Episode 182: Synod 2024 - Trusting God in the Mess - Dan DeGraff (Part 2)

For listeners from outside the CRC, please don’t give up on us yet. Good things are happening in the Christian Reformed Church by the grace of God. For those who are in the CRC, please pray for our churches, our denominational leaders, and still for churches who are exploring whether they can stay here. As I shared in the middle of the two parts, keep trusting God, love him and his Word, and know “that God can do a good work in those who he loves, even when it seems far away.” -Dan DeGraff

Summary of this Episode

I (Dan De Graff) am back with Jason and Willy on this episode of the Messy Reformation to continue discussing what took place at Synod 2024 and where I see things going from here. After sharing my need to grow in trusting God, I mention a few different people who I have a changed opinion of because of this Synod experience. I have a greater respect for the officers of Synod 2023. While things may not have turned out well, they too had an incredibly difficult task. I also have a greater respect for our General Secretary, Zach King. As an officer, I grew in understanding how big and weighty a job he has–processing the decisions, getting information out, creating another FAQ, living among and conversing with churches that have a variety of responses to what Synod has done. I commend him and those who work in the Office of the General Secretary and Synodical Services staff for our prayers.

From there, I briefly address the decision by Derek Buikema, the president of Synod, to not unseat delegates when a floor motion came on the first day. While it was frustrating to some, in hindsight, it was a gracious and wise decision. At least some of the progressive or revisionist delegates did not expect that they would be allowed to remain seated throughout Synod. By being allowed to fully participate, they got to help craft their likely exit from the denomination. This isn’t to say we don’t want people and churches who currently disagree with Synod’s decisions to stay–we want them to repent and align with our views, but it can’t be said that Synod 2024 mercilessly kicked them out.

In my opinion, Derek’s closing message of “gentleness is strong” is an expression of how he led. Gentleness can look different, but often gentleness seems negative. Yet it’s a fruit of the Spirit that at least some of us don’t pay much attention to. Jason points out the mood or feeling of Synod 2024 was much different than last year in large part because of how Derek led. He believes the space given to delegates like Ryan Schreiber and Paul Verhoef was not taken advantage of, and most if not all delegates handled themselves well. I also share about the team mentality that not only the officers had but that was evident in the General Secretary and Synodical Services staff when we as the officers came into our work. 

There’s a lot about Synod 2024 online, and particularly critical voices when it comes to social media. Jason wonders what impact I’ve seen in the local church. We talk about how there are a lot of eyes on the Christian Reformed Church from outside. I believe more people than ever before–perhaps better said in recent history–seem invested in and following Synod. In my own context and those I’ve gotten to see, there is gratitude, happiness, even excitement about how Synod ended up, what the future of our denomination might be, and our place in it. I share a bit about what I experienced while worshiping at a congregation in Northwest Indiana and the interest shared by people in the United Reformed Church (what broke off of the CRC in the mid-90s). I think we will continue to see benefits beyond our denomination. Jason and Willy both comment how people from ethnic minorities spoke in a compelling way about how they came to and remain in the CRC because of our confessions. The future of the CRC is not focused on its Dutch ethnic heritage but about what we believe. 

Jason highlights Synod 2024 was mainly about discipleship and being a confessional denomination, and asks where I think we go from here. I believe we will see a greater awareness of theology, especially in places that haven’t focused on it before. Outside of congregations, Tyler Wagenmaker and Lloyd Hemstreet have a podcast entitled “Three Forms Podcast” and Paul Vander Klay has started to work through the Heidelberg Catechism on his YouTube channel. This exposure is good for officebearers and laymembers alike. For preachers, weaving the confessions into messages each week is not a difficult thing, and provides a great opportunity to go deeper into what Scripture says. Willy summarizes that my vision is “boots on the ground equipping pastors, elders, deacons, and lay leaders.”

While Synod 2024 was a historic Synod, its work does not mean all the messiness and difficulty is finished. I believe we want the CRC to be a place where people can be discipled and work through different beliefs. This likely means that we need to prioritize discipleship rather than simply increasing membership rolls. Willy points out there is a big difference between someone having a settled conviction and those who are willing to listen and be trained or discipled with the Word of God. Jason uses Willy’s past development as an example of why we can’t just put any willing person into a position of leadership or teaching: they should get their theology straight in order to communicate it more clearly to others so as not to do damage. 

That brings us to my final thoughts for the episode. For listeners from outside the CRC, please don’t give up on us yet. Good things are happening in the Christian Reformed Church by the grace of God. For those who are in the CRC, please pray for our churches, our denominational leaders, and still for churches who are exploring whether they can stay here. As I shared in the middle of the two parts, keep trusting God, love him and his Word, and know “that God can do a good work in those who he loves, even when it seems far away.”