Episode 217: Repentance and Renewal in the CRC — Andrew Zomerman (Part 2)
“I think we [believers] need to be involved in social justice…that's our job; but…it's not my [the pastor’s] job to preach social justice. My job is to preach the gospel. That's the thing that the church has…That's what I need to bring to the people, and then out of that…it should unfold in people's lives…I shouldn't be…telling people who to vote for, what policies to enact; that's not my job…” —Andrew Zomerman
Summary of this Episode
Jason is back with Rev. Andrew Zomerman, pastor of Dresden CRC (ON), on this week’s episode of The Messy Reformation. The episode picks up as Andrew shares his perspective on the Canadian part of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. He acknowledges Canada generally and perhaps in terms of the CRC has been more progressive than the U.S., but that does not mean every church fits that. “There are some churches…here in Canada that very much lament some of the directions that synod has taken. There are other churches,” including Dresden, “encouraged by it.” He’s seen that playout in his classis around the mandate to resign the Covenant for Officebearers. He touches briefly on Toward CRC Canada (TCRCC), a group looking to split off in some way from the CRCNA with more autonomy. He doesn’t see it as gaining much traction. He shares the belief, “We are stronger when we stay united. Yeah, there are challenges of being binational, but there are some incredible joys.” He sees it as “lamentable” if we lost our binational connections in relationships and work.
Since Andrew was a delegate at Synod 2024, Jason invites him to share about that experience and the decisions that were made. Andrew notes that while it was a challenging time, most of the decisions resonated with him. During and after Synod, he’s heard some talk about Synod being over-reaching, and yet people are seeking out loopholes to stay connected. Throughout his ministry, his goal has been to stand on Scripture personally and for the CRC to do that as well. Him and Jason both share that they don’t want anyone to leave the denomination, but rather to come back to the teaching we’ve agreed to and believe is from God’s Word. Jason shares that he has heard there are churches which have repented and decided to come in-line; that doesn’t mean those churches are without turmoil, but change is possible.
Jason asks Andrew what he sees in the future of the CRC and any insight on Synod 2025. Andrew believes a fairly clear trajectory has been set that will likely include some wrestling still, but we know where we’re going. He’s excited by some of the church planting efforts and success that unfortunately took a back seat at Synod 2024. One area that he sees some work needed is a clearer understanding of how the church operates as institution and as organism. If you’re unfamiliar with that, the church as institution is thinking about what proclamations, actions, or areas does a denomination or church officially move in, while the organism is what are we as individual or collective believers responsible for. It seems like the CRC gets too involved institutionally at times with things that should be left to the organism. As an example, Andrew shares, “I think we [believers] need to be involved in social justice…that's our job; but…it's not my [the pastor’s] job to preach social justice. My job is to preach the gospel. That's the thing that the church has…That's what I need to bring to the people, and then out of that…it should unfold in people's lives…I shouldn't be…telling people who to vote for, what policies to enact; that's not my job…”
Andrew wraps up the conversation with final words of encouragement. “Read good material…listen to good podcasts, and faithfully come to church…Lead by example, live a life of integrity…fill yourself [with good things].”