A. Christian Educators Team. This team of educators comes from the Churches of the seven Classes within the Synod. They have planned, coordinated, and run several Synod wide educational events. They are a support group for educators across the Synod.
B. Mediation Team. This team is a specially trained and educated group of pastors and lay leaders who work with churches in conflict. They have successfully helped churches of different size levels and ethnic backgrounds involved in internal and external conflict. They are committed to running workshops helping Classes and Churches learn the process of mediation so that destructive conflict can be avoided.
C. Myers-Briggs Team Building Seminars. The Executive Minister is trained in the use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and has helped church consistories, nursing homes, pastors, and lay leaders to understand themselves and others better so that they work together better teams.
D. In cooperation with the Regional Synod of the Mid Atlantics the Regional Synod of New York created Volunteer Services for our region in particular. This program offers the help of volunteer laborers who work repairing buildings belonging to our more financially strapped churches. Currently this ministry has saved a number of churches within our Synod alone a minimum of $800,000.00 in repair cost over the past several years.
E. The Synod has tried to stay current with modern technology. View our web page, www.nysynod.com.
F. The Synod assists others in their search processes:
1. Warwick Conference Center
2. Special Ministry to the Japanese
3. R.C.A.: We have been especially helpful to the denomination in the recommendation of women and ethnic and racial minorities for denominational positions. It is amazing that within the past seven years 3 men from the Synod of New York have been elected president of our denomination, one of Taiwanese heritage, another of Latino heritage and the third African American heritage.
G. The Synod of New York was one of the first RCA Synods to introduce Natural Church Development to its Classes and Churches. Approximately 50 of our Synod churches have used the program. The Synod has worked with 38 of those churches and has records to vouch for its effective use.
H. The Synod has been helpful in the beginning stages of many new church starts. Currently there are 15 new communities forming within our Synod. They represent a broad range of ethnic and racial backgrounds.
I. The use of Consecration Sunday Stewardship materials was heralded by the Regional Synod staff when they were first introduced across the face of the church. The use of these materials are still proving to be a most effective stewardship tool for many of our churches. The Synod staff continues to work with churches who wish to learn how to use them.
J. The Synod was a forerunner in the concept using pastoral networks. These networks were devised to provide support to pastors in small groups under the care of a qualified leader who would hold the group accountable to their values and goals. When the denomination developed its plan of pastoral networks the Regional Synod backed off its Center for Congregational Leadership Development (CCLD) and supported the larger denominational program of pastoral networks.
K. In cooperation with the denomination, RSNY is now a training center for the training of leaders of pastoral networks, and Natural Church Development.
L. The RSNY has been a leader within our Denomination for a multicultural future of our churches and Denomination. Our churches continue to be highly regarded and shown as examples to the entire Denomination.
M. Along with the Denominations leadership a Korean consultant program has been developed in which Korean pastors come together and discuss their problems, hopes, and concerns with the RCA.
N. Along with the Synod of the Mid Atlantics the RSNY has participated in the work of the Hope Prayer Team. Church members from across both Synods meet on a regular basis to discuss the issues of the Reformed Church and to pray to God about those issues.
O. The work of helping form the relationship between interim pastors and churches seeking such leadership has been delegated to the Regional Synods. The RSNY has taken that responsibility and acts as a resource for both interim pastors and churches.
P. The Executive Minister has represented the Synod on a Denominational taskforce on Commissioned pastors. The Synod, especially the Classes of Mid Hudson and Orange have been dealing with that issue under the term “preaching elder. “ This variation has been expressed as well as the low response rate of our Synod to this program. Yet the Synod continues to stay in this important discussion.
Q. The Regional synod also participates on the Denominational Multiplication Team and the Revitalization Team bringing back those discussions to the Classes and Churches.
R. The Regional Synod has been involved in difficult legal situations involving our churches, standing with Churches and Classes local town governing boards and even such places as the New York State Supreme Court.
S. The Synod continues to be represented on the New York State Council of Churches and the New York City Council of Churches. Both organizations have seen great changes in their structure over the past decade. The executive minister is the secretary of the New York State Council of Churches and the past treasurer of the New York City Council of Churches.
T. A defining point in time in the life of the Reformed Church in America has become known as Mission 2000. At this General Synod gathering, one of the largest ever in the RCA, the Regional Synod of New York, its classes and churches were chosen to host the event. The RSNY was charged with organizing the immersion of approximately 1500 people attending into the ministry of our churches. The event is still discussed and remembered as a great success. Its effect upon the national church continues to help determine important decisions. It has become a cornerstone event in the development of the “Ten Year Goal” of our denomination.
U. There are many Other Programs developed by the Synod that meet needs and goals established by and for the Classes and congregations of the Synod:
a. Gatherings of the Classis Clerks
b. RSNY summer picnic
c. Seminary Visitation teams
d. The Financial Summit of 2009
e. Tri-Synod Seminary committee
f. General Synod orientation meetings
g. Diaconel Team ministries
The life of the Regional Synod of New York has been observed, discussed, copied and at times dismissed by others within all the Regional Synods and our Denomination. We know two things for sure because of the scrutiny: in some ways the Classes and Churches of the Synods are similar, and in other ways they are very different. Yet our common bond is our belief in, love for and service to our common Lord Jesus Christ. We the servants of the Lord Jesus strive to serve Him the best way we know hoe. Praise the Lord!
