Synod 2025 voted to encourage churches to support the spiritual health of pastoral spouses including providing at least $500 each year for resources for the spiritual care of the pastoral spouses in their church. Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It is meeting June 13-19 in Ancaster, Ont.
The requirement is grounded on the basis that “healthy churches depend on healthy pastors and healthy spouses.”
Some lamented that more couldn’t be done to support spouses of pastors. Paul VanderKlay, Classis Central California, who chaired the committee that considered the request, said, “This was the best that we could do to offer something to the church.” Scott Elgersma, Classis California South, acknowledged the importance of this support saying, “I wish we could do better than this, and I wish we could work on it (the proposal) more, but I don’t think we’re going to do that.”
Ren Tubergen, Classis Thornapple Valley, was against the recommendation because “the boundaries proposed are unclear.” He acknowledged ministry is hard and support is important. Rob Toornstra, Classis Columbia, expressed concern about synod “directing local churches on how to allocate their money.” He said he’d prefer if it was mandated to the classes to create a fund, or for the regional pastors to decide saying, “It seems a little too ‘top-down.’”
Synod also encouraged “classes to create a fund to help local churches who cannot afford the resources for the care of pastoral spouses.” Regional pastors and church visitors are directed to “ask after the health of the pastoral spouse in their contacts with pastors and churches.”
Finally, Synod 2025 instructed the Office of the General Secretary to curate more resources for how to support the spiritual care of pastoral spouses, noting there are currently minimal resources available.
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.