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Christ-centred. Creative. Canadian.
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Correction: Updates to the article "Christian nationalism and synod" (as it appeared in print) were not included in the online link sent out this morning. It's now been updated and you can read it here. Apologies to the morning readers who already clicked and read!
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Our July issue is out today, with John Valk’s story on Christian nationalism at the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) Synod 2026 on the front page. He wrote the story before Synod, and then we fine-tuned it while reports were rolling in. The issue went to print just as Synod was singing its closing song. John’s central question is: Has Christian nationalism infiltrated the CRC? If so, in what way?
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John argues that "forced alignment in the CRCNA has increased." And I’d have to agree that the denomination has successfully weeded out most dissenting voices. 70 churches in both Canada and the U.S. have disaffiliated. How many of those who stay are afraid to speak publicly against synodical decisions and risk their place in the denomination? As I worked on a Synod report for our August issue (stay tuned), only people who agreed with Synod’s decisions gave me comments. Everyone else said they couldn’t speak on the record. Doesn’t that seem concerning?
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Christian Courier still has space for pushback. We’re fully independent and only beholden to you, our readers. We put our resources into covering stories that challenge the church to do better and celebrate what is going well.
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Every church story has both agreement and dissent, togetherness and disunity. That realistic view of church life comes out in Maaike’s interview with emergency physician Quentin Genuis, who says churches are an essential conversation partner in Canada’s addiction crisis. True, the church has in some cases contributed to stigma, but the church is also good at the very things that help heal addictions like mentorship, friendship, refuge and belonging.
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Did someone forward this newsletter to you?
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CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM AND SYNOD
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What are the signs that an American cultural tide may be turning the CRCNA, even in Canada?
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John Valk
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“Christian nationalism conflicts with the reformed understanding of government.” This statement, and others like it, were under discussion at the Christian Reformed Church of North America Synod as delegates from across Canada and the U.S. gathered from June 12-18, at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The discussion on Christian nationalism was sparked by an overture – a formal appeal calling for specific action – received by synod from concerned churches in Classis Grand Rapids East.
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CHURCHES ARE ESSENTIAL CONVERSATION PARTNERS IN CANADA'S ADDICTION CRISIS
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Addiction is a phenomenon experienced by a whole person – mind, body and spirit – and requires a whole-person and whole-community response, says Quentin Genuis.
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Maaike VanderMeer
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Quentin Genuis spoke to CC about the difficulty in having no agreed-upon definition for addiction. Definitions range between two poles, says Genuis: the choice model (which is voluntarist and says “addiction is all about the will of the person) and the disease model (which is determinist and says “addiction is not primarily caused or perpetuated by the will of the person at all"). Both of these models, Genuis believes, get some things right but reduce humans to less than they are.
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WOMEN'S PART IN THE 1932 ALBERTA MINING STRIKE
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A Crowsnest Pass author digs into local history and draws connections to present-day radicalization in Alberta.
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Arthur Boers
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In her debut historical novel Revolution Songs, Carissa Halton, an award-winning Alberta author, explores the Crowsnest Pass mining strike of 1932. Halton told CC that she was fascinated by the bitter labour dispute, not just because of its importance locally to Alberta, but because it is “a little-known story about Canada at a time of deep division and transition.”
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THE EMOTIONAL COST OF HOUSING INSECURITY
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Sonya VanderVeen Feddema
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Based on the childhood experiences of author and illustrator Lita Judge, this poignant, exquisitely illustrated children’s picture book gives young readers a window into housing insecurity and how it impacts families.
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MORE THAN JUST A BIG MEETING
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Darren Roorda
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Every year denominations gather their leaders together. Perhaps the future health of many Christian organizations depends less on whether we continue gathering and more on what we believe those gatherings are truly for. If you had 150 to 300 of your key leaders gathered together each year, how would you steward that opportunity?
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A KALEIDOSCOPE OF JOY
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Heidi VanderSlikke
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There are moments in life – profoundly ordinary and yet captivatingly beautiful moments – when all my senses are engaged. Recently, I read Helen Keller’s story again. We should all have such acute vision, viewing this life through a kaleidoscope of tenacious joy, eagerly anticipating the day we get to meet our Creator.
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Bring good news home, literally; subscribe to Christian Courier in print and receive one physical copy each month. A perfect way to weather whatever comes your way in the news forecast this summer!
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