Broadly speaking, churches seem to be in one of three situations following Synod.
1. Relieved and Ready to Move On
Many churches have let us know that they feel a sense of relief that some big parts of this years-long conversation about human sexuality and confessionality have resolved. They are now looking forward to living into a positive vision of life and ministry that conforms to a strong confessional identity. There may be pockets of people within their church that are concerned or upset, but the congregation is mostly either in agreement or unaware of Synod. Right now, these churches are mainly concerned with growing in their capacity to welcome those who are same-sex attracted or who identify as LGBTQ. Responding to the laments and challenges of recent Synods, they’re asking, “How do we teach biblical theology in a way that is clear and compelling in the 21st Century? How do we become communities where someone who is same sex attracted can grow and flourish as a disciple?”
Churches like these will be well-served by checking out the vision and resources laid out by the Office of the General Secretary: Pastoral Position Statement on Homosexuality | Christian Reformed Church
2. Submitting but Concerned
We’re also hearing from churches whose leaders mostly recognize God’s leading through our Synod. They may not have made decisions the way Synod did, but they understand those decisions and are willing to submit. The trouble is that they know that implementing these decisions fully will be quite disruptive to their communities. They may have been comfortable with some internal, respectful disagreement, even among leaders, with issues like HSR or with other issues like infant baptism or election. To bring themselves in alignment will be a kind of shock to the system. As leaders, they want to introduce these changes respectfully and graciously. Their hope is to come into alignment without causing needless offense or driving anyone away. They want to emphasize the opportunities ahead without dismissing the challenges.
Churches like these will want to consider using the revised Next Steps Discernment pathway called “How to be CRC.” In this process, we help a council communicate relevant Synodical decisions clearly. We also ask the council to articulate to the congregation why and how being (remaining) CRC helps the church fulfill its God-given mission. Finally, we provide training and materials to host listening circles where members can thoughtfully engage the decisions of Synod and the council’s resolve to remain CRC. By following this process, churches build trust (through clear communication and deep listening) that can help them navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead of them.
3. Wary and Wondering
Yet another group of churches are more seriously concerned or even distressed by Synod’s decisions. Their leaders sense, perhaps for the first time, that our Synod exceeded its authority and introduced undue burdens on local ministry. They may be under “limited suspension” or they may have just functioned for a long time with some flexibility in confessional subscription. They fear that implementing Synod's decisions may severely hamper or even end the ministry of their church. The leaders of these churches are now at least open to the possibility that they may need to disaffiliate in order to fulfill the unique mission God has given them.
But these leaders are aware that such weighty discernment and decision-making is fraught with challenges. They want to steward their decision-making authority well. They don’t want to overreact or underreact. They don’t want to alienate people unnecessarily. They want to stay together, united in faith and mission as much as possible. They survey the landscape and they realize they are in uncharted territory.
Churches like these will want to consider using the revised Next Steps Discernment pathway called “If to be CRC.” In this process, we help a council understand and communicate Synod’s decisions clearly. We also ask the council to articulate how they believe being (remaining) CRC helps and/or hinders the church from fulfilling its God-given mission. Along the way, we provide training and materials to host listening circles where members can thoughtfully engage the decisions of Synod and the council’s recommendations. The process is also designed to account for any legal or church order requirements for a formal disaffiliation, should the church’s leaders discern disaffiliation is necessary. By following this process, churches build trust (through clear communication and deep listening) that can help them navigate the challenging transition ahead.
Learn More
Visit crcna.org/NextSteps to find an introductory video, a sample of materials, and to contact a Thrive consultant who can coach your church through this next season. We can share the full resource with you and meet with you to think about how to implement or adapt Next Steps to help your community.
Comments
I would highly recommend these resources - they are thorough, pastoral, and adaptable. The decisions of the last 3 synods will be difficult to process and implement - and these resources could prove very helpful. I would suggest using them at your classis level as well as the local church.
I think these three categories of churches are good, but after 'bearing witness' to synod and the denomination over the last several years, I would add a fourth category - way at the top of the list. This would be churches that are happy with the new direction of the CRC and are ready to go back to their ministry of strengthening the families in the congregation and supporting missions overseas. They are happy this HSR discussion is done and they are eager not to think about it anymore. I've witnessed no desire to fully embrace and include the LGBTQ+ community into the churches in this 4th category. BUT - having said that, I would also say if this is where your church is, this resource is also for you. As part of the CRC body that is experiencing significant disruption around this, you also need to talk about it - and Sean and this resource will provide the tools to do that in a healthy way.
Does the CRCNA have a resource to guide giving pastoral care to married same sex couples? I’ve not been able to locate one when I search the CRCNA website. My memory is that the CRCNA declared its opposition to same sex marriage around 2016. Given that, it would make sense that such a resource must exist.
As a denomination in North America, we are called to bring the Gospel to those still far from Christ. Where I live, same sex marriage is recognized by our government. Along with the legal permission from the government for same sex couples to marry, they are also given the privilege to parent children. Given the clear position on same sex marriage that our denomination confesses, how would a congregation disciple a same sex married couple with children who wish to become followers of Jesus and who wish to be baptized?
I have become aware of one additional category chatting with churches and pastors: Reformed but skeptical. These churches are in alignment theologically and confessionally, but feel that Synod far overstepped its authority, or just downright don't like the heavy-handed approach to enforcement that Synod is taking. There is skepticism around what will come in synod 2025, and if what comes ahead is even more firm and heavy-handed, then what for these churches to do, who already are uneasy with how Synod 2024 is approaching discipline?
I think another category of people in the CRC are those who are curious whether future synods will be dealing with the other nine commandments. Are future synods going to go through each of them with the same amount of effort and study and concern as it did the seventh commandment? For example, is the CRC at all concerned with those who commit the sin of idolatry? Will there be study committees set up to define what idolatry is? Will there be disciplinary action given to congregations who support known idolaters? Or how about murder as Jesus defined it in the Sermon on the Mount. Are there known violators of that commandment in our congregations who get to call others names with little to no disciplinary action? And if so, why? And what about coveting, or bearing false witness? How about breaking the Sabbath? Will these commandments get the same amount of study time, definition as that of the seventh? And if not, why not? Are these commandments of any lesser importance than the seventh? Are we confident these sins don't exist in our denomination? If they do, why are we not giving these commandments the same amount of concern and study time as that of the seventh? Why are we not detailing how congregations aught to be disciplined when they support people who are clear violators of these commandments? Are we becoming the denomination that picks and chooses which sins are important enough to discipline and which ones aren't. Are we as a denomination becoming pharisaical, hypocritical, and self-righteous in that we are selective in determining which commandments are important enough to clarify and focus disciplinary action on and which ones we're willing to let slide?
If we as a denomination are so concerned about sin, repentance and discipleship, then shouldn't we be giving the same amount of serious study and clarity to all the commandments and not just the seventh?
I really appreciate these questions. Are we, as a denomination, bowing to cultural pressures to take a stand on the "hot topic" of the day? There are many other sexual sins that have caused way more harm to people than this particular one - will any of those get attention?
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