General Synod 2024 was called to order on Thursday afternoon by synod president Rev. Judy Nelson.
“We are called to be a body engaged in worshipful work—to discern the mind of Christ together … Because office-bearers receive their authority from Christ and are responsible first of all to the Lord of the church, they primarily represent Christ to the church and world.
“We already know that the General Synod has many significant decisions to make, and while the outcome is important, the way we make those decisions is of utmost importance … We will engage as brothers and sisters in Christ. The way we engage will be a witness to the world, for many are watching.” – General Synod president Judy Nelson
General Synod worships together
“I believe God is doing a new thing among us. I mean it! I sense it deep in my bones. Do you sense it too? I’ve seen a fresh wind of the Spirit blowing in and through us.
“[I sense God is saying], ‘Reformed Church in America … I’m with you now and I’m calling you to see the new thing that I am doing—to step out in faith, to trust me, that I will lead you into this future.’ It may feel uncomfortable, it may feel uncertain, it may even be a bit scary, but it is also exhilarating and it makes our hearts come alive. Because this is where growth and transformation happens. … The kingdom of God is breaking in among us.”
–Rev. Brian Keepers, pastor of Trinity Reformed Church, Orange City, Iowa, preaching on Isaiah 43
Delegates participate in antiracism training
On Thursday afternoon, delegates participated in antiracism training led by Rev. Jeremy Simpson, director of diversity and belonging, and Pastor Martha Draayer, co-pastor of Maria Magdalena Reformed Church, a multilingual church plant in Sioux Center, Iowa. The goal of this training was to help the RCA continue to live into its Revelation 7:9 vision and the antiracism policy that was adopted by General Synod in 2022. Among other things, this policy states that the RCA “commit[s] to dismantling racism in its attitudes and structures in all assemblies (local churches, classes, regional synods, and General Synod).”
“General Synod is the broadest assembly of the Reformed Church in America, so it brings together delegates from a wide variety of geographic locations and racial and ethnic backgrounds,” said Rev. Judy Nelson, General Synod president. “We believe that God is bringing together a diverse, Revelation 7:9 church in the Reformed Church in America, and we celebrate that diversity. Growing in our understanding of what it means to be antiracist is an important step in living into the diversity of our denomination.”
Specifically, the training was designed to increase awareness and understanding of racism, equip participants with tools to challenge racist behaviors and systems effectively, and promote self reflection and dialogue.
The training was included in the synod schedule as a response to “acts of racism among us,” said Simpson, particularly as a response from the Commission on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and the General Synod Council (GSC) to reported incidents of racism at last year’s General Synod meeting.
“We have a strong legacy of being a covenant people, but we also have a history of being involved in and complicit in systemic oppression,” said Simpson. “In order for us to transform them, we must understand and highlight those systems which hold others down. … We are working to be alike in those spaces and to say to those who experience those issues of racism, ‘We are with you.’
“Racism doesn’t only impact people of color; it impacts all of us.”
At the beginning of the training, delegates agreed to engage in the discomfort, listen actively, and respect their own voice and the voices of others. Topics included history and definitions related to racism, systems and practices of oppression, biblical examples, unconscious bias, microaggressions, and our Christian responsibility to the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Delegates also discussed and reflected with those at their tables.
Resources and next steps
- Watch the training
- A curated list of books and podcasts to grow in diversity, equity, and inclusion. These resources were provided and encouraged as practical next steps for delegates.
- How to respond to acts of racism at synod
- Learn about the RCA’s dismantling racism prayer gatherings
- Dismantling racism resources webpage
General Synod acknowledges its presence on indigenous land
During Thursday’s opening session, General Synod president Judy Nelson acknowledged that the 2024 General Synod meeting at the Westin La Paloma Hotel in Tucson, Arizona, is being held on indigenous ancestral lands and territories. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes; Tucson is home to the Tohono O’odham and the Yaqui.
“We respectfully acknowledge that the land on which the 2024 General Synod of the Reformed Church in America meets is on the land and territories of indigenous peoples, who were removed from their ancestral lands, often by governmental entities, and usually by violent means,” said Nelson. “We acknowledge their history in this place and lament any role the Reformed Church in America or her members may have played in their displacement.”
The 2021 General Synod voted to acknowledge and advocate for the concerns of indigenous communities, including through land acknowledgements when General Synod meets. Learn more about the RCA’s commitment to antiracism.
Why is General Synod at a hotel in Tucson?
General Synod returns to the Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Arizona, this year. The synod first convened in this location in October 2021 when COVID precautions and scheduling prevented the General Synod from meeting at a college campus, as it has historically.
The positive experience in 2021 played a significant role in the decision to hold General Synod in this site again—as did extremely competitive rates from the hotel. Prior to signing contracts, RCA event staff did extensive research and a number of site visits to pursue the most viable option.
“Because of our preexisting relationship with the Westin, we were able to negotiate very affordable rates to return there in 2024 and 2025, and they were truly wonderful to work with when we held General Synod there in 2021,” says Liz Brand, director of General Synod operations. “Their staff is very supportive in helping with the complicated logistics of a General Synod meeting.
“Our colleges have wonderful staff and we are so grateful for the many times they’ve warmly hosted General Synod meetings,” she adds.
Even with staff support from a host college, there is a significant amount of behind-the-scenes support work required of GSC staff when General Synod is held at a college. The realities of a reduction in the number of GSC staff available to help and limited volunteers are also significant factors for choosing a synod location. At a hotel, hotel staff take care of more of that work.
While holding General Synod at a hotel does have a higher cost than holding it at one of the RCA’s colleges—including travel costs—consideration for the delegates’ well-being and ability to do their work well at General Synod held considerable weight in this location decision. A post-synod survey in 2021 revealed that delegates found the hotel setting positively contributed to their ability to do their work and that there was a healthier tenor of discussion, even with significant decisions like the Vision 2020 recommendations at hand.
“It is important to give General Synod delegates every advantage in doing their work, especially in 2024 as they consider the report of the restructuring team,” says general secretary Eddy Alemán. “Being well rested in comfortable accommodations will help with their discernment.”
General Synod 2025 will also be held at the Westin La Paloma; that two-year contract further lowered hotel costs.
Watch the videostream of General Synod worship and plenary sessions.
For full coverage of General Synod 2024, visit www.rca.org/synod.
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