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CRC Synod begins with 34 fewer churches after LGBTQ decision
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As the Christian Reformed Church of North America convenes for its annual assembly, it's doing so with about 34 fewer members in its midst.
Delegates and church leaders on Friday began the denomination's annual Synod, meeting at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario in Canada. Through June 19, almost 200 delegates will be working through a packed agenda.
'It's exciting to get together — people from all different backgrounds and walks of life — to talk about the business of the church and make big decisions,' CRCNA General Secretary Zachary King told News 8. 'Even though there can be some tense and difficult moments, it's just really wonderful and cool to see people work together to walk on path together. ….There's a lot of energy and hope in doing this work, even though it can be really difficult sometimes.'
Churches prepare to leave CRC following LGBTQ+ decision
This year's Synod follows a contentious meeting in 2024, when the denomination determined LGBTQ-affirming churches must repent — or leave.
Around 34 churches have since disaffiliated, King said, adding that that number is expected to grow. That includes a number of churches in Grand Rapids.
'We're sad and we're disappointed of course that a significant number of churches … have disaffiliated with our denomination,' he said. 'We pray that somehow in the future, and even in the present, that we might have a good connection. … We hope that they flourish in their communities. … That's heavy, but we feel like it's a necessary moment and we want to navigate it with as much grace and kindness as we can.'
After a few years of dialogue around the church's belief that LGBTQ+ relationships are sinful, King said this year, the conversation has 'a different tenor.'
'Obviously we've had a big discussion about human sexuality,' he said. 'I think we completed that discussion. Now we're trying to understand how we can work … better together.'
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There's now more inner unity, he said, and the direction the denomination is going is more clear.
Some items on this year's agenda will work through the impact of last year's decision. A report from CRC-affiliated Calvin University Board of Trustees clarifies how it will approach faculty members who disagree with the denomination's belief on LGBTQ+ relationships and other core beliefs (called confessional issues) of the denomination. Another item will determine the future of its relationship with the Reformed Church of America based on that denomination's stance on LGBTQ relationships, which is to 'live together in the midst of disagreement,' the RCA General Secretary Rev. Eddy Aleman wrote in a letter to the CRC Synod.
Also on the agenda is a report from a task force that examined how the church should approach assisted suicide while showing love and support for families and individuals. In its report, the task force affirmed 'that life is precious, so we should not act to end life.'
If you or someone you know need help, call the National Suicide Line at 988.
Delegates will also discuss questions of funding, church planting and the role of virtual ministry, King said. Many young churches are leaning into using technology like Zoom for worship services, and the CRC is exploring how to leverage that for ministry and connection.
'We also realize that the in-person connection is important too,' King said. 'There's some tension there and we're trying to sort out you know how can we leverage the best of technology while avoiding some of the pitfalls.'
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Overall, the denomination has several churches that are flourishing and growing, King said.
'We have a number of churches that may feel that they're plateaued in terms of their numbers, but they're really impacting their community in a positive way and seeing just a lot of fruit to their ministry,' King said. 'We do have churches that are struggling — as many denominations — but … God is really working through their community connections and some of them are just doing amazing things that only small churches could do.'
The CRCNA is streaming Synod proceedings .
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