Synod 2015 (the general assembly of the CRC) asked the executive director, the Board of Trustees, and the Office of Candidacy to provide clarification for a variety of issues related to the office of commissioned pastor and to report back to Synod 2016 with recommendations. These include establishing a proper approval process, supervision, termination, transfer, and movement of credentials from one calling church to another.
The request for clarification came from Classis Hamilton (a regional group of churches), which observed that “there is a long and complicated history” behind the office and that the office is being used more and more in the denomination for people in a variety of pastoral roles. In view of this, clarification of these issues is necessary and timely.
Synod 2015 is meeting at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, from June 12-18. For continuous Banner coverage, please follow The Banner Magazine on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted at thebanner.org several times daily. For CRC Communications releases, webcast, and live blogging, please visit crcna.org. 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.
