As planning for General Synod is well underway, the General Synod staff are seeking self-nominations for people to serve as committee chairs.

This invitation is specifically for delegates at General Synod 35 in Kansas City, which takes place July 11-15.

Each committee chair helps to lead and guide a committee through its resolution work at Synod. Elements of this role include serving as a facilitator during an Educational Intensive, creating a committee agenda, leading the committee to a decision about how the assigned resolution should be presented to the General Synod, and presenting on the committee’s work during a plenary session.

Committee chairs are offered training and support, and they work together with the Committee Process Team. One requirement is that those serving in this role are available to attend a training that begins at 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 10 — the day before Synod officially begins. This is when chairs will be assigned to a specific committee.

The names of those who apply will go into a pool from which staff will select committee chairs nearer to Synod.

‘Fostering a spirit of discernment’

Many who have served as committee chairs in the past have shared that it was a deeply rewarding experience, said Kevin Peterson, staff to the resolution and committee process.

He also offered that committee chairs are not expected to be versed in the topic of a particular resolution.

“In fact, we want quite the opposite – an ideal chair is dispassionate about the resolution or the topic but very passionate about the resolution process, creating community, finding consensus, leading groups, and fostering a spirit of discernment and deep listening to each other and God’s voice,” he said.

Some of the skillset needs include having experience chairing a board or committee, modeling graciousness, and being willing to honor the process and set aside personal agendas.

Peterson encourages people to submit nominations by March 31. More details and the committee chair application is available here.

Registration is open for all General Synod attendees.

By Kayla Berkey

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