Shiao Chong, editor of The Banner since 2016, is stepping down from that post. CRCNA leadership working with staff to maintain publishing. New editor search to come.
News
Stories from people, congregations and ministries of the CRCNA, reported by The Banner's news editor and a team of regular correspondents and Church Worldwide news from the Religion News Service. Send news tips to news@thebanner.org.
Synod 2025 danced between continuing trust and firming up guidelines.
A request to clarify the relationship among assemblies of the Christian Reformed Church has been deferred to yet another synod.
With a message from Luke 24, synod president Stephen Terpstra dismissed delegates with a hope for “overwhelming confidence, hope, and expectation” in what God is doing.
Denominational ministries were blessed and recognized at Synod 2025 as ministry leaders spoke about God moving in their work.
Synod 2025 voted overwhelmingly to restrict The Banner’s mandate to articles that support the denomination’s positions.
Speaking passionately about the vital role that church planting has in multiplying the church, Synod 2025 committed to strategizing a planting plan, including financial resources, over the next year.
The Christian Reformed Church will review its close relationship with the Reformed Church in America over the next five years.
Somewhat divided on the matter, Synod 2025 accepted six recommendations for ongoing experimentation of digital ministries.
The young adult representatives at Synod 2025 say they were encouraged and inspired by conversations and connections.
Lamenting a shortage of people to preach in all of the denomination’s churches, synod encouraged classes to help prepare individuals with a license to exhort by 2027.
Synod 2025 recognized several positive milestones for Calvin Theological Seminary and requested a report to Synod 2026 of confessional adherence for all instructional personnel.
New categories for decisions by synods of the Christian Reformed Church provide a hierarchy of their status.
Some Christian Reformed pastors already serve in congregations that are part of the network of former Reformed Church in America congregations.
The Easy to Read Version was commended with reservations for new believers and children’s worship.
Classis Grand Rapids South found a statement from Synod 2024 to be confusing; Synod 2025 agreed to reaffirm.
Synod wants to know more about board member nominees that it has to vote on. It asked the CRC’s general secretary to obtain and publish the boards’ criteria.
Christian Reformed Church commissioned pastors becoming solo pastors must work toward ordination as a minister of the Word, including the required education.
Members of the intercessory team at Synod 2025 have hearts for discernment and openness to the Holy Spirit.
Synod 2025 voted to not accede to a request from an Ontario church council that wanted to “Envision Two Distinct Christian Reformed Churches.”
The Covenant for Officebearers in the Christian Reformed Church will still affirm that the church’s historic confessions “fully agree” with the Word of God.
Synod 2025 discussed request for a ‘Formal Act of Confessional Submission’ for officebearers. Saying no to that, synod did define the parameters of confessing “without reservation.”
The form of affirming the Covenant for Officebearers might be varied, but delegates to classis are instructed to affirm it every classis meeting.
A short exchange at Synod 2025 acknowledging the work of Canadian Justice Ministries had Al Postma, executive director-Canada, say ‘reach out’ with any questions.