Offering what they called a “window into what God is doing,” the directors of the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America (RCA) spoke to Synod 2013 about ways the sister denominations are collaborating.
One key development in the RCA-CRC partnership is that the RCA is adopting World Renew as its domestic relief agency. Already the two denominations have collaborated in storm clean-ups, most recently after the Moore, Okla., tornado in May.
Leaders signed a “memorandum of understanding” as delegates watched.
“We talk about our denominations holding hands, but you’ve taken that metaphor one step further,” synod president William Koopmans said to the RCA leader. “More than holding hands, we are becoming part of one arm. You have added muscle and money.”
Delegates received a handout listing more than 40 ways the two denominations are collaborating, including church planting, disability ministries, ministry to chaplains, and shared administrative functions.
“We are increasing efficiencies and reducing redundancies,” said Rev. Dr. Tom De Vries, general secretary of the RCA. “We are excited.”
“The Holy Spirit is accelerating the relationship,” said Rev. Joel Boot, the CRC’s executive director.
Synod 2013 is meeting at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. from June 7-14. For continuous Banner coverage of Synod 2013, please follow The Banner on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted at www.thebanner.org several times daily. For CRC Communications releases, webcast, and live blogging, please visit www.crcna.org/synod. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are by Karen Huttenga.
About the Author
Roxanne VanFarowe is a freelance writer who claims both Canadian and American citizenship and grew up in the Christian Reformed Church. She is a member of Blacknall Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina.
