Emmanuel Christian Reformed Church in Calgary, Alta., was removed from limited suspension in March after Classis Alberta South and Saskatchewan recognized the congregation's repentance of error. The church council's decision to retract statements from 2023 that did not align with the CRCNA synod's decision to declare as confessional the view that homosexual sex is always sinful was not supported by the whole church. A group who could not remain as members formed a worshiping community called "The Table," a currently independent church led by Emmanuel CRC's former preaching pastor Dan Roukema. Remaining Emmanuel CRC members are being pastored by Martin Mobach.
In the spring of 2023, Emmanuel CRC, like many other CRC churches, had to determine how they were going to respond to synod and the recommended teaching in the human sexuality report. The council at the time decided to take time to fully understand the implications of the report and its teaching before making a firm decision. Kathy Stol, the current clerk of Emmanuel’s council, said it was a determined effort to ensure that all members of Emmanuel felt heard and had a place to worship. The council at the time decided to stay “in a moment of tension and unease as they wrestled with all the possible outcomes,” she shared. At this point they did not require officebearers—those who serve as elders, deacons, or pastors—to express agreement with synod's decision.
Not being fully in line with Synod 2022 caused some unease among members, and the church lost members during this time. Emmanuel stayed with this course until spring of 2024 when the church recognized that, given their decisions in 2023, they were in the position of suspension. Classis Alberta South and Saskatchewan acknowledged that status and appointed a church visitor to work with Emmanuel's council. Knowing that the congregation was divided on this issue, a vote took place in the fall of 2024 to allow for council to determine where the congregation stood. Fifty-four percent selected “I advise Council to begin the process to disaffiliate Emmanuel from the CRCNA” and 46% marked “I advise Council to align Emmanuel with the CRCNA.”
While a majority supported disaffiliation, the council decided in November 2024 that supporting those who wanted to leave to form a new congregation and allowing those who wanted to stay to remain as Emmanuel CRC was the best course of action—it was a significantly simpler process with no legal rearrangement or formal changes required. The remaining Emmanuel CRC would affirm and align with the decisions of synod. The motion passed by council was “that Council begin the process of aligning Emmanuel Christian Reformed Church with the CRCNA by repenting of actions and decisions related to human sexuality that contradict Synod’s latest decisions, and in so doing, resolve to work toward a peaceful separation with members of Emmanuel who desire to leave.” Council understood that about half of Emmanuel would not only leave the congregation but also leave the denomination. Rather than have over a hundred people disperse into multiple churches across the city, or stop attending altogether, they believed it was best to form a new church so that those leaving could maintain community and continuity with each other.
The departing group, about half of the members of Emmanuel, currently meets at an old church building they rent in downtown Calgary. “While there are some hard feelings around how this process is being handled, the overall sentiment is that of grief that we cannot remain together as one local body,” Roukema said. “The hope is that we can continue to work together as brothers and sisters in Christ.” The Table has begun conversations with other churches who are in various stages of disaffiliation from the Christian Reformed Church. “The goal is not to start a new denomination, but to build a community of like-minded churches who can support, encourage, and equip each other,” Roukema said. The Table desires to be a church that allows and encourages full participation to all regardless of where they stand in regards to synod's declaration that homosexual sex is sinful. Classis Alberta South and Saskatchewan honorably released Roukema from ministry in the CRC at its March 14 meeting.
Emmanuel has also begun talks with other churches to see what things look like going forward. With half of the congregation choosing to leave, it has to reevaluate its general budget and financial commitments to missions. “The cost to operate the church and keep the lights on does not change just because half the members are now worshiping elsewhere,” Stol said. “What does that look like in the short term, and what does that look like long term? Those are some of the practical things that we at Emmanuel must sort through.”
As part of the repentance process, Emmanuel CRC had to notify classis and the remaining members of the council’s decision to align with the decisions of synod, reversing their original decision to not do so. Synod 2024 also said repentance would be demonstrated by committing to abstain from ordaining individuals in same-sex marriages or in relationships inconsistent with traditional Christian sexual ethics and that officebearers must not advocate against the CRCNA's stance in their preaching, teaching, writing, service, or personal lives.
Editor's note: Edits were made to this story May 12, 2025 in the first and third paragraphs to remove ambiguity present in the initial wording about the role of pastors (first paragraph) and actions taken by classis (third paragraph).
About the Author
Dan Veeneman is a lifelong learner, avid reader, and enjoys writing almost as much as he enjoys a cup of good coffee. He lives in St. Albert, Alberta with his loving and supportive wife and three pre-teen children. They worship at Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church.