Candidacy Committee
Finding a Common Story
Philippians 3:20 tells us our citizenship is in heaven, not on earth. Our Reformed theology tells us we are all pilgrims on a journey. One way we are encountering and living into this reality in the CRCNA is through welcoming leaders and congregations of new immigrant groups into our denominational life and fellowship.
The Candidacy Committee is one tool of the denomination for such a welcome. In partnership with the Consejo Latino (a leadership group of Spanish speaking CRC leaders), the Candidacy Committee hosted a group of 14 Spanish speaking pastors and leaders to give them an opportunity to see the CRCNA and its ministries more closely.
The group itself represented five different national backgrounds. Their experience together helped each one build relationship with other Spanish speaking persons entering the CRC, and also with various denominational ministry leaders and current pastors. A highlight of the trip was a visit to Graafschap CRC, where the history of the CRC is presented via a very engaging Heritage Center.
The group praised God for the welcome they received and the heritage they heard of. And we as a denominational ministry praise God for the ministry gifts represented by each of these persons. We indeed join together in a common story of ministering in the diversity of 21st-century North America.
To learn more about the Candidacy Committee or to view financial information from various congregational services ministries, please read the PDF report.
The Candidacy Committee is one tool of the denomination for such a welcome. In partnership with the Consejo Latino (a leadership group of Spanish speaking CRC leaders), the Candidacy Committee hosted a group of 14 Spanish speaking pastors and leaders to give them an opportunity to see the CRCNA and its ministries more closely.
The group itself represented five different national backgrounds. Their experience together helped each one build relationship with other Spanish speaking persons entering the CRC, and also with various denominational ministry leaders and current pastors. A highlight of the trip was a visit to Graafschap CRC, where the history of the CRC is presented via a very engaging Heritage Center.
The group praised God for the welcome they received and the heritage they heard of. And we as a denominational ministry praise God for the ministry gifts represented by each of these persons. We indeed join together in a common story of ministering in the diversity of 21st-century North America.
To learn more about the Candidacy Committee or to view financial information from various congregational services ministries, please read the PDF report.
Chaplaincy and Care Ministry
Instruments of Healing
At the beginning of the annual CRC Chaplains Training, chaplains, led by Rev. Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene, came together to create banners representing their ministry. Attendees added their handprints and painted words of healing, which were then displayed for the remainder of Chaplains Training.
134 people were in attendance, including active and retired CRC chaplains, family members, and people interested in becoming chaplains. This year’s theme, Instruments of Healing, reflected on how chaplains serve as the healing and grace-sharing hands of Christ.
The training also focused on worship, fellowship, and learning for chaplains, providing healing, respite, and encouragement for them in their ministry. The banners, titled “Healing Hands, Healing Words,” now hang in the denominational building in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
To learn more about Chaplaincy and Care Ministry or to view financial information from several congregational service ministries, read the PDF report.
134 people were in attendance, including active and retired CRC chaplains, family members, and people interested in becoming chaplains. This year’s theme, Instruments of Healing, reflected on how chaplains serve as the healing and grace-sharing hands of Christ.
The training also focused on worship, fellowship, and learning for chaplains, providing healing, respite, and encouragement for them in their ministry. The banners, titled “Healing Hands, Healing Words,” now hang in the denominational building in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
To learn more about Chaplaincy and Care Ministry or to view financial information from several congregational service ministries, read the PDF report.
Leadership Diversity
Women Gather During Synod
A new focus on leadership development within the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) started in 2017. It strives to support, encourage, and develop the leadership gifts in people who are underrepresented in the CRCNA. This includes women as well as several ethnic groups of CRCNA leaders: Black, Chinese, Korean, Latino, Native American/First Nations, and South East Asia Pacific Islander.
In June 2019, the CRCNA hosted the third annual Women in Leadership gathering as part of the CRCNA's annual synod meeting. Approximately 70 people attended this event at Calvin University, where the guest speaker, Trish Borgdoff, gave a message about "Embracing Your Story" and reminded female delegates, young adult representatives, committee chairs, and CRCNA staff to be attentive to the stories of others during synod.
“Story work is worth pursuing,” Borgdorff told her audience. Pursuing your own story with intention and integrity is important, as is connecting with other people’s stories through empathy and compassion. During synod, she said, this means there is a need to listen well to others, speak carefully, and consider other people's stories before casting judgement.
After the dinner, Joan Flikkema was honored for her pioneering work of bringing women into leadership in the CRC as one of the founders of the Committee for Women in the Christian Reformed Church. That group worked for many years paving the way for the eventual ordination of women and their inclusion in the denomination’s broadest assemblies.
To learn more about Leadership Diversity and to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
In June 2019, the CRCNA hosted the third annual Women in Leadership gathering as part of the CRCNA's annual synod meeting. Approximately 70 people attended this event at Calvin University, where the guest speaker, Trish Borgdoff, gave a message about "Embracing Your Story" and reminded female delegates, young adult representatives, committee chairs, and CRCNA staff to be attentive to the stories of others during synod.
“Story work is worth pursuing,” Borgdorff told her audience. Pursuing your own story with intention and integrity is important, as is connecting with other people’s stories through empathy and compassion. During synod, she said, this means there is a need to listen well to others, speak carefully, and consider other people's stories before casting judgement.
After the dinner, Joan Flikkema was honored for her pioneering work of bringing women into leadership in the CRC as one of the founders of the Committee for Women in the Christian Reformed Church. That group worked for many years paving the way for the eventual ordination of women and their inclusion in the denomination’s broadest assemblies.
To learn more about Leadership Diversity and to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Pastor Church Resources
Supporting Regional Pastors
The demands and expectations of pastors and their families continue to grow. To provide support to active clergy, the Christian Reformed Church in North America encourages the use of regional pastors. These men and women are active or retired pastors who are committed to serving as pastors to pastors.
To do this, regional pastors build relationships with pastors, commissioned pastors, and their spouses. They have regular contact and conversation with them, assist in arranging mentors for new pastors, and seek to be available at all times, and especially during times of particular challenge or opportunity.
In February 2019, many of the CRCNA’s regional pastors gathered for a time of learning—about both themselves and how they can best support the pastors in their care. Each one had taken a vocational ministry assessment prior to the event and then debriefed the findings as a group.
"This event and assessment better-equipped me to walk alongside pastors in the ups and downs of ministry," said one participant.
"The gathering gave me some good insights to better my ministry," said another.
Caring for the well-being of the pastors who care for many in our churches is a key focus of Pastor Church Resources’ ministry. To learn more about Pastor Church Resources and to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
To do this, regional pastors build relationships with pastors, commissioned pastors, and their spouses. They have regular contact and conversation with them, assist in arranging mentors for new pastors, and seek to be available at all times, and especially during times of particular challenge or opportunity.
In February 2019, many of the CRCNA’s regional pastors gathered for a time of learning—about both themselves and how they can best support the pastors in their care. Each one had taken a vocational ministry assessment prior to the event and then debriefed the findings as a group.
"This event and assessment better-equipped me to walk alongside pastors in the ups and downs of ministry," said one participant.
"The gathering gave me some good insights to better my ministry," said another.
Caring for the well-being of the pastors who care for many in our churches is a key focus of Pastor Church Resources’ ministry. To learn more about Pastor Church Resources and to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Training Leaders in Bangladesh
Raise Up Global Ministries
Raise Up Global Ministries is committed to educating Christian leaders and communities around the world. One of the ways it does this is through Timothy Leadership Training (TLT). TLT equips pastors and congregational leaders in practical ministry skills by using 7 core manuals. The modules in these manuals explore practical leadership topics. At the end of each module participants apply what they have learned by developing an action plan. The practical modules—on topics such as teaching the Christian faith, preaching, and stewardship—yield big results for leaders who would otherwise have little or no access to formal training.
Recently, a group in Bangladesh worked together on an exercise from a TLT. The group members felt empowered as they were able to research the Bible and answer the questions together.
To learn more about Raise Up Global Ministries, please read the PDF report.
Recently, a group in Bangladesh worked together on an exercise from a TLT. The group members felt empowered as they were able to research the Bible and answer the questions together.
To learn more about Raise Up Global Ministries, please read the PDF report.