The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by David Katibah, was published June 18, 2026 on religionnews.com. It has been edited for length and Banner style. The Banner added a sentence to the third paragraph and added the last paragraph to provide con
Synod 2026 delegates Andy Sytsma and John Sinnema from Classis Yellowstone carried a memorial “yellow stone” with them when they attended the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church June 12-18 on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. The painted rock displayed “RIP
Here's a thumbnail of what synod covered:424 pages173 supplemental pages4 task force reports52 recommendations from the Council of Delegates40 overtures + 1 (deferred)2 communications9 agency, institution, and ministry reports5 related educational institution reports4 standing committee reports1 10-
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
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,
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
“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
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
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 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
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 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 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