Classis Engagement: Toolkit for Praying and Reflecting on Renewal

We have created a reflection and feedback exercise, directly inspired by the Gather initiative. Gather was born from Synod 2023's call for a comprehensive strategy to address membership decline and foster growth within our church (see crcna.org/Gather). This exercise is designed to engage a congregation or classis in spiritual discernment, mirroring the approach of Gather events, which were structured around the Emmaus Road story found in Luke 24:13-35.

In this exercise, we want to share with you some of the key principles of renewal we heard at Gather, and to see if and how they resonate with what you are experiencing on the ground in your unique ministry contexts. We are asking every CRC classis (regional grouping) to engage in this process in the fall of 2025. If churches or other groups wish to participate in it as well, please use the feedback form below to share the results. Your feedback will inform the creation of a renewal plan. Our commitment is to develop a renewal strategy that is directly informed by the needs and the successes of our church leaders and congregations.

We pray that this structured reflection time will bless your classis. We eagerly anticipate hearing the stories and insights that emerge from your discussion.