The Banner

How can we live as people of hope in the midst of unmet longings, unanswered prayers, and seemingly unresolvable pain?

Synod 2026 reviewed some changes to rules that govern how the annual synod operates and chose to keep the recent practice of having a parliamentarian.

Synod 2026 voted to leave the World Communion of Reformed Churches, a group the CRC helped inaugurate in 2010. Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock, the WCRC general secretary, expressed sadness at the decision and read a letter of farewell.

Calvin University continues to pursue full confessional alignment with the CRC doctrine, but the presence of a Pride flag in the faculty wing caused consternation.

Synod 2026 no longer sees the need for the Dignity Team, a group established in 2022 to help support people who feel they have been victimized by abuses of power in the church.

While seeking to cut costs, Synod 2026 decided to maintain an annual synod but will look at classis restructuring.

Following extended debate on the purpose and governance of multisite churches, Synod 2026 passed new guidelines for the creation, support, and governance of several kinds of multisite congregations in the CRC.

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.

Jon Hoekema, the CRC’s prayer shepherd, whose son is a young adult representative, says mentoring helps teach the bigger picture of the church—what it is and can be.

If councils don’t properly govern themselves, a broader body may step in, Synod 2026 affirms.

Synod 2026 agreed to maintain its broader membership criteria for the Christian Reformed Church’s governance board. While not restricted to officebearers, all members sign a statement of agreement with the beliefs of the CRC.

Rev. Lora Copley, who has served as interim editor since December, is now editor-in-chief. The first time a woman has served in the role.

Synod 2026 specifies what churches should include in worship in the Church Order. The actual change will need to be adopted by a subsequent synod.

The over-20-year-old mission and vision statements for the Christian Reformed Church will get an update. The first report is due to Synod 2027.

We know we demonstrate our values by what we spend our time and money on.

While officebearers face higher expectations for confessional alignment, members should be discipled, as well, through profession of faith classes and Reformed liturgies and forms.

Aaron Vriesman, Classis Zeeland, interviewed Christopher Fantuzzo, PhD prior to his approval as a new professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary.

Host Lora Copley, The Banner’s interim editor-in-chief, discusses synod’s second day of deliberations with Susan LaClear, the CRC’s director of Candidacy, and Jason Ruis, associate pastor of Bethel CRC (Waupun, Wisc.) and stated clerk of Classis Wisconsin.

Synod agrees to make known and to reach out to Thrive ministry for its resources and church renewal support.

Charged to “faithfully carry the love and the truth of Jesus Christ into the places where God has placed them,” 36 new candidates for ministry in the Christian Reformed Church were presented to Synod 2026.

A Korean connector for the CRC, Catheryn Jo, led Synod 2026’s Tuesday afternoon worship with a choir of Korean delegates.

Synod accepted changes for the office of commissioned pastor, declared new candidates for Minister of the Word, and extended the candidacy eligibility for previously approved candidates.

Host Lora Copley, The Banner’s interim editor-in-chief, reviews synod’s first day of full deliberations with Jason Ruis, Associate Pastor of Bethel CRC (Waupun, Wisc.) and stated clerk of Classis Wisconsin.