Episode 238: On the Cusp of Something Really Special — Brittany Clark (Part 1)

“Other delegates that had been to pervious synods [commented throughout the week] about how it [was] such a different feeling this year than previous synods. And you can tell…for the most part, we were all kind of on the same page and wanting to move in the same direction…We were…looking to get to the same place.” —Brittany Clark

Summary of This Episode

Welcome back to the Messy Reformation podcast! Our next couple interviews pull in non-pastor delegates to Synod 2025, the first of which is Brittany Clark, an elder from Gold Avenue CRC in Grand Rapids. MI, who was delegated by Classis Grand Rapids North. Brittany kicks off the episode sharing that while she grew up in a Christian home, she didn’t join the CRC was not until 2019 after the church plant she had been part of in that area closed down. While previously apprehensive towards denominations, she’s grown to appreciate being in covenant with groups of churches and the accountability that offers.

At Synod 2025, Brittany was on Advisory Committee 3, which dealt with Church Order and was the same committee that Willy was assigned. This was her first time at synod, though, she had really wanted to go last year as she saw the denomination being at a pivotal point and wanted to be part of that conversation. “We knew who we were and what we’re doing, but what are we going to do with the churches that weren’t in alignment.” Willy asks if this advisory committee was where she wanted to be, and Brittany shares it was her first choice. Church order and the discussions around gravamina and the Covenant for Officebearers is what she has been most closely following. As the committee did their work, she saw them appreciating and being in agreement with recent synods, but working out a few of the kinks. She feels what they offered didn’t feel like it’s forcing something new onto most people.   

Jason asks what Brittany’s experience was like being on an advisory committee. She shares that she enjoyed it but admits it was one of the things she was uncertain about before. You can watch plenary sessions online and hear from people, but you don’t know until you’re there. Once she got settled in, she felt her voice was welcome and able to contribute. They talk a bit about how the advisory committees offer a good picture of functioning while in disagreement; there’s a special fellowship and trust the participants develop and quickly. Brittany also comments on the broader camaraderie she felt with all who were at this synod. “Other delegates that had been to pervious synods [commented throughout the week] about how it [was] such a different feeling this year than previous synods. And you can tell…for the most part, we were all kind of on the same page and wanting to move in the same direction…We were…looking to get to the same place.” Willy summarizes, more than content, the disagreements this year were on wisdom.

The rest of the episode highlights what Brittany was most encouraged by: passion from people on church planting. She was seated at the same table as the delegates from Classis Southeast U.S., including Pastor Scott VanderPloeg who offered a floor motion to keep this a priority. She offers, “…People weren’t willing to accept the excuse of, ‘Oh, we don’t have enough money, so we can’t do this’…Let’s find a way forward. We care about this. We want to see this happen…How can we get there?” Jason highlights one of the things that needs to be looked at going forward is not just the drive to plant churches and have good strategies, but the need to prioritize identifying and raising up church planters. Willy believes, “We’re on the cusp of something really special.”