In a close vote, Synod 2026 approved the creation of a study committee to define Christian nationalism that will present a report to Synod 2028. The final tally of votes was 93 in favor, 84 against, with one abstention.
Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It is meeting June 12-18 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The committee will have binational representation from the U.S. and Canada and include at least one faculty member from Calvin Theological Seminary. The action was in response to a request from Grand Rapids East that asked for the adoption of a particular definition of Christian nationalism and that synod affirm the rejection of “theological frameworks that conflate ecclesial identity with national identity.”
Prior to debate on the creation of a study committee, Synod 2026 reaffirmed “the Christian Reformed Church’s confessional teaching on church and state, as articulated in Belgic Confession Article 36.” By a unanimous voice vote, synod rejected “the conflation of the spheres of church and state assigned by God in his word.”
The debate over commissioning a study committee prompted extended discussion from delegates. JP Trabbold, Classis Central California, spoke against the creation of a committee.
“Our denomination should not be seeking to respond to every buzzword that comes in the culture,” Trabbold said. “It is a matter that’s too broad to define. People that call themselves Christian nationalists, they fall into different camps.”
Jeff Fisher, Classis Grand Rapids East, spoke in favor of further study. “As we’ve already affirmed … the conflation of church and state needs to be addressed, and as noted, there’s a broad scope of definitions for Christian nationalism, and that needs to be addressed.”
Some delegates expressed concern about the study committee being able to provide clarity. “It’s such a broad spectrum, I don’t know how we define and put a corral around this term,” Issy La Brosse, Classis Greater Los Angeles, said. “I don’t think this is value added. We could spend a lot of money on better things than trying to define Christian nationalism.”
Dan Tracy, Classis Heartland, also thought the study was unnecessary. “I think our local churches are qualified to do this (sort out concerning forms of Christian nationalism).”
Brandon Haan, Classis Grandville, thought the guidance of a study would be helpful. “Patriotism is a good thing, regardless of what country we live in, but it can very easily slip into becoming the ultimate thing. Anytime you have the conflation of nation and church, I think you start to lose what the true gospel is, and instead of baptizing people into the salvation of Jesus Christ, we start slipping into baptizing them into a certain ethnic, or national, or cultural heritage instead.”
Synod requested a report that “defines the parameters of Christian Nationalism, describes its cultural appeal in the North America context, provides an account of its historical iterations world-wide, explores its doctrinal relation to the Three Forms of Unity and a Reformed approach to Scripture, and provides a pastoral response and guidance.”
The committee that recommended the study committee report will now propose people to serve on the two-year committee.
Following the vote, second clerk Dave TenClay read one negative vote against the decision due to the two-year timeline.
Synod 2026, the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, is meeting June 12-18 on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. Go to crcna.org/synod for the livestream, photos, reports, and a live blog of synod proceedings and decisions. Find daily news and our video Synod Recap at thebanner.org/synod.