clerk

1974

Grand Rapids, MI: George Gritter, president; John C. Verbrugge, vice-president; Bastiaan Nederlof, first clerk; John Vanden Berg, second clerk

1975

Grand Rapids, MI: Clarence Boomsma, president; Jacob Vos, vice-president; Oliver Breen, first clerk; Martin Geleynse, second clerk

1976

Grand Rapids, MI: Henry Vander Kam, president; William Vander Haak, vice-president; Louis M. Tamminga, first clerk; Hero Bratt, second clerk

1977

Grand Rapids, MI: Bastiaan Nederlof, president; Perter Y. De Jong, vice-president; Louis M. Tamminga, first clerk; Leonard J. Hofman, second clerk

1978

Grand Rapids, MI: Clarence Boomsma, president; Andrew H. Kuyvenhoven, vice-president; Howard B. Spaan, first clerk; Alvin H. Vennema, second clerk

1979

Grand Rapids, MI: Leonard J. Hofman, president; Bastiaan Nederlof, vice-president; Louis M. Tamminga, first clerk; Henry Vander Kam, second clerk

1980

Grand Rapids, MI: Jacob D. Eppinga, president; Calvin H. Bolt, vice-president; Martin D. Geleynse, first clerk; Edward J. Knott, second clerk

1981

Grand Rapids, MI: John A. De Kruyter, president; John H. Bergsma, vice-president; Milton R. Doornbos, first clerk; Martin D. Geleynse, second clerk

1982

Grand Rapids, MI: Clarence Boomsma, president; Nichaolas B. Knoppers, vice-president; Leonard J. Hofman, first clerk; Harry G. Arnold, second clerk

1983

Grand Rapids, MI: Jacob D. Eppinga, president; Calvin H. Bolt, vice-president; Jack B. Vos, first clerk; Morris N. Breidanus, second clerk

1984

Grand Rapids, MI: Roger E. Van Harn, president; Hans Uittenbosch, vice-president; Howard B. Spaan, first clerk; Jack J. Reiffer, second clerk

1985

Grand Rapids, MI: Calvin H. Bolt, president; Peter W. Brouwer, vice-president; William D. Buursma, first clerk; Jack Westerhof, second clerk

1986

Grand Rapids, MI: Jacob D. Eppinga, president; Bastiaan Nederlof, vice-president; Milton R. Doornbos, first clerk; Lugene A. Bazuin, second clerk

1987

Grand Rapids, MI: Jacob D. Eppinga, president; Bastiaan Nederlof, vice-president; Milton R. Doornbos, first clerk; Lugene A. Bazuin, second clerk

1988

Grand Rapids, MI: Calvin H. Bolt, president; Howard D. Vanderwell, vice-president; Peter W. Brouwer, first clerk; Henry Wildeboer, second clerk

1989

Grand Rapids, MI: Calvin H. Bolt, president; James R. Kok, vice-president; Morris N. Greidanus, first clerk; Harry G. Arnold, second clerk

1990

Grand Rapids, MI: Howard D. Vanderwell, president; Roger E. Van Harn, vice-president; Peter Borgdorff, first clerk; Henry Wildeboer, second clerk

1991

Sioux Center, IA: Calvin H. Bolt, president; Jack B. Vos, vice-president; Morris N. Greidanus, first clerk; Peter W. Brouwer, second clerk

1992

Grand Rapids, MI: Howard D. Vanderwell, president; Jack B. Vos, vice-president; Peter W. Brouwer, first clerk; James R. Kok, second clerk

1993

Grand Rapids, MI: Peter W. Brouwer, president; Roger E. Van Harn, vice-president; Morris N. Greidanus, first clerk; Stanley P. Mast, second clerk

1994

Grand Rapids, MI: Calvin H. Bolt, president; James R. Kok, vice-president; Carl E. Zylstra, first clerk; Wayne A. Brouwer, second clerk

1995

Grand Rapids, MI: Calvin H. Bolt, president; Jack B. Vos, vice-president; Howard D. Vanderwell, first clerk; William Robert Godfrey, second clerk

1996

Grand Rapids, MI: John G. Van Ryn, president; Gordon H. Pols, vice-president; Kenneth D. Koeman, first clerk; Henry Admiraal, second clerk

1997

Grand Rapids, MI: Michael De Vries, president; Wayne A. Brouwer, vice-president; George Vandervelde, first clerk; Norman L. Meyer, second clerk

1998

Grand Rapids, MI: Howard D. Vanderwell, president; Jack B. Vos, vice-president; Stanley J. Koster, first clerk; Peter Nicolai, second clerk

1999

Ancaster, ON: Wayne A. Brouwer, president; Stanely P. Mast, vice-president; George Vandervelde, first clerk; Henry P. Kranenberg, second clerk

2000

Grand Rapids, MI: Michael De Vries, president; Norman L. Meyer, vice-president; Henry J. Baron, first clerk; Jack Westerhof, second clerk

2001

Grand Rapids, MI: Morris N. Greidanus, president; Joel R. Boot, vice-president; Donald Dykstra, first clerk; Henry Numan, second clerk

2002

Grand Rapids, MI: Norman L. Meyer, president; Gordon H. Pols, vice-president; Arie G. Van Eek, first clerk; Gerard L. Dykstra, second clerk

2003

Sioux Center, IA: Wayne A. Brouwer, president; John L. Witvliet, vice-president; Donald Dykstra, first clerk; Henry P. Krannenberg, second clerk

2004

Grand Rapids, MI: Joel R. Boot, president; Emmett A. Harrison, vice-president; William T. Koopmans, first clerk; Wayne A. Brouwer, second clerk

2005

Palos Heights, IL: Wayne A. Brouwer, president; Stanely P. Mast, vice-president; Gordon H. Pols, first clerk; Donald Dykstra, second clerk

2006

Grand Rapids, MI: W. Wayne Leys, president; William C. Veenstra, vice-president; William B. Weidenaar, first clerk; Cecil Van Niejenhuis, second clerk

2007

Grand Rapids, MI: Joel R. Boot, president; Cecil Van Niejenhuis, vice-president; Henry J. Baron, first clerk; Jake Kuipers, second clerk

2008

Grand Rapids, MI: Joel R. Boot, president; Thea N. Leunk, vice-president; Leslie J. Kuiper, first clerk; Laryn G. Zoerhof, second clerk

2009

Palos Heights, IL: William T. Koopmans, president; Sheila E. Holmes, vice-president; Donald Dykstra, first clerk; William Veenstra, second clerk

2010

Palos Heights, IL: Aldon L. Kuiper, president; Peter Slofstra, vice-president; William Verhoef, first clerk; Wendy Gritter, second clerk

2011

Grand Rapids, MI: James C. Dekker, president; George G. Vink, vice-president; Bert Slofstra, first clerk; Sheila E. Holmes, second clerk

2012

Ancaster, ON: Leslie J. Kuiper, president; Bruce A. Persenaire, vice-president; Thea N. Leunk, first clerk; Martin Bosveld, second clerk

2013

Grand Rapids, MI: William T. Koopmans, president; Reginald Smith, vice-president; Loren J. Velthuizen, first clerk; William Verhoef, second clerk

2014

Pella, IA: R. Scott Greenway, president; Jake Kuipers, vice-president; John Tenyenhuis, first clerk; Jerome Burton, second clerk

2015

Sioux Center, IA: Bruce Persenaire, president; William Veenstra, vice-president; Bonny Mulder-Behnia, first clerk; Stanley Jim, second clerk

2016

Grand Rapids, MI: Paul R. DeVries, president; José Rayas, vice-president; Bert Slofstra, first clerk; Elsa Fennema, second clerk

2017

Palos Heights, IL: Rev. Cornelius Pool, president; Rev. Thea N. Leunk, vice president; Mr. Rudy Gonzalez, first clerk; Rev. Ed W. Visser, second clerk

2018

Grand Rapids, MI: Dr. Roger S. Greenway, president; Rev. Elizabeth A. Vander Haagen, vice president; Rev. Mary-Lee Bouma, first clerk; Dr. Calvin Hoogendoorn, second clerk

2019

Grand Rapids, MI: Dr. William T. Koopmans, president; Rev. Thea N. Leunk, vice president; Rev. José Rayas, first clerk; Ms. Melissa Van Dyk, second clerk

2020

Synod did not take place as planned in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Instead, a special meeting of the Council of Delegates met via Zoom teleconference to discuss a portion of the agenda. 

2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 Synod med via teleconference. 

2022

Grand Rapids, MI: Rev. José Rayas, president; Rev. Derek Buikema, vice president; Rev. Aaron J. Vriesman, first clerk; Ms. Luann D. Sankey, second clerk

2023

Grand Rapids, MI

Official Name of the Church:
Holland Reformed Church, 1859-1861.
Ware Hollandsche Gereformeerde Kerk (True Dutch Reformed Church), 1861-1880
Hollandsche Christelijke Gerformeerde Kerk (Dutch Christian Reformed Church), 1880.

Official Name of the Highest Assembly:
Classicale Vergadering (Classis), 1857-1865.
Algemeene Vergadering (General Assembly), 1865-1879.
Synodale Vergadering (Synod), 1880.

Since the denomination completed the change from Dutch to English in 1932, the 1936 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America authorized the translation of its minutes into English. In 1865, with the creation of a second classis, the General Assembly (“Algemeene Vergadering”) became the highest ecclesiastical assembly of the denomination. Since some matters during the first years following the creation of the General Assembly were also dealt with at the classical level, this translation contains minutes from both for those years. The minutes of the first classical meeting, held in April 1857, were lost when that session’s presiding officer, Rev. Hendrik G. Klyn, returned to the Reformed Church in America.

The first translation was overseen by a committee headed by professor Clarence Bouma, of Calvin Theological Seminary, in 1937. The actual translation seems to have been done by a number of individuals. The originals were not transcribed nor was the original pagination maintained. In 1999 because the accuracy of the translation varied, probably reflecting individual translators, the Historical Committee of the Christian Reformed Church deemed it advisable to make the translation more consistent. Initial efforts indicated that starting from the original manuscripts would be more effective than editing the 1937 translation. Further advantages of doing so allowed a transcription of the original Dutch to be set in the left column and the English translation on the right, and the original pagination maintained.

Hendrick K. Harms transcribed the original handwritten Dutch into a digital, word processing format. Richard H. Harms translated this set, and that translation was proofread by Boukje Leegwater. All three are native-speakers of Dutch who now live in West Michigan. Additions in the text are indicated in square brackets and all footnotes were added.

Historical Committee of the Christian Reformed Church
© 2000