Choosing not to appoint a committee to help define what is meant in Church Order Article 28-a, “ecclesiastical matters” are left up to interpretation in the Christian Reformed Church.
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Stories from people, congregations and ministries of the CRCNA, reported by The Banner's news editor and a team of regular correspondents and Church Worldwide news from the Religion News Service. Send news tips to news@thebanner.org.
The general assembly of the CRC put in place a committee to see that the Grand Rapids, Mich., congregation complies with synod’s rulings on same-sex marriage.
LGBTQ allies, dressed in all black, gathered to lament the decisions made at synod.
Church of the Servant, a Christian Reformed congregation celebrating 50 years in 2023, will be host church for the next synod.
Delegates at Synod 2022 questioned Zachary King and learned more about his views before appointing him to be the general secretary of the Christian Reformed Church.
With little discussion, the Christian Reformed Church’s general assembly adopted a new structure, appointing a general secretary for the binational church and recognizing top executives in Canada and the U.S.
Colin Watson Sr., serving as the Christian Reformed Church’s executive director since February 2020, and John Bolt, deputy executive director and chief financial officer, are leaving their jobs July 1, having already delayed retirement for over a year.
In the tradition of the church and in the Bible itself there are many ways to portray the meaning of the cross.
“The word unchastity in our confessions has to have meaning,” said one delegate to Synod 2022. The assembly of the Christian Reformed Church affirmed its meaning includes “adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography, and homosexual sex.”
Jose Rayas is the first Hispanic pastor to be elected president of the synod of the Christian Reformed Church, and Harold Caicedo noted other “historic” moments at the general assembly.
Delegates to Synod 2022 voted 74% in favor of upholding the Christian Reformed Church’s traditional stance regarding homosexuality and same-sex relationships. It still has to decide whether to give the decision confessional status.
Synod delegates walked from their session to dinner through a group of more than 100 people waving rainbow flags and singing.
Synod 2022 prefaced its discussion of human sexuality with prayers of lament and grief.
Seeing the confessions held by the Christian Reformed Church as clear on the teaching of the cross, Synod 2022 determined denying it is “a serious deviation” in doctrine.
Synod 2022 closed its discussion of the 2020 human sexuality report to outside viewers, with the goal to limit distractions and undue influence.
Identical twins Dale and Dwayne Nienhuis get to experience a day at synod together.
Twenty-seven years after the Christian Reformed Church recognized two biblical positions on women in church office, synod still experiences some tension.
With a video and a presentation of some denominational history by women’s leadership developer Elaine May, Synod 2022 marked 25 years (plus 2) of women’s ordination.
Synod 2022 received 23 candidates for ministry in the Christian Reformed Church, greeting and praying for 11 of them in person.
The Christian Reformed Church’s Synod 2022 addressed three matters connected to the CRC’s relationship with the Reformed Church in America.
New professor Wilson de Angelo Cunha said he loves the Old Testament because it “addresses life gone wrong. … The God who defeated chaos once can defeat it again.”
Mary Ann Stronk, breakfast and lunch check-in person at the main dining hall where Synod 2022 is meeting, says “My goal is to make people’s day better.”