The Alberta Reformed Network

Wander into Roy’s Place, a restaurant in the southern Alberta town of Claresholm, and you might find an informal gathering of Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) leaders, some from hours away, deep in conversation. For the past few years, they’ve been convening here periodically, drawn not only by the food but by a desire for the honest, respectful, regenerating dialogue they say they no longer experience within the denomination’s official governing bodies, Synod and Classis.

As churches across the denomination wrestle with the implications of decisions by Synod 2024 to require adherence to a particular interpretation of scripture, including sexuality, that informal gathering has spread northward and morphed into a provincewide effort called the Alberta Reformed Network.

“After Synod’s decision in 2024, it became really clear that anyone who had disagreement, whether that be on human sexuality, on infant baptism, on anything deemed confessional, wouldn’t have a voice,” says Paul Verhoef, University of Calgary chaplain and a member of River Park Church in Calgary, whose markedly diverse congregation has taken steps toward leaving the denomination as a result. “For many churches the seriousness ratcheted up. That was the occasion for what has become a bit more of a formal though still very informal group.”

Individuals from more than 10 Alberta CRCNA churches began gathering, in person and virtually, to share their experiences and imagine what a provincial network might become. They hail from a spectrum of churches – congregations that are seeing shifts in membership or leaving the denomination as well as those who desire to remain. Network contacts Paul Verhoef and Dale Melenberg illustrate that breadth. While the church Verhoef attends contemplates leaving, Melenberg’s congregation, The River Community Church in Edmonton, intends to remain in the CRCNA as long as possible despite embracing “boundless inclusivity” as a core value. In Melenberg’s words, “We’re hoping to focus on the mission God calls us to do rather than that which separates us.”

Those involved in the fledgling Alberta Reformed Network have now developed a one-page “launching pad” and begun inviting churches and others with shared history in the Christian Reformed Church to consider coming aboard. Their invitation, headlined “God is doing a new thing in Alberta. Do you want to join in?”, describes the network’s intent to be a safe space that “glorifies God through unity without uniformity and diversity without division.” A gathering that is Christ-centred, locally focused, connected and temporary – “navigating current challenges together so each can flourish.” Some have called the network a nest, and perhaps that’s how it will function, observes River Park pastor Adrian deLange: as “a landing place that will exist long enough, but not necessarily forever.”

Enabling local congregations

In a wide-ranging conversation about the network’s still-evolving vision, deLange, Melenberg and Verhoef express a desire to build something “lightweight and low maintenance” yet robust enough to fill gaps created by denominational bodies that they describe as controlling, unsupportive, unhealthy – even toxic. “Classis Alberta North sweeps hard issues under the rug,” Melenberg says. “There’s no appetite to even pastorally care for those struggling with decisions coming out of Synod.” In Alberta South, classical committees have withered and core services such as days of encouragement and church visits have suffered amid growing distrust and division, Verhoef adds. “The fruitfulness and a creativity that can come from a connective network isn’t happening because the weight of connection feels disciplinary as opposed to supporting flourishing and local discernment.”

As ideas surface about what the network might become, the word “local” permeates the conversation. By strengthening local ties, it’s hoped the network will foster “relationships where we know each other well enough to support each other,” Verhoef explains. “As my father-in-law used to say, ‘I need something I can kind of wrap my heart around.’”

Pastor deLange envisions a network that fosters flourishing by very intentionally matching authority and responsibility. Rather than telling churches what to do while taking little responsibility for helping them do it, he says, far better to enable local congregations and missions to discern their own calling and then share responsibility for holding them accountable to their commitments. “Discerning the Spirit is what we’re called to do as a local congregation. Listen, learn, support, cheer, challenge – that’s all part of what good community is for.”

Pastor deLange envisions a network that fosters flourishing by very intentionally matching authority and responsibility. Rather than telling churches what to do while taking little responsibility for helping them do it, he says, far better to enable local congregations and missions to discern their own calling and then share responsibility for holding them accountable to their commitments. “Discerning the Spirit is what we’re called to do as a local congregation. Listen, learn, support, cheer, challenge – that’s all part of what good community is for.”

In decades past, churches benefited as pastors cared for each other through classically supported ministerial gatherings, Melenberg recalls. “It was a beautiful time of camaraderie, which took away competition and became about collaboration. That’s missing today. Now we’re fragmenting, and we don’t know how to take care of each other.” He hopes the Alberta Reformed Network will build on the classical history of pastoring pastors.

In decades past, churches benefited as pastors cared for each other through classically supported ministerial gatherings, Melenberg recalls. “It was a beautiful time of camaraderie, which took away competition and became about collaboration. That’s missing today. Now we’re fragmenting, and we don’t know how to take care of each other.” He hopes the Alberta Reformed Network will build on the classical history of pastoring pastors.

Already, the network is beginning to fill that void, Verhoef says. “When we’ve gathered so far, the biggest part of our time is listening to each other. Each church is feeling that they want to be heard and seen and loved. So we hear story after story.” Being outside of denominational structures invites an added degree of honesty, he adds. “People feel free to express what they are thinking and explore differences without fear of consequence, without the emotional stakes being so high.”

It’s perhaps telling that some already involved in the network prefer to remain unnamed for now, even as they welcome the opportunity to engage. In response to a call for input to this article, an anonymous council member whose church is divided over remaining in the denomination describes the network as “a place that allows us to know we are not alone in our thoughts and processes.”

New alliances starting

The Alberta Reformed Network is one of several connective efforts bubbling up as individuals and churches in the CRCNA seek support and new alliances within and beyond the denomination. Some early network participants are also active in other efforts and expect that to continue, Verhoef says. “We would hope this network doesn’t try to take up all the energy in the room, but that it will be lifegiving and help steward some of the Kingdom vision the Reformed community has stewarded for a long time.

Network founders anticipate taking stock in three years, and charting next steps, if any. “My guess is some people will want to stay together and do something more solid and long term,” deLange says. “Others may say ‘thanks for the memories and relationships, but we’re ready to move on.’”

As our conversation ends, Melenberg offers his hope for how the network might evolve. “The Alberta Reformed Network has gathered because of a pathos. Because of something we’ve been suffering,” he observes. “But we also recognize we want to focus more on our ethos. More on the life-giving aspects of the church that we want to live into. We have to deal with the pathological aspects. As we get to know each other, we want to be pastorally sensitive. But we also want to move on into the life Christ offers.”