Episode 254: Standing Firm When Truth Costs Something — Richard Britton III (Part 2)
“…Listen to preaching and to the faithful ministers that we have in the CRC…Listen to this podcast (thanks Richard!)…We have so many good resources—ministers, podcasts, our confessions…This renewed love for the prominence of the confessions is awesome!” —Richard Britton III
Summary of This Episode
Willy and Dan are back this week with Rev. Richard Britton III, pastor at Beckwith Hills CRC in Grand Rapids, MI. The episode returns us to Richard sharing about his involvement in recent synods, particularly while in Classis Muskegon. He and the Trinity CRC Council felt convicted by God’s Word and what the church has always believed about sexuality, but there was a church in their classis that was pushing against that and others that seemed ambivalent. He also saw what the organization All One Body was posting of affirming churches in the CRC. Initially, he wrote an overture calling for repentance. That was unanimously supported by Trinity’s Council but tabled at Classis, so the church sent it to Synod on its own.
In 2024, he appealed to Synod the seating of delegates from a now-departed-from-the-CRC congregation. When initially brought up in Classis Muskegon, there weas mixed discussion on the floor and Synod ultimately did not sustain the appeal. However, he and Willy both recognize the importance of standing upon biblical convictions and pointing out incongruencies of signing the Covenant for Officebearers when teaching otherwise. Willy shares how some of the work that the Synod 2025 Church Order Advisory Committee did was to help clean this up.
As Richard continues to grow in ministry, he’s continuing to learn the need to trust God and his provision. He speaks multiple times in the episode about the importance of prayer in his life. He’s also grateful to stand with other leaders who have stood firmly on God’s Word, and seeing discipline for the sake of correction and restoration being practiced.
Dan asks what it’s like to be in and around Grand Rapids with what’s gone on over the last few years. Richard shares that he sees integrity being practiced—in churches that have left, in the steps that those remaining in Classis Grand Rapids East are taking, as well as in Classis Grand Rapids North where he now serves. He witnessed church visitors take seriously their task to call a church and its leaders to repentance and expressing the desire for them to stay and be restored.
We also talk a bit about Calvin Theological Seminary and note the mixed feelings that are out there. There are some, including Richard, who wish CTS would take stronger and more public stances on and with the direction of the CRC. Dan notes part of the response from the seminary has been that there’s a faculty statement written a few years ago citing agreement with the Covenant for Officebearers despite faculty not being required to sign that. From his personal experience, Richard acknowledges he has experienced some solid professors over the last ten years, and yet CTS students have been placed in affirming churches. That’s a puzzling thing! Willy reminds us that the ship is turning, but it is slow.
Dan also asks what Richard finds hopeful about the CRC. He highlights the value of 222 Discipleship and relationships that has encouraged. He’s experienced a lot of faithful pastors, congregations, and elders and deacons. We have good leaders that he is grateful to minister alongside of. For his final words, he encourages our listeners to seek that out. “…Listen to preaching and to the faithful ministers that we have in the CRC…Listen to this podcast (thanks Richard!)…We have so many good resources—ministers, podcasts, our confessions…This renewed love for the prominence of the confessions is awesome!”