Synod 2025 instructed the Office of General Secretary, with the Council of Delegates task force, to review governance costs and to engage with the needs of Classis Grand Rapids East and other classes and report back to Synod 2026. This is a response to Grand Rapid East’s communication about its situation after a majority of its churches have disaffiliated after confessional and disciplinary decisions of the past three synods.
Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It is meeting June 13-19 in Ancaster, Ont.
Drew Sweetman, Classic Muskegon, who chairs the Council of Delegates Task Force to review governance costs, said the task force’s report is due to the Council of Delegates in October and “this gives us very little time to do what we’re asked to do.”
Martin Spoelstra, Classis Quinte, questioned the recommendation and wondered why the Office of the General Secretary needed to be involved. Spoelstra asked if the implication is that the closings in one classis has financial implications for the whole denomination?
Craig Lubben, Classis Kalamazoo, spoke for the committee that presented the recommendation. “Other classes may have similar circumstances,” he said. Zachary King, the CRC’s general secretary, said there’s “a question of sustainability of classes themselves” along with the financial component, noting that classes need to have enough people to support the work and fill their positions. Recognizing that the timing is short, “we anticipate this work will have to continue,” King said. Lubben said the committee believed the Office of General Secretary “needs to be involved in the discussions” and recommended the office work with the governance costs task force because that group was already looking into budget implications.
“We’re looking at the overall structure in connection to the desire to reduce costs,” Lubben said.
Synod also received the interim report of the Council’s task force to review governance costs and encouraged the Council of Delegates to continue the work.
Synod 2025, the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, is meeting June 13-19 on the campus of Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ont. Find daily coverage from The Banner at TheBanner.org/synod. Visit crcna.org/synod for the agenda, advisory reports, recordings of plenary sessions, and to subscribe to the daily Synod News email.
About the Author
Kristen Parker is a freelance writer. She has a passion for words and creativity. Kristen and her husband Chris, enjoy board games and thrift shopping. They attend Stratford CRC in Stratford, Ont.
