Three strands no more?

For decades, the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) has described itself to itself as a denomination made up of three strands. Sometimes we use slightly different terms for each of these strands, and for at least half a century the CRC has described itself as a three-legged stool with a creed-emphasizing leg, a worldview (Kuyperian)-emphasizing leg, and a pietist/outreach-emphasizing leg. The three different emphases could create tensions and clashes in congregational and classis meetings. And yet we once saw this as who we were. But now it appears that weighed down by the polarities of 21st century culture, the three-legged stool may be cracking. Recent debates on the floor of Synod may have looked like they were arguments over human sexuality, a simple – though bitter – fight between a conservative side and a progressive side within the denomination. But beneath that simple polarization, a more complex and shattering break is taking place. Proponents of the creed-emphasizing leg are crushing the other two legs that once held up this CRC stool.

A rich history

At least twice at Synod 2024, a delegate on the floor affirmed the catechism and creeds, saying with passion, “I joined this denomination because I love the Reformed creeds and doctrines and the way you articulate them in the CRC.” That is the voice of someone who loves the creedal/confessional leg of the stool. And is a leg worth loving, but folks who grew up in the denomination are likely to feel a cold shadow at those words. Because the CRC “stool” has rested on more than one leg. The denominational pamphlet “What it Means to be Reformed” (a standard tool for membership and catechism classes, and frequently set out on on the rack in church foyers) talks about “three major minds” within the denomination: the doctrinalist mind, the pietist mind, and the transformationalist mind. In Dr. James Bratt’s history of the CRC, the three strands are described as a pietist stream, a social /Kuyperian stream, and a theological stream. In a 2012 Banner article, Rev. David Schuringa also wrestled with the names for these three legs of the CRC stool, describing the CRC as a “cord of three strands,” with the strands being “Grassroots” (a creedal emphasis), “High Steeples” (neoKuyperian) and “Explorers” (evangelical/pietist emphasis).

All of these authors observe that, in general, these three strands have been appreciated for the diversity they create within the CRC. People with a focus on a different strand bring a distinctive range of questions and concerns to the church at large. These different perspectives encouraged people to consider issues from different angles and to explain their views to one another. You can probably recognize something of yourself, your local church, or your neighbour’s church in the description of these strands. If you were raised in a Christian Reformed Church, you may well feel all three strands within you. You could easily have had a pastor who emphasized the doctrinal creedal side, worship leaders and Sunday school teachers from the evangelical/pietist side, and a neoKuyperian catechism teacher who inspired you to think in terms of worldviews and cultural transformation. All three strands have informed and shaped you. And this has been healthy and good. It has been part of what it has meant to be Christian Reformed. To quote Schuringa, “At times, these distinct forces in the church are tempted to view one another with suspicion. But we need them all. These three tendencies make us unique on the ecclesiastical landscape and constitute our greatest strength: ‘A cord of three strands is not quickly broken’” (Eccles. 4:12).

A narrowing definition

But though they may not be quickly broken, the three strands are now becoming thin and frayed. We could describe recent synods as ones in which those who emphasize the creedal/confessional/doctrinal strand have moved to push aside the other strands. Many do this under a conviction that the confessions and creeds comprise the only strand that is necessary and “true” to the Christian Reformed Church. But defining the denomination with a single strand is changing who the CRC is. It threatens to tear apart what was once a great strength and send the denomination into splinters.

Many from the non-creedal strands feel themselves ostracized from the church as they continue to wrestle with responses to human sexuality. Synod’s pronouncements related to the Human Sexuality Report are challenging for them – not necessarily because they entirely disagree, but because it is distressing to see the “grassroots/creedal/confessional” strand push out those who are from the other two mindsets. Even many with traditional and conservative views of human sexuality feel troubled over the way that the catechism has recently been narrowed and defined. Once the CRC was more than its confessional strand. Is that no longer possible? The CRC has been a denomination in which the confessional emphasis was strengthened by those with a strong worldview perspective and a warm-hearted approach toward missions. Is the inclination for an open door and a welcoming attitude no longer possible?

In the past, the Kuyperian strand and the evangelistic/pietist strands have been inclined to dislike one another’s song choices and liturgical bent (or lack of liturgical bent). As the denomination splinters under the pressure to polarize over human sexuality discussions, perhaps these two strands should recognize the surprising degree to which they share values and strengthen one another? Can they possibly call the denomination back to the value of being a cord of three strands?

It is easy to echo the current cultural narrative that there is a battle between two sides in discussions of human sexuality. Traditional and progressive. Literal in Bible exegesis, expansive in interpreting Scripture. But perhaps this sort of “us” and “them” polarization hides the real damage to the Christian Reformed Church?

Perhaps the danger is that instead of retaining three flourishing strands, the CRC becomes a single fragile thread.