The Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC) met from June 8–12, 2020, to attend to the ecclesiastical business of the denomination. As of this writing, the Acts of Synod are not yet published, so any comments on specific decisions will have to wait. Nevertheless, there is one thing that calls for the attention of the PRC, and that is the very fact of synod’s meeting at all. In this year, under these circumstances, the PRC are unique in holding their annual synod at the usual time. Many denominations, responding to coronavirus concerns and regulations, either canceled their annual synods altogether (the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America, for example), or postponed them to a later date (the United Reformed Churches, for example), or postponed them with a later date or cancelation to be determined (the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, for example). Unique among all these denominations, the PRC held their annual synod at Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan.

The synod itself was unique. In order to hold the synod at Trinity, the council requested a declaration from the Board of Trustees of the PRC that the annual meeting of synod was essential for the execution of the business of the denomination. The board complied with this request. In order to hold meetings safely, strict restrictions were placed upon attendance at the pre-synodical worship service and at the meetings of synod. At the meetings of synod, only delegates, advisors, appellants, and protestants were allowed to attend. In this way, the essential business of the churches was able to be carried out.

A few reflections on synod’s decision to meet. First, synod’s decision to meet was good. The Board of Trustees’ declaration that synod is essential is not merely a formality for the sake of the state, but a good and true reminder to the entire denomination of just how important synod is. Weighty matters, including contact with other churches, the mission work of the churches, the seminary, and protests and appeals, are treated for the good of the denomination. Trinity church, the Board of Trustees, and synod itself set a good example for the entire denomination in pressing forward with the work of the kingdom of heaven.

Second, allow me to suggest that there may have been ways to make synod’s decision to meet even better. Synod has enjoyed a large and healthy gallery over the years, especially on matters that are controversial in the churches. Members of the churches in the office of believer profit from attending the meetings of synod and hearing the deliberations. Officebearers who are not delegates to synod profit from observing the matters treated in closed session. Through no fault of the host church or of synod, that opportunity was denied to the members of the churches this year. But could there have been a way to include the members of the churches? Perhaps synod could have convened in Indiana or Iowa or South Dakota, where restrictions on gatherings were much more relaxed than in Michigan at the time, and where a gallery would have been able to observe. Or, if there was not enough time to change the venue, perhaps the deliberations could have been livestreamed so that people could still observe the proceedings from home, including members who live far from Michigan but who have a keen interest in the synod. Who knows if we will face circumstances like this anytime soon, but it would be good for the churches at least to consider these other options for the future. The office of believer in the church would profit from some such arrangement, and I suppose that synod would also profit by seeing the great interest that the members have in synod.

Third, synod’s ability to meet was a gift of our God. As we consider how unique a meeting it was, may we give all glory to him.