Provincial Synods Then & Now

Synod is a highly recognized word within the Moravian Church, but it may not be so well understood. According to Bishop Kenneth G. Hamilton, in the closing service of the 1961 Northern Province Synod (an article was published in the October 1961 issue of The Moravian), “The word ‘synod’ itself comes from a root that means ‘walking together’ evidently referring to a time when those who attended a general meeting of the church had to walk for considerable distances.”

Today, the Moravian Church continues to walk together through its three types of Synods; District Synods, Provincial Synods, and Unity Synods. District Synods, which include the Canadian, Eastern, and Western Districts of the Northern Province, occur every 4 years; Provincial Synods happen in set intervals, with the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in North America, occurring every 4 years; and Unity Synods, which include the worldwide Moravian Church occur every 7 years. This article will focus on the Provincial Synods of the Northern and Southern Provinces.

A clear definition of Synod, as far as Moravians use it today, exists in the December 1997 issue of The Moravian in an article titled, “Moravian meanings: A glossary of Moravian terms.” The article, prepared by Otto Dreydoppel Jr. and C. Daniel Crews, states that Synod is, “The legislative meeting of a Moravian district, province, or of the Unity, composed of clergy and lay delegates from congregations (or, in the case of Unity Synod, from the provinces).” Synods are, more or less, the governing body of the Moravian Church. The remainder of the article explains, from a historical perspective, the government of the Moravian Church and for what Synods are responsible.

The Moravian, Saturday, August 25, 1951 In, “Our Church is a Democracy,” the Rev. John S. Groenfeldt wrote:

“The basic unit of our church organization is the local congregation and in our denomination (as in most other Protestant churches) the congregation is a democratic body. A Moravian congregation is governed, as far as local matters are concerned, by a church council, which is a meeting of all members-in-good-standing of the congregation.”

“The church council usually elects two official boards — the Board of Elders and the Board of Trustees — which act for the congregation in conducting the normal business of the church.”
The Moravian, May 7, 1913

In, “Moravian Church Government,” the Rev. W. H. Romig wrote:
“The congregations are organized into districts, having district Synods. These Synods are composed of the pastors of Churches, the ministers in active service within the district, and at least one delegate elected from each congregation. The powers of these district Synods are defined by the laws of the Church and are limited by the means at their disposal to accomplish their purposes. They elect Executive Boards to carry out their decisions. The Moravian Church is divided into Provinces, of which there are four home provinces and a number of mission provinces. The home provinces are the following: The German Province, consisting of the Moravian Churches in Germany and the continent of Europe; the British Province, consisting of the Moravian Churches in Great Britain; the Moravian Church in America, Northern Province, consisting of the Moravian Churches in the northern part of the United States and in Canada; and the Southern Province, consisting of the Moravian Churches in the Southern States. The home provinces are all organized on the same general principles but are not uniform.

The Provincial Synod of the Moravian Church in America, Northern Province, is composed of delegates elected by the congregations and of ministers in active service. The lay, and ministerial representatives are almost equal in number. The districts are not directly represented. The Provincial Synod has the power and it belongs to its functions to legislate for the whole province in all matters that pertain to the business of the province. The Executive Board of this body is the Provincial Elders’ Conference, now composed of three ministers, two of whom give their whole time to the work of this office. This Conference has the general supervision over the churches and the general control of the ministry. Appointments of ministers are made by the Provincial Elders’ Conference. Their power to appoint, however, is limited by the privilege of the congregation to refuse to accept those appointed and of the ministers to refuse the appointment. It is noteworthy that at the present time every minister who desires it has an appointment and every congregation has a pastor. Other boards and officials are also elected by the Provincial Synod for the Trusteeship of educational and financial institutions and to fill special offices.

The general Synod is composed of representatives elected by the provincial Synods of the home provinces, of delegates appointed from the mission provinces, and of a limited number of ex-officio members. This Synod is international in its character and represents the whole Church. Its power and functions are limited to the declaration of the doctrines and general principles of the government of the Church, and to the direction and management of the work that all the provinces undertake in common. This is mainly the Foreign Missions maintained by the whole Church. They are under the management of the mission board elected by the General Synod and having at least one member each, from America, England and Germany. The Mission Provinces are organized under the authority of the General Synod and the Mission Board and differ in their organization in accordance with the needs of each country and the degree of the progress made in the mission.”
The Wachovia Moravian, October, 1920

In, “The Importance of the Synod and the Responsibility of its Members,” the editor wrote:
“We may, by way of introduction, say that in the Moravian Church the Synod is, under Christ, the Supreme authority of the Church. In it, bishops and pastors, elected officials, and lay representatives meet on perfect terms of equality. To this body, Congregations and Boards and Pastors and Societies, as far as they form part of the general Church; give an account of their stewardship. In fact the Synod is the Church itself, gathered in the person of all its representatives to perform the business which God has entrusted to its care.

Thus it becomes the duty of the Synod thoroughly to examine into what the Church has done in the past three or more or less years, since the last Synod met, and prayerfully and earnestly to consider what the Church ought to do, in the period that lies ahead. If there is anything wrong in the Church’s conduct, if the Synod does not strive to correct the error, it makes itself partake in the mistake, neglect or sin, whatever it may be; if there is anything that is good and in weak condition, it is the Synod’s duty to try and strengthen it; if where any new line of endeavor that God is opening, the Synod and its delegates neglect their duty if they do not lead the Church in the new path of God’s appointment. If there is any offering of means, whether in service or money which God is calling for it is the Synod’s duty to say with Joshua of Old. “What saith the Lord unto his servant?” and listening to His voice, to give the whole Church an example of obedience to His will. This is the duty of a Synod even in the most ordinary times.”
The Wachovia Moravian, June, 1965

In, “The Synod Shall Have Power,” the editor wrote:
“The organization of synod begins with the election of delegates and alternates by the local congregations. Under a new rule adopted in 1962 each congregation is entitled to send one delegate for ‘every one hundred (100) communicant members in good standing.’

The rules of the province require that the delegates and alternates be elected by Church Council in which all qualified members have the privilege of voting and that the election shall be by ballot.”

“In addition to the representatives from the churches, other delegates are the ministers of the province and individuals who hold positions of leadership in the various organizations. These include the laymen on the Provincial Elders’ Conference and the Financial Board, the President of Salem College and the Chairman of the Provincial Women’s Board.”

Andrew David graduated in May with a degree in professional writing from Kutztown University. During the first part of 2006 he served as a student intern with the Interprovincial Board of Communication of the Moravian Church in North America researching and writing articles for “The Moravian.”