Lakota, Wisc., a place where “the past doesn’t always stay buried,” is a refuge for people who are running from something, “because above all, the locals treasured anonymity, the rare luxury of being left alone. And because they’d been judged harshly all their lives, they made it their business to n
The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Kathryn Post, was published June 10, 2026, on religionnews.com. It has been edited for length and Banner style. The Banner added the last paragraph to provide context for the Christian Reformed Church.Betha
In making Young Washington, the filmmakers were tasked with telling an origin story, not just for the father of a nation, but for the nation itself. They also faced the challenge of portraying Washington with integrity, neither mythologizing him nor tearing him down.After a brief flash-forward, the
The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne is the third book in the Incredible Lives for Young Readers series published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. The others include Only Margaret: A Story about Margaret Wise Brown and Friend of Numbers: The Life of Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.Born on May 10,
As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.*Editor’s Not
The Christian Reformed Church in North America longs to be faithful. To be renewed. To be united. At Synod 2026, meeting June 12-18 in Grand Rapids, Mich., members who served as delegates did their best to move the car a little further down the road, but there were bumps and swerves.Mark Verbruggen,
In the final months of the 1990s, I was a freshly minted student at Calvin Theological Seminary. I had recently become engaged to a Christian Reformed woman and joined the CRCNA. With a head brimming with energy, excitement, and Reformed theology pouring out my ears, I was unleashed on unsuspecting
Synod 2026 voted to not apply the term “church” to exclusively digital forms of ministry for now. The decision comes after Synod 2025 called for further study on the matter and said it was “premature” to make a decision about whether a purely digital congregation constitutes a church. Synod 2026, ho
As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.For many year
“Renewal has been happening within the Christian Reformed Church. Right now 30% of the Christian Reformed Church ain’t white. That's a good thing,” Reggie Smith, diversity consultant with Thrive, began a presentation of the Diversity Connection Advisory Committee, near the close of Synod 2026.Smith’
Synod 2026 came to a close with multilingual prayer, a meditation from parliamentarian Michael Winnowski, and a final sermon and blessing from president Chad Steenwyk.Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It met June 12-18, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Mic
In response to a request to require all denominational employees and those on volunteer boards to show that they are professing members of a congregation in the CRCNA who fully support and defend the fullness of God’s Word and that the creeds and confessions of the CRCNA faithfully reflect Scripture
In a conversation about the financial health of the Christian Reformed Church, Synod 2026 recognized that the conversation shows the need to rebuild trust in the ministry share system and how those funds are allocated.In 2020, the denomination went from expecting a certain amount of money from each
Synod 2026 removed mention of contemporary testimony “Our World Belongs to God” from the Covenant for Officebearers that elders, deacons, and pastors must sign to signify their agreement with the ecumenical creeds and Reformed confessions of the Christian Reformed Church.One of the reasons given was
Synod 2026 was asked by churches in Classis Grand Rapids East (a regional group of churches) for clarity for local church councils when a proposed officebearer has a difficulty with one of the Christian Reformed Church’s doctrinal confessions. “That will increase the opportunity and expectation that
Synod makes a point to welcome each year seven young adults between the ages of 18-26 to attend, contribute to advisory committees, and be informed of the decisions and inner workings of the deliberative assembly of the Christian Reformed Church. This year’s young adult representatives expressed bei
“God should have a nicer house,” thought David as he admired his own upgraded cedar-built accommodations. He felt embarrassed to be living in a swanky new house while the ark of God’s presence still dwelled in a shabby little tent. After a long period of fighting battles and living on the run, David
I enjoy my job, but my company is making it harder to combine work with a young family. Should I look for a new job?We often think of vocation as our paid work, but a job is also a business contract. Furthermore, vocation is more than our jobs: God calls us to faithfulness in every area of life. Whi
Host Lora Copley, The Banner’s editor-in-chief, discusses synod’s last day of deliberations with Sarah Zylstra, a member of New City Church (Kansas City, Mo.) and Derek Buikema, pastor of Orland Park CRC (Orland Park, Ill.).
Synod 2026 accepted a review of the work of World Renew, part of a rotating evaluation schedule of Christian Reformed agencies adopted by Synod 2025.Synod recommitted to its covenantal relationship with the relief and development agency and encouraged congregations to create opportunities for World