Continuing a relationship that extends back decades, Synod 2026 voted to “extend and affirm a relationship with the Nederlandse Gereformeerde Kerken as a church in cooperation.” The Nederlandse Gereformeerde Kerken (NGK) formed in 2023, resulting from a merger between two once-separated Reformed denominations in the Netherlands.
Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Synod 2026 is meeting June 12-18 in Grand Rapids, Mich., on the campus of Calvin University.
Accepting the recommendation from the CRC’s Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee, the committee supporting this ecumenical status said, “The time is not right to extend church in communion status, given the direction being charted by this new denomination regarding some matters concerning human sexuality.” Churches came into the new NGK holding a range of positions on human sexuality, including some local congregations that support the full inclusion of Christians in active same-sex relationships. The CRCNA does not have that option for member churches, having affirmed its historic position in 2022 and made subsequent decisions for discipline and confessional affirmation without exclusions.
Ren Tubergen, who reported the recommendation of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee, said the cooperation designation describes “relationships where we can engage in ministries together where there are (some) shared goals.” He added, “This is a new denomination, and they are sorting out their path.” Should they take a path at odds with the CRC, this could be revisited.
Zach King, the CRC’s general secretary explained, “When these two denominations came together, we as EIRC realized that we needed to make a new determination about what the nature of our relationship as the Christian Reformed Church will be to this new entity.” The CRCNA did have an ecumenical relationship with one of the merging partners, but not both.
Several delegates voiced unease about formalizing a relationship with a denomination that wasn’t settled on a matter that the CRCNA had already determined. “(The report) says the new denomination affirms the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, as does the CRCNA. And yet … the new NGK polity allows local congregations to hold varied positions about the full inclusion of Christians in active same-sex relationships,” Darren Kornelis, Classis Central Plains, said. “We as a denomination have already argued and clarified that this is not in bounds with the Heidelberg Catechism.”
Brandon Seaver, Classis Georgetown, suggested, “There are ways we can engage even if not in ‘cooperation,’” such as when the United Reformed Church, which doesn’t have a formal relationship with the CRC, recently voted on sending a letter of encouragement to the CRC in light of the CRC’s recent moves affirming confessionality.
Dirk Koetje, Classis Zeeland, expressed that it wasn’t the time to form any partnership with this group. “Why are we hungry to form a relationship?” He suggested the NGK could come back with a request in a year or two.
Willem Delleman, Classis B.C. Northwest, spoke in favor of the cooperation status with the NGK, seeing a need for churches working together in the very secular environment of the Netherlands. “Last year I had the chance to go to Europe, and the most distressing place we visited was not Italy, or Germany, or Greece; it is where my family comes from (the Netherlands); … there were so many shuttered churches,” Delleman said. “If we can help sisters and brothers share the gospel of Jesus Christ, if we can support them in this incredible endeavor, why wouldn’t we do that?’
“It doesn’t mean we’re going to invite them into table fellowship, and that’s not an inevitable next step,” Delleman added.
Paul DeVries, Classis Thornapple Valley, also spoke in favor of the cooperation status. “In our (own) denomination we have churches that are trying to remain with us, to get their bearings (after the decisions of the past few years).” He suggested that shutting the door on cooperation with the NGK, who are “trying to be friendly to us” would be a “bad look for our own folks.”
Synod voted electronically to approve a church in cooperation status with the NGK.
After the vote, Jeremy Williamson, Classis Southern Alberta/Saskatchewan, proposed a motion from the floor for synod to direct the EIRC to reiterate the denomination’s position on human sexuality, and affirm the CRC’s willingness to “guide, mentor, and disciple the NGK on the issue of human sexuality.” That direction for the memorandum of understanding received almost as much discussion as the original recommendation.
Gary van Leeuwen, Alberta South/Saskatchewan, was against adopting those parameters. “It appears that we’re doing committee work at synod. It should not be ours (to do).”
Cedric Parsels, Classis Illiana, favored adopting the instruction to the EIRC. Referring to the earlier vote, he said, “The majority moved in a direction that many of us aren’t comfortable with.” He suggested passing the additional instruction would be “an olive branch. … This would be good for us as a body.”
Adopting the additional instructions passed by electronic vote.
Negative votes were registered on both matters: four against the in cooperation status and two against the additional instructions for the EIRC.
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.