Banner’s Editor-in-Chief Resigns ‘In Protest’

Shiao Chong, editor-in-chief of The Banner, the magazine of the Christian Reformed Church, tendered his resignation with the publication June 23. His last day as editor will be July 11. Shirley De Vries, chief administrative officer for the CRC, is “working with the Office of General Secretary, Banner staff, and the Banner Advisory Committee to make sure that staff is well-supported and the publishing schedule is maintained.”

Chong said, “I am resigning, partly, in protest of synod’s decision to change The Banner’s mandate by disallowing diverse views. It curtailed editorial freedom, and I believe it is not good for the denomination’s long-term spiritual health. I am also resigning because I discerned that, with this mandate change, God has released me from my call.”

Chong was appointed to the role by Synod 2016, under a mandate and publishing guidelines that included to “lead and encourage a responsible discussion of the issues important to the life of the church through editorial comment and publication of articles that represent the various views held within the church,” and “permit people of the church to voice their views and reactions even though some of these views may be unacceptable to others in the church.”

Those two responsibilities have been struck by Synod 2025. The Banner now is tasked with representing “the denomination publicly to the broader Christian church and to the world at large by speaking from a distinctly Reformed perspective in line with our confessions and synodical decisions, representing the CRCNA as its official publication.”

Related: “Being Your Denominational Magazine,” June 25, 2025

Chong said he’s grateful for God’s call to serve him through The Banner. “Even though it was often challenging, it was a joy to serve God with the posture, gifts, and perspectives he has given me,” he said. From the time of his appointment, Chong shared a vision of shalom-seeking. “I am thankful that I could, at least, attempt to model and promote that in my writing and editorial posture.”

CRCNA general secretary Zachary King shared the news with the Council of Delegates, whose Banner Advisory Committee has a role in advising on editorial policy, content, and publishing matters. “We are sorry for this loss and thank Chong for his prophetic wisdom and leadership over these past nine years,” King said.

Mark Van Dyke, chair of the Banner Advisory Committee, who has worked with Chong over the past two years, said, “I have been impressed by the diligence and collaborative spirit of the Banner staff. Since his appointment as editor, Chong has been central to the creative process of publishing the magazine. The advisory committee is grateful for his work and wishes him well as he serves the Lord in new ways.”

Chong was the 12th editor of The Banner, which had its start in 1866 when Rev. John Y. De Baun began publishing a 16-page monthly for the True Protestant Reformed Dutch Church in New Jersey.

Though he made his resignation for the reasons above and because “I no longer feel that it is good for the long-term spiritual health of my wife and daughters to stay in this position under these conditions,” Chong said, “I do regret leaving at a challenging time for The Banner and for staff. I regret that I was not able to prevent some of those challenges, including the mandate change. But I trust this dedicated team to rise to the challenge. I pray God will raise up an editor gifted to live well into the new mandate and help The Banner thrive for the denomination’s sake.”

Dean Heetderks, art director of The Banner who, in his role as co-director of Ministry Support Services, is also involved in many of the management activities of the magazine, said, “A deep respect for thinking CRC and non-CRC readers has always driven our small staff to do their best work—work that sometimes wins awards. I can't imagine that level of focus and quality to change, even with this revision of the magazine's mandate.”

De Vries said, “The search for an interim editor begins and a hiring team will be put together as soon as possible for the next editor.”

While Chong is uncertain about what’s next, except to most likely “read more for pleasure and edification again rather than for editing work,” he said he feels “a little bit like Abram in Genesis 12 when God called him to leave his country and ‘go to the land I will show you’ (Gen. 12:1).” He said, “I am stepping out in faith, knowing only that I am to leave but unclear as to my future destination. I hope that God will continue to use my gifts of writing, thinking, and teaching in some capacity.”