On Tuesday morning, Synod 2026 hosted a presentation ceremony for 36 new candidates for ministry in the Christian Reformed Church. Fourteen of those candidates were present in person for the liturgy and celebration; others joined by livestream.
Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It is meeting June 12-18 in Grand Rapids, Mich., on the campus of Calvin University
Susan LaClear, director of Candidacy for the CRC, welcomed the candidates. “We give thanks to God for those men and women that God has raised up among us and gifted and formed as pastoral leaders,” she said.
LaClear referenced Ephesians 4, telling the candidates their mission as pastors would be “to equip the moms, the dads, the grandmas, the grandpas, the uncles, the aunts, the cousins, the coworkers, and the friends so that they can faithfully carry the love and the truth of Jesus Christ into the places where God has placed them.”
After LaClear read the names of all 36 candidates, CRC general secretary Zach King and members of the Candidacy committee, led the synod in giving the candidates a charge from 2 Timothy.
Calvin Theological Seminary president Jul Medenblik offered a message, emphasizing the enormity of a pastoral calling. “You can’t put God in a box, but we tend to be ‘boxy’ people,” Medenblik said. “God will call you to more.”
Medenblik shared an illustration he first received from Rev. Joel Nederhood, former radio minister with the CRC’s Back to God Hour (now ReFrame Ministries). Medenblik showed the candidates how a sponge stays dry, even when submerged in a bucket of water, if it’s held in a clenched fist. “When we empty ourselves and open our hearts to the Lord … when we allow the Holy Spirit to again soak into our lives, we can be used by God in a special way,” Medenblik said. “That’s when you have the opportunity to really be a conduit of God’s love.”
Delegates to synod then clustered around candidates to extend hands toward each of them during a prayer led by synod president Chad Steenwyk. “We thank you, Lord, that we have a calling, that we have a mission in this world to proclaim the gospel,” Steenwyk prayed. “I thank you for raising up those who would take on the mantle, who would open your Word with your people, who would proclaim that gospel.”
Delegates closed the presentation ceremony by singing “There is One Gospel” by CityAlight.
Before Synod 2026 paused work for Tuesday morning, LaClear asked for a moment of recognition of Tsunglin (Bosco) Jen, a commissioned pastor who was nearing candidacy as Minister of the Word before his unexpected death in January. “This morning we got to rejoice with those who rejoice, our candidates who made it past the finish line, but we (also) want to weep with those who weep.”
Jen was serving Hyde Park CRC, a Chinese-English bilingual congregation in Classis Chicago South, when he died Jan. 14, due to complications from a stroke. He had almost completed the requirements for candidacy as Minister of the Word at the time of his death.
Tom Van Engen, Classis Chicago South, who served as a sermon evaluator for Jen, spoke to his character. “I was invited to be his mentor, and that was a really great experience,” Van Engen said, showing emotion. “He was just an extraordinary pastor.”
Derek Buikema, synod vice president, served with Jen on the Classis Chicago South interim committee. Buikema prayed for Jen’s family and Hyde Park CRC. “We thank you for his testimony to the gospel, for the fact that he was a preacher of hope in Christ Jesus. And we pray that you would bring comfort to Hyde Park CRC,” Buikema prayed, asking that God “would bind up the wounds of those who miss this dear brother.”
Joseph Bae, Classis Ko-Am, prayed in English and Korean to close the morning session.
Synod 2026, the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, is meeting June 12-18 on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. Go to crcna.org/synod for the livestream, photos, reports, and a live blog of synod proceedings and decisions. Find daily news and our video Synod Recap at thebanner.org/synod.