Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 09:55:39 -0400 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service Subject: NR 98054: RCA Elects "Strong Evangelical" as New Synodical Vice- President NR #1998-054: RCA Elects "Strong Evangelical" as New Synodical Vice-President; Kalamazoo Pastor Succeeds to Presidency On its last day of business, the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America elected Rev. Vernon Hoffs, stated clerk of the Classis of California, as its new synodical vice-president. According to RCA procedures, election as General Synod vice-president implies a three-year commitment. The vice-president normally succeeds to the presidency in the second year and then becomes moderator of the General Synod Council in the third year. Rev. Sherwin Weener, synod minister of the Regional Synod of the Great Lakes, described Hoffs as a "strong evangelical," noting that he is currently the only full-time classis executive in the denomination. At 21,524 members, the Classis of California is the largest of 46 classes in the 311,000-member denomination. NR #1998-054: For Immediate Release: RCA Elects "Strong Evangelical" as New Synodical Vice-President; Kalamazoo Pastor Succeeds to Presidency by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service HOLLAND, MICH. (June 10, 1998) URNS - On its last day of business, the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America elected Rev. Vernon Hoffs, stated clerk of the Classis of California, as its new synodical vice-president. According to RCA procedures, election as General Synod vice-president implies a three-year commitment. The vice-president normally succeeds to the presidency in the second year and then becomes moderator of the General Synod Council in the third year. In his June 10 acceptance speech, Hoffs said he was "very, very, very humbled" by his election. "People do not follow titles, they follow courage," said Hoffs. "It is my prayer that I would never forget that, and that the Lord would give me that courage." Rev. Sherwin Weener, synod minister of the Regional Synod of the Great Lakes, described Hoffs as a "strong evangelical," noting that he is currently the only full-time classis executive in the denomination. At 21,524 members, the Classis of California is the largest of 46 classes in the 311,000-member denomination. "Vernon Hoffs has helped forge a vision and initiative, and has taken the lead in implementing that vision," said Weener. Of the five candidates for General Synod vice-president, two made it to the final ballot. The runner-up was Rev. Renee House, academic dean of the RCA's New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey. For the next year, Hoffs will serve under Rev. Fritz Kruithof, pastor of Second Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, who succeeded to the synodical presidency on June 9. Kruithof will serve as president of General Synod 1999, meeting in June at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1998-033: Three Reformed Denominations to Hold General Assemblies or Synods this Year in West Michigan Contact List: Rev. E. Wayne Antworth, Director, RCA Stewardship & Communication Services 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115 O: (212) 870-2954 ¥ FAX: (212) 870-2499 ¥ E-Mail: ewantworth@worldnet.att.net Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America 49 Yawpo, Oakland, NJ 07436 O: (212) 870-2845 ¥ E-Mail: wes_granbergmichaelson.parti@ecunet.org Rev. Vernon Hoffs, Stated Clerk, Classis of California 11010 E. Artesia #201, Cerritos, CA 90703 O: (310) 402-2699 ¥ H: (909) 792-3401 Prof. Renee House, Academic Dean, New Brunswick Theological Seminary 25 Seminary Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 O: (908) 247-5241 Rev. Fritx Kruithof, Pastor, Second Reformed Church 2323 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49008 O: (616) 382-6600 ¥ H: (616) 342-4553 Rev. Charles Van Engen, President, RCA General Synod 1998 948 S. Bradish Ave., Glendora, CA 91740 O: (818) 914-3038 ¥ H: (818) 963-9399 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-054.txt .