Synod Celebrates, Hears From Diverse Groups Within the CRC

“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’

‘It’s a New Day in the CRC’

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

Other Decisions of Synod 2026

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

Synod 2026 Discusses Ministry Share Spending and Giving

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 Seeks Language Clarity For Gravamen Process

Synod 2026 Seeks Language Clarity For Gravamen Process

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 2026 Recap: Thursday Deliberations

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.).

World Renew: Mercy in Christ’s Name

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

Christian School Celebrates 100 Years at Washington Church

Christian School Celebrates 100 Years at Washington Church

First Christian Reformed Church in Everett, Wash., hosted the 100th anniversary celebration for Everett (Wash.) Christian School on May 15, the culmination of a year of special events. Melissa Patton, secretary of the Everett Christian School board and on the centennial committee, said the church’s

Synod 2026 Makes Changes to Synodical Operation

Synod 2026 approved several changes to how the annual synod of the Christian Reformed Church operates. The CRC’s Office of the General Secretary completed a review at the request of last year’s synod.The most debated item was the role of a parliamentarian at each synod, a role that was established i

CRCNA To Leave World Communion Of Reformed Churches

Following passionate speeches from the floor, Synod 2026 voted to leave the World Communion of Reformed Churches, an ecumenical organization the CRC has belonged to since its founding in 2010. Delegates to synod expressed concern over some of the organization’s statements on moral, theological, and

Synod 2026 Accepts Calvin U’s Confessional Alignment Efforts

Synod 2026 expressed appreciation for Calvin University, which is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church. Synod noted the work that the university, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., has done in bringing the university into alignment with the Christian Reformed Church’s doctrinal sta

Synod 2026 Dismisses Dignity Team

Synod 2026 discussed the need and value of the denomination’s Dignity Team, a group established in 2022 to work “with those who feel they have been victimized by abuses of power in the CRCNA to offer direction and support.” The Council of Delegates, the governance board that serves synod between mee

Synod Will Continue to Meet Annually, Study Classis Restructuring

Synod 2026 rejected a recommendation from its Council of Delegates to move to a biennial meeting instead of meeting annually. Though there is a need to balance costs and revenue, that was a move delegates weren’t willing to make. They noted that the savings are not enough to justify a change and tha

Synod 2026 Provides New Guidelines On Multisite Church Leadership

Synod 2026 commended a task force report on multisite churches to congregations considering multisite developments.The report, requested by Synod 2024, offers multiple possible pathways for “multisite expressions” of church to relate to one another. Additionally, the report provides advice on multis

Synod 2026 Recap: Wednesday Deliberations

Host Lora Copley, The Banner’s editor-in-chief, discusses synod’s third day of deliberations with David Bosscher, pastor of Lakeside CRC (Alto, Mich.) and Petr Kornilov, with Resonate Global Mission.

Fathers and Sons at Synod 2026

As this synod makes decisions of generational impact, there are at least four groupings of two-generational families represented at Synod 2026.Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It is meeting June 12-18 in Grand Rapids, Mich.Will Brouwers, Classis

Classes and Synod Can Discipline Local Councils

Synod 2026 received the report of a task force that recommended procedures for the discipline of officebearers. The task force resulted from confusion about how or if a church council or classis can be disciplined by a broader assembly of the Christian Reformed Church, namely synod. Its report came

Council of Delegates Members Don’t Have to Be Ordained

Synod 2026 said that even though the Council of Delegates acts in an ecclesial fashion, the members do not need to be officebearers in the church. The Council acts in the interim of annual synods. Delegates to synod must be currently serving officebearers who have signed the Covenant for Officebeare