Task Force on Structure and Culture Requests Feedback

Responding to a task force that is asking them to “discern, but not decide,” Synod 2014 delegates considered  three options for restructuring the administrative structure of the Christian Reformed Church.

The options were presented by the Task Force for Reviewing Structure and Culture, which is working to bring a final report to Synod 2015.

Synod 2011 created the task force after the executive director and director of denominational ministries resigned that year. Synod 2011 said the resignations indicated a need to examine the CRC’s organizational culture and administrative structures.

The task force asked Synod 2014 delegates to “analyze and address the ‘dual authority and accountability’ that currently exists between agency boards and the Board of Trustees, which has at times led to confusion, duplication, suspicion and tension.”

The dual authority and accountability stems from the fact that denominational agencies have their own boards, with delegated authority from synod, but also report to the CRC’s Board of Trustees.

The three options presented were:

• Option A: Keep things the same.
• Option B: No longer delegate synod’s authority to the agencies, only to the Board of Trustees, and change agency boards to advisory councils reporting to the BOT.
• Option C: Replace the Board of Trustees with a Council of Delegates, with one member elected from each of the 47 classes and 12 to 15 at-large delegates. The council would meet twice per year, with an executive of 12 people that would meet more frequently. Boards of some or all agency boards would become advisory committees.

After discussion, delegates were asked to email their preferences, questions, and responses to the task force. Synod voted to extend that process of discernment to ”the church, its agencies, boards and planning groups.” Church members can do that by emailing [email protected].

“The idea is, how can we best structure ourselves to affect the culture to be interactive, supportive, and encouraging,” said Rev. Joel R. Boot, executive director of the CRC and also a member of the task force.

“This is so terribly important -- this is a huge deal,” said Rev. Scott Greenway, who is president of Synod 2014 and also a task force member. “We need some solid feedback.”

Synod also voted to explore development of a nominating committee to identify candidates for boards and committees and the opportunity to train board members in board governance.

For continuous coverage of Synod 2014 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod