The ecclesiastical structure of the CRCNA involves the church assemblies: the council (local assembly of the elders, deacons, and minister[s] of a congregation), the classis (regional assembly), and the synod (denominational assembly).
The ecclesiastical structure is as follows:
Council — Classis — Synod
Note: We speak of our major assemblies as broader, not higher, assemblies. Therefore, the grid is horizontal, not vertical.
Classis
A classis is a group of churches within a geographical area that comes 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 in the region, and allow for a healthy and sustained connection to the wider denomination.
A classis has the authority to deal with matters that concern its churches in common and its decisions are binding on the churches in its region. A minister, elder, and deacon from each congregation are delegated to attend each classis meeting.
View a list of all classes.
Synod
The synod of the CRC represents the churches of all the classes. Synod meets annually in June with 196 delegates: one minister, one elder, one deacon, and one other officebearer from each classis. The tasks of synod include responsibility for creeds, the Church Order, liturgical forms, hymnals, principles of worship, and moral/ethical positions.
Synod also provides general oversight for the ministries undertaken jointly by CRC churches. These include educational institutions, a broadcast ministry, world and domestic mission agencies, a world relief agency and a publication ministry, as well as pastoral ministries such as chaplaincy, disability concerns, pastor-church resources, race relations, safe church, and social justice and world hunger concerns.
Visit crcna.org/synod for news and information from the annual synod.