Straight talk after Synod

CC: How would you summarize the key decisions made at Synod 2024? What was the overall mood (or tone), in your impression?

Rev. Al Postma: Summarizing is difficult as there were many items on the agenda. Specifically regarding the discussion on sexuality, my impression is that Synod 2022 was primarily about the Christian Reformed Church’s (CRC) theological position on sexuality whereas Synod 2023 and 2024 leaned more towards clarifying and developing the CRC’s shared expectations about living into those positions.

My impression is that everyone at Synod took very seriously the weight of the decisions. There were people praying intentionally at all times through Synod, which was highly appreciated by delegates. Those watching from afar rarely grasp how much stress delegates experience at any given synod. For many, synod can take a physical, emotional and spiritual toll; the intensity of this year’s Synod raised that toll significantly. In short: it was hard.

CC: In the letter Rev. Zach King sent out, he indicated that there will be guidelines and a FAQ sent out later this summer addressing next steps for CRC churches who might disaffiliate from the denomination as a result of Synod’s disciplinary decisions. Are you going to be involved in creating those documents?

Postma: Yes. One of our commitments is to ensure that church leaders are always working with accurate and clear information. I work with a framework of three important questions in moments like these: what was decided, what does it mean, what does it mean for me? Our natural tendency is to jump directly to what something means for ourselves, but sometimes we do so without being careful to give adequate attention to what was really decided and what those decisions mean overall. I’ve actually talked with people in the past who were discerning their next steps based on assumptions of what happened that were exactly the opposite of what had actually happened. So working with clear and accurate information is a goal we have.

CC: How can the CRC remain in ecumenical relationships with affirming denominations, after taking such a hard line with affirming CRC individuals and churches?

Postma: At the heart of ecumenicity is a recognition that denominations have different perspectives on a whole host of theological positions. These differences are naturally more broad than the degree of theological alignment one expects to see within any given denomination itself.

Our ecumenical work is also important because the average person in Canada doesn’t distinguish between denominations. So we have an opportunity and obligation to be a participant in the wider Christian conversation for the sake of our shared public witness.

CC: Who owns church buildings – each individual church or the denomination? Are you concerned about the fiscal effects, ie: fewer ministry shares, coming from Canadian churches in the future, if there’s an exodus of affirming members?

Postma: In the CRC, churches that have buildings generally own those buildings themselves.
It would be insincere to say that I don’t have some anxiety about the potential fiscal effects that various new pathways might result in. What I do know is that the Canadian CRC churches and members have been generous and faithful in their support of our shared ministry. We are doing good work in Canada that we can be proud of. My hope is that we can continue to build on this work into the future.

CC: Are you (or other denominational staff) following from a distance, following closely or involved in any way with the conversations happening with the folks at Toward CRC Canada?

Postma: We’re aware of the conversations, and I have personally had some occasional contact with some of the leadership. My commitment is to help any discussions about the future of the CRC be as well informed as possible and reflect some of the changes that we’ve worked at over the last few years. What I always appreciate about members who are advocating for change is that it usually brings an important perspective on how we can do things better.

CC: What would you say to someone who’s just been elected to council at their local church who has concerns about signing the Covenant for Officebearers?

Postma: I would want to listen to them to hear what concerns they might have. Leadership in the church is an important calling, so having some trepidation is natural. Sometimes those concerns are significant, but sometimes those concerns simply feel significant and are easily addressed. I would encourage discussing with your pastor or another trusted council member.

CC: Anything else you’d like to add?

Postma: I believe that being in community always gives something to us and always calls something out of us. The CRC in Canada has been focusing on things that “call something out of us” over the past few years. Discussion on binationality, sexuality, etc. are all hard discussions that involve a lot of pain. I feel the weight of that pain and sadness daily. And, at the same time, I see the joy of all the ways that being in a denominational community gives so much to us and what we are able to offer others around us. I don’t want to lose either of these realities.