Synod 2019 declared Kinism a heresy. The decision came as a result of requests from two regional groupings of churches across the continent from each other, one from California and the other from New Jersey. (Synod is the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church.)
Kinism teaches that the races should be kept separate in racially pure “religio-ethnic states,” supporting white supremacy. A former CRC pastor, now dismissed from the denomination, espouses kinism and did so for many years while he and his church were part of the CRC.
Reggie Smith, director of the denominational Race Relations office, introduced the discussion with a story. Word had come to him that the pastor of a CRC church was teaching kinism. He decided to visit the church. He went alone, but, he said, “if I had taken my wife Sharon, who is white, we would have been heretical in the eyes of this pastor.” Kinism forbids interracial marriage.
The delegates were unified in their condemnation of kinism. Joel Renkema, Classis Central California, said, “Kinism says that people of color are less than human.” Andrew Hanson, Classis California South, called Kinism “the Americanization of apartheid.”
Jacob Boer, Classis Alberta North, said what makes Kinism a heresy is that “it deals with who God is,” and in dealing with who God is, it deals with who human beings are, distorting the central Christian teaching that all humans are created in the image of God.
Margaret Jenista Kuykendall said according to Kinism, half of her staff would be deemed to be in unbiblical marriages and their children less than human.
Some wondered how Kinism could have been tolerated for so long in the CRC. Tyler Wagenmaker asked, “How does a pastor like this not get disciplined?” He presented a motion passed by synod that “councils and classes be admonished to promote confessional fidelity.”
The language of the synod declaration on Kinism calls it a “twisting” of Reformed teaching. Delegates wondered whether this heresy was a foreign body that had attached itself to Reformed teaching or whether there is something in Reformed teaching itself that leads towards this sort of teaching.
Jonathan Owens, Classis Yellowstone, said Kinism is not isolated to this one former CRC church. It is, he said, “a common sentiment in a number of our [western] churches.” Andrew Hanson, Classis California South, said while not all Reformed people were Kinists, all Kinists were Reformed.
In condemning Kinism, synod wanted a firmer definition of heresy. When is a teaching something one can disagree with but not condemn the people who hold it? And when does it pass over into the category of heresy? For the purposes of this discussion, synod worked with a definition of heresy that defines it as “a grievous deviation from sound doctrine.” Synod wanted more. They requested the COD to study the meaning and application of the word “heresy” in church pronouncements. The COD will report back to Synod 2020.
The delegates not only discussed Kinism, they lamented it and all forms of racism. Margaret Jenista Kuykendall said for her, the condemnation of Kinism was personal. She said she had been in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 12, 2017. She said, “I have seen the tiki torches. I have breathed the tear gas. It’s not abstract to me.”
Synod lamented “the historic tolerance and indifference within our Reformed theological tradition perpetuating hateful racial prejudice and the theological error of Kinism.”
Coming back to the podium, Smith had the delegates join hands. He said, “This is family. In this place we are on the same level.” He led a prayer of lament and hope. Synod concluded the discussion of Kinism singing a new song based on 1 John 4:20. The song goes, “How can I say that I love the Lord whom I’ve never, ever seen before, and forget to say that I love the one I walk beside each and every day.”
Synod 2019 is meeting at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., from June 14-20. For continuous coverage from our award-winning news team, download the Banner app on your mobile device or follow The Banner Magazine on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted on The Banner’s dedicated Synod web page several times daily. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are by Karen Huttenga.
About the Author
Clayton Libolt was the long time pastor of River Terrace Church in East Lansing, Mich. Since his retirement, he has served in a variety of interim positions. He is presently serving as the interim senior pastor of Sonlight Community CRC in Lynden, Wash.
