Synod or Summer Camp?

Will Brouwers, a delegate to Synod 2026 from Classis Rocky Mountain, says he’s nostalgic for synod, despite this being his first time as a delegate. His first experiences of the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church were as a son tagging along with his pastor dad, Gary Brouwers, m

Multilingual Worship on Synod 2026’s Second Day

Psalm 117, “Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples,” opened worship for Synod 2026 on June 13, as delegates met in plenary session before returning to advisory committee deliberations for most of the day.The assembly sang in Spanish and English, with worship leader Rachel Bouwk

Women’s Dinner Focuses on Calling and Encouragement

The Alumni Association board room, on the upper floor of Calvin University’s Commons building, typically hosts two things when the Christian Reformed Church’s synod meets at Calvin: early morning prayer and specialty dinners. Deacon delegates have one. Korean delegates, ecumenical guests and the com

Synod 2026 Recap: Fresh Eyes

Host Lora Copley, The Banner’s interim editor-in-chief, talks with guest Joshua Jiang, a first-time observer of synod, to get his take on the proceedings so far. Jiang is a member of Princeton CRC (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and a South Korea-based Chinese pastor working with Resonate Global Mission.Synod

Synod 2026 Encouraged: Work Together, Build Up Neighbors

The first plenary session of Synod 2026 opened with worship, thanksgiving, and the opening exercises familiar to the Christian Reformed Church’s annual general assembly: roll call, speeches, and welcomes. Synod president Chad Steenwyk, elected in an online convening two weeks ago, along with three o

Synod 2026 Recap: Prayer

Host Lora Copley, The Banner’s interim editor-in-chief, and guest John Hoekema, pastor of Horizon Community Church (Downers Grove, Ill.) and the denomination’s prayer shepherd, talk about the foundation of prayer laid before and during this year's synod.Synod 2026, the annual general assembly of the

In Memoriam: Rev. Gerard (Jerry) L. Dykstra

Jerry Dykstra, a pastor who served congregations in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Walnut Creek, Calif., before working in denominational leadership, lived, worked, and served in lay ministry in Arizona after leaving CRC service in 2011. He died April 27 after a 19-month illness. He was 76.Dykstra was bor

In Memoriam: Rev. Peter William De Bruyne

Pastor and chaplain Peter W. De Bruyne is described as a compassionate, humble, and selfless man with a pastoral heart who blessed all who knew him. He saw the brokenness and suffering around him and stepped into it, walking alongside and loving people through difficult journeys. De Bruyne, 93, died

Synod 2026 Recap: The Officers

In this first episode of The Banner Synod Recap, host Lora Copley talks with guest Nate Van Denend about the officers chosen for the Christian Reformed Church’s Synod 2026, what the officers’ roles are, and what to look forward to at this year’s annual gathering.Van Denend was Synod 2025’s president

Banner Receives Christian Publishing Awards For Work in 2025

Banner Receives Christian Publishing Awards For Work in 2025

The Evangelical Press Association and the Associated Church Press, two professional organizations for Christian publishing, had their annual conventions in May, distributing awards for work produced in 2025. This year the ACP hosted its convention jointly, in Toronto, Ont., with the Canadian Christi

Four Pastors to Serve Synod 2026 as Officers

Three experienced officers and one new clerk will serve Synod 2026 of the Christian Reformed Church in North America as the assembly comes together in June in Grand Rapids, Mich.Delegates to Synod 2026 convened by Zoom video conferencing May 27 to elect the officers, test out the meeting tech, and p

Ontario Church Grateful For 150 Years of Christian Heritage

Ontario Church Grateful For 150 Years of Christian Heritage

Mount Hope (Ont.) Community Christian Reformed Church celebrated 150 years of gospel proclamation in its location at the end of May, even though only eight of those years were as Mount Hope Community CRC.The congregation, formed in 1952, used to be known as Mount Hamilton Christian Reformed Church a

Wheelchair Ministry Helped by CRC Volunteers

Wheelchair Ministry Helped by CRC Volunteers

Seven volunteer fabricators from Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa, are helping to increase production of Hope Haven International’s tiltable wheelchair, a tool developed in 2020 by engineering students at Dordt University.“Each wheelchair is carefully selected and tailored to m

Faith Leaders Go Door to Door in Congo Preaching Peace Amid Renewed War

Faith Leaders Go Door to Door in Congo Preaching Peace Amid Renewed War

The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Tonny Onyulo, was published May 5, 2026 on religionnews.com. It has been lightly edited for Banner style.GOMA, Congo (RNS) — As gunfire and explosions echo across eastern Congo’s hills amid the ongoing viol

Past CRCNA Exec Director Jerry Dykstra Dies

Past CRCNA Exec Director Jerry Dykstra Dies

Gerard “Jerry” Lee Dykstra, a retired minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church of North America who served the denomination as executive director from 2006 to 2011, died April 27. He was 76.Before becoming executive director, Dykstra served one year (2005-2006) as director of denominati

Two Shrinking Congregations Determined to Endure

Two Shrinking Congregations Determined to Endure

The Christian Reformed congregations in Pembroke and in Renfrew, Ont., both born in the flux of Netherlandic emigration after World War II, have diminished in numbers to the point that neither congregation employs a full-time pastor nor has plans to call one. Yet both congregations continue to worsh

10 Council Members Complete Terms, Other Updates From May Meeting

10 Council Members Complete Terms, Other Updates From May Meeting

As the Council of Delegates of the Christian Reformed Church met May 6 to 8 in Grand Rapids, Mich., the 60-member ecclesiastical board processed several items for the denomination’s upcoming synod (annual general assembly), heard about new pledges towards ministry shares, met and approved three cand