After a busy night of committtee work, the delegates of the PRC Synod convened on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. in the sanctuary of Georgetown PRC.

First on the agenda is the final sections (4) of oral examination of Sem. Josiah Tan. This part of the exam is also be livestreamed on Georgetown PRC's website.

Prof.D. Kuiper examining Sem. Tan in knowledge of confessions.

Prof. B.Gritters examining Sem. Tan in Church Polity and NT History. 

Rev.C. Griess examining Sem. Tan in practica.

Pending the approval of synod, the graduation ceremony of Sem. J.Tan will take place this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the church.

Sem. J.Tan successfully sustained his exam, with the following reported in today's record: "The chairman, Rev. R. Kleyn, informs Mr. Tan that synod has unanimously approved his synodical examination and will inform the Session of the CERC that we judge him worthy to be declared eligible for a call. He reads Joshua 1:4-9. Synod sings the doxology. The delegates of synod are given opportunity to congratulate Mr. Tan and his wife."

We rejoice in this blessed provision of another candidate for the gospel ministry and pray that God will provide him a call that will lead to his ordination in the near future.

Sem. Tan and his wife Huiqi congratulated by the president of synod, Rev. R. Kleyn

Sem. Tan and his wife congratulated by Prof. R. Cammenga

Sem. Tan and his wife congratulated by Rev. C.Griess, under whom Sem. Tan did his internship

The rest of the day was taken up with deliberation on synod's committee reports. Here is the public report for this day:

Report of Day 3
Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America June 10, 2021

Synod continued its work this morning with the oral examination of senior seminarian, Josiah Tan. Prof. Kuiper examined Mr. Tan in Knowledge of Confessions (for 30 minutes), Prof. Gritters examined him in Church Order (for 30 minutes) and Knowledge of Scripture (for 30 minutes), and then Rev. Griess (who supervised Mr. Tan’s internship) examined him in Practica (for 20 minutes). The brother gave a very good account of himself, and synod unanimously approved his examination. May the Lord soon open up a place of labor for Josiah in his kingdom. We thank him for providing another faithful laborer in the harvest!

Believing missions to be one of the primary callings of the church, synod authorized the Domestic Mission Committee (DMC) to designate a new calling church for a home missionary from the West Michigan area. The desire is that this church call a missionary as soon as possible and work with the DMC in developing a new field of labor.

Synod dealt with the work of the Contact Committee (CC) in this past year. It approved the work of the CC with our sister church in Singapore, and approved discontinuing the calling of a minister-on-loan to serve there. Synod approved the CC’s work with our sister church in Northern Ireland. It approved the work with our sister church in the Philippines, and approved letters of encouragement to our sister church and our missionaries in light of recent struggles they have experienced. Synod approved the work of the CC with our contacts in Australia, Germany, and Namibia/South Africa, and received information regarding other contacts in South Korea and Mexico. Synod approved sending observers to NAPARC in 2021. A committee of three men reported on the work they did in the past year reviewing the doxologies and spiritual songs in the back of our Psalter, and sent this on to our denominational Review Committee for a final review.

Synod also began treating the material related to our Theological School Committee (TSC). One young man who aspires to the ministry in our churches was admitted to the seminary in the coming year. This is great cause for rejoicing as it means that, the Lord willing, next school year we will have four men studying for the ministry in our churches, as well as two other foreign students. Having served his initial four-year term, Prof. Kuiper was reappointed to another three-year term as professor of Church History and New Testament in our seminary. Synod also declared that Profs. Cammenga, Dykstra, and Gritters are capable to continue teaching in our seminary for another year, a decision demanded by the TSC Constitution on account of their being over 65 years old.

The delegates of Synod gathered tonight with the seminary faculty, members of the TSC, and supporters of our seminary to celebrate the graduation of Josiah Tan. Georgetown PRC’s choir treated the audience to two beautiful numbers, and Prof. Kuiper gave a fitting address on “Putting One’s Neck to the Work.”

In Christ’s Service,
Rev. Joshua Engelsma, Second Clerk of Synod 2021

Synod's first clerk - Rev. C. Spronk - busy at his post.

The PRC's assistant stated clerk, Mr. Dirk Westra, has made himself available with his digital resources for synod and her committees.

Another important member of synod's "team": Jay A. Kuiper, Georgetown PRC's facility coordinator, janitor, livestream-controller, etc.

The PRC Synod 2021 began its sessions this morning at Georgetown PRC at 8 a.m.

After receiving the credentials of the delegates from Classes East and West, election of synodical officers took place. Chosen were Revs. R. Kleyn as president, G. Eriks as vice-president, C.Spronk as first clerk, and J.Engelsma as second clerk.

The Committee on Committees was appointed to organize the work of synod. More on this report later.

Synodical delegates gathered for Sem. J.Tan sermon

Beginning at 10 a.m. the examination of Sem. Josiah Tan (Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, Singapore) will take place, with his specimen sermon to be preached before synod and visitors. Tomorrow (Wednesday) his oral examination will begin, with more continuing on Thursday. The entire exam will be livestreamed on Georgetown PRC's website.

Sem. J.Tan delivering his sermon specimen before synod

Synod has approved Sem. Tan's sermon specimen and will proceed to the rest of his examination Wednesday morning. 

Synod has recessed for the day in order for her committees to do their work.

UPDATE: The following is the summary report of day one by the synod's clerks:

Report of Day One of Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches of America June 8, 2021

Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church called its congregation together for the pre-synodical service last night, June 7, and began its duties of hosting the delegates of Synod 2021. Rev. Van Overloop, chairman of last year’s synod, led the service, preaching on the mercy and lovingkindness of God as set forth in Psalm 36:7-8. The pastorally delivered sermon encouraged the delegates of synod and the congregation to view everything that is happening in the churches and their individual lives in light of the excellent lovingkindness/mercy of God towards His people. The congregation and delegates of synod enjoyed a time of Christian fellowship after the service.

This morning the delegates of synod were once again warmly welcomed by the members of Georgetown PRC who are working in various capacities to serve synod. If today is any indication, the delegates will be very well cared for by the janitor, the kitchen committee, and others who are helping in this effort. Synod gathered in the spacious fellowship hall to begin its proceedings. Rev. Van Overloop read the names of the delegates from Classis East and Classis West. After synod voted to approve the credentials of the delegates, Rev. Van Overloop declared synod properly constituted.

Synod proceeded to elect officers resulting in the election of Rev. Rodney Kleyn as president, Rev. Garry Eriks as vice-president, Rev. Clayton Spronk as first clerk, and Rev. Joshua Engelsma as second clerk. Rev. Kleyn took the chair, asked for the cooperation of the delegates, and read from Ephesias 3:14-21 commenting that the passage is a prayer that God be glorified through the church. He encouraged the delegates to make this prayer and to have this perspective that all should be for God’s glory in the work of synod.

Senior Seminarian Josiah Tan preached a specimen sermon on Psalm 89:1 at around 10:00 this morning. As it had the night before, synod heard a stirring word of God about the amazing mercies of God. Synod unanimously voted to approve Sem. Tan’s sermon and to proceed to his oral examination. The sermon was livestreamed on the internet. Hopefully members of the churches were able to tune in, especially the members of the CERC in Singapore.

Those who are interested in witnessing the proceedings of synod will want to take note of the following decisions that were adopted by synod. 1. The examination of senior seminarian Josiah Tan will be livestreamed on the internet Wednesday and Thursday. 2. Sixty visitors will be allowed in the fellowship hall for the regular deliberations of synod; 285 visitors will be allowed in the sanctuary during the oral examination of Sem. Tan.

Synod adopted the recommendation of the Committee on Committees regarding the appointment of the committees of pre-advice. Around noon synod recessed for the day so that these committees could get to work. Synod will convene at 8:00am tomorrow and shortly thereafter begin the examination of Mr. Tan in the six sections of Reformed Dogmatics. May God give our brother all he needs to give a good account of what he has studied in seminary.

In Christ’s Service, Rev. Spronk First Clerk of Synod 2021