Despite several delegates urging for a delay in acting on implications of Synod 2022’s decision on the confessional status of prohibiting homosexual sex, Synod 2023 decided not to delay.
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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.
Regina Jupp, from Lombard (Ill.) CRC, creates art “made to help lift our hearts and our eyes to worship.” She contributed a three-piece sculpture to Synod 2023.
Three married couples from Ontario, Arizona, and Utah have served together at Synod 2023, the general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church.
In an “oasis” moment, Synod 2023 shared a banquet together and honored two recent or upcoming retirees.
Noting that last year only 13% of Christian Reformed students of college-age attended Calvin University, Wiebe Boer encouraged church leaders to help change that trend.
Delegates to Synod 2023 debated a proposed Code of Conduct that several churches rejected after having a year to review it, but synod accepted a modified version.
Gabriela Tijerina-Pike is the new director of Latino ministry and associate professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary.
Daniel Daley, most recently of the University of Leuven, in Belgium, is joining the faculty of Calvin Theological Seminary as assistant professor of New Testament.
Tim and Todd Kuperus and Adrian and Erik deLange are two sets of brothers at Synod 2023.
A congregation in Ontario asked Synod 2023 to adopt the 1982 Belhar Confession as a confession of the Christian Reformed Church. Synod said there was no new reason to change its 2017 response.
Synod 2023 heard from its Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee Tuesday, receiving greetings from guests and an update on the relationship with the Alliance of Reformed Churches.
Serving as a delegate for Classis Alberta South/Saskatchewan, Ryan Poelman was also presented as a candidate for Minister of the Word at Synod 2023.
Considering the system by which the Christian Reformed Church in North America collects pooled money to fund shared ministry, Synod 2023 asked for some changes and continued review.
Synod 2023 heard calls for a clear statement against “assisted suicide” and is calling a task force to prepare a comprehensive report.
Seven young adult representatives at Synod 2023 are speaking and networking with people in the denomination and growing in their faith.
Synod 2023 declined to say that a church “which by design ‘meets’ only online” is not a “church,” but called for a report to consider the theological implications.
Thirty candidates for ministry in the CRC—14 in person and 16 virtually—were welcomed by Synod 2023.
Darlene Silversmith and Hyung-jun Kim come to Synod 2023 as previous advisers; William Krahnke as a previous young adult representative; and Catherine Chan as a first-time attendee.
The synodical deputies, those ministers appointed by synod to ensure proper administration of Church Order, reported long lists of actions taken by classes to Synod 2023. Delegates prayed for the people affected.
Urging that, to him, addressing declining membership was the most important issue at Synod 2023, delegate Scott Vander Ploeg pushed synod to commit to developing a strategy to reverse it.
In an impromptu request, Jamie McIntosh, co-director (Canada) for World Renew, sought a commissioning prayer from Synod 2023. He’s been at the work since February.
Synod 2023 is proposing changes to Church Order to catch up with how pastors are funding ministry—often with more than one job.
Present to “witness to what synod is doing and to let them know we are here and watching,” members of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based All One Body advocacy group sang with signs June 12.
Guided by a report looking at marriage “in the eyes of the church but not in the eyes of the state,” Synod 2023 recommends Christian Reformed pastors avoid solemnizing such marriages.