Rhodium-spinel catalysts with activity for efficiently catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane at high selectivities for CO and H.sub.2 products are disclosed, along with their method of making. A syngas production process employing such catalysts for the net catalytic partial oxidation of a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 hydrocarbon (e.g., natural gas or methane) to a product gas mixture comprising CO and H.sub.2 is also disclosed. Preferred reaction conditions include maintaining the catalyst at a temperature of about 400-1,200.degree. C., superatmospheric pressure, and flow rate sufficient to pass the reactant gas mixture over the catalyst at space velocities of at least about 100,000-25,000,000 hr.sup.-1.