Candidacy Committee
Diverse Leaders for a Diverse Church
The Christian Reformed Church now has over 30% of its congregations that are majority culture “non-white.” Put another way, our denomination is growing as a reflection of the church described in Revelation 7, where all nations gather around the throne of Christ.
To facilitate this development our leadership preparation and orientation programs are having to be adjusted and contextualized. The Candidacy Committee, in partnership with the Spanish speaking pastoral leaders of the CRC, called the Consejo Latino, has developed a new Spanish language training for pastors and church leaders. The program is called SLIM (Spanish Language Institute in Ministry), and compliments a similar effort for Korean leaders (KIM).
“SLIM is important for future Latino pastors and leaders,” says Rev Harold Caicedo, current leader of the Consejo Latino. “Through this program we have the opportunity to teach the main aspects that have to do with the doctrine and practices of the Reformed Church.” Caicedo explains that for many Spanish speakers joining the CRC a profound change in faith activities occurs. “SLIM helps those who receive it to know the immense wealth of our doctrine and the blessing that our ministerial practices imply.”
2020 was a significant year for the CRC in that for the first time the majority of our candidates were persons previously considered as “minorities.” (See the July/August 2020 issue of the Banner, p. 32). It is apparent that God is preparing us as a denomination to lead and serve in a culture of increased diversity.
In this context of noting and even celebrating growing diversity, a significant challenge must be named: living as an ethnically diverse body is difficult. 2020 pointed us to the realities of racial tensions in North America, and across the world. Celebrating diversity, when not accompanied by a commitment to justice and true respect, is in danger of becoming an offensive action.
Our candidacy committee practices, and our entire denominational ministry, include a call to tend to the real needs and the real wisdom that our growing diversity brings. Will we take seriously the diverse voices God is sending us? How can our diverse leaders help us understand the ways we need to adjust as a church in order to be faithful to Scripture? Will we listen to them, and have an actual, respectful partnership? Perhaps the major question of 2020 is not, “How do we survive COVID?” Perhaps, the question is “Will we listen to the Spirit’s call to true diversity?”
To learn more about the Candidacy Committee or to view financial information from various congregational services ministries, please read the PDF report.
To facilitate this development our leadership preparation and orientation programs are having to be adjusted and contextualized. The Candidacy Committee, in partnership with the Spanish speaking pastoral leaders of the CRC, called the Consejo Latino, has developed a new Spanish language training for pastors and church leaders. The program is called SLIM (Spanish Language Institute in Ministry), and compliments a similar effort for Korean leaders (KIM).
“SLIM is important for future Latino pastors and leaders,” says Rev Harold Caicedo, current leader of the Consejo Latino. “Through this program we have the opportunity to teach the main aspects that have to do with the doctrine and practices of the Reformed Church.” Caicedo explains that for many Spanish speakers joining the CRC a profound change in faith activities occurs. “SLIM helps those who receive it to know the immense wealth of our doctrine and the blessing that our ministerial practices imply.”
2020 was a significant year for the CRC in that for the first time the majority of our candidates were persons previously considered as “minorities.” (See the July/August 2020 issue of the Banner, p. 32). It is apparent that God is preparing us as a denomination to lead and serve in a culture of increased diversity.
In this context of noting and even celebrating growing diversity, a significant challenge must be named: living as an ethnically diverse body is difficult. 2020 pointed us to the realities of racial tensions in North America, and across the world. Celebrating diversity, when not accompanied by a commitment to justice and true respect, is in danger of becoming an offensive action.
Our candidacy committee practices, and our entire denominational ministry, include a call to tend to the real needs and the real wisdom that our growing diversity brings. Will we take seriously the diverse voices God is sending us? How can our diverse leaders help us understand the ways we need to adjust as a church in order to be faithful to Scripture? Will we listen to them, and have an actual, respectful partnership? Perhaps the major question of 2020 is not, “How do we survive COVID?” Perhaps, the question is “Will we listen to the Spirit’s call to true diversity?”
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
Providing Care During a Pandemic
Before the pandemic, Chaplaincy and Care Ministry was hosting virtual meetings each month for continuing education and sharing resources. These educational meetings focused on topics like Medical Assistance in Dying, Ministry in Pluralistic Settings, and Crisis and Trauma.
Then in March, COVID-19 drastically changed the working environments of almost everyone - especially chaplains. In response, Chaplaincy and Care Ministry started organizing hour-long meetings every week to provide prayer, encouragement, and resources to chaplains as they continued to serve on the frontline providing pastoral care in times of crisis.
During these virtual meetings, a group of anywhere between 12 to 30 chaplains provided critical updates from their region, requested feedback from the peer group in regards to meeting new criteria for providing spiritual care, and shared new resources or spiritual care practices. One chaplain participant shared, “My week is so full with so many meetings and additional work that I need to do in the midst of COVID [that] it’s tempting to skip these meetings, but each time I attend, I’m so thankful that I have joined.”
CRC chaplains have stepped up to provide ministry especially in the midst of the pandemic, where many people are not allowed to have their local clergy visit them in the hospital or long term care. Chaplaincy and Care Ministry is here to support and encourage these special individuals.
To learn more about Chaplaincy and Care Ministry or to view financial information from several congregational service ministries, read the PDF report.
Then in March, COVID-19 drastically changed the working environments of almost everyone - especially chaplains. In response, Chaplaincy and Care Ministry started organizing hour-long meetings every week to provide prayer, encouragement, and resources to chaplains as they continued to serve on the frontline providing pastoral care in times of crisis.
During these virtual meetings, a group of anywhere between 12 to 30 chaplains provided critical updates from their region, requested feedback from the peer group in regards to meeting new criteria for providing spiritual care, and shared new resources or spiritual care practices. One chaplain participant shared, “My week is so full with so many meetings and additional work that I need to do in the midst of COVID [that] it’s tempting to skip these meetings, but each time I attend, I’m so thankful that I have joined.”
CRC chaplains have stepped up to provide ministry especially in the midst of the pandemic, where many people are not allowed to have their local clergy visit them in the hospital or long term care. Chaplaincy and Care Ministry is here to support and encourage these special individuals.
To learn more about Chaplaincy and Care Ministry or to view financial information from several congregational service ministries, read the PDF report.
Pastor Church Resources
Helping Churches Step Out in Witness
Pastor Church Resources (PCR) exists to promote healthy ministry, especially in seasons of transition or challenge. During COVID-19, it has offered guidance and resources to congregations as they navigate difficult times. It has also provided churches direct assistance through the Financial Shalom program, which alleviates financial challenges facing CRCNA congregations and pastors. The CRCNA’s COVID-19 Church Engagement Fund, created in response to the pandemic, has sent grants to around 140 churches struggling to pay their bills.
As the pandemic spread, congregants’ jobs were lost, and giving was reduced, these grants allowed churches to continue to pay their pastors, support their most-affected members, and purchase equipment to hold online services. For some churches, these grants also enabled them to minister to their communities in beautiful ways.
Take Grace and Peace Community, a CRC on Chicago’s West Side. Since the pandemic started, its food bank ministry has served thousands of struggling families in working class Black and Latino neighborhoods, providing donated groceries to their neighbors hardest-hit by the pandemic and its economic fallout.
With the help of denominational funding, Grace and Peace has embodied servant leadership, sharing good news with its neighborhood and “forming a heart of service and evangelism in our small but mighty congregation,” says associate pastor Preston Hogue.
“We have learned that God can take what little we have-150 congregants--and bless 28,000 families (since March) with groceries!”
During a disorienting 2020, some churches have barely kept their heads above water. Some, like Grace and Peace, God has moved to step out in bold witness to a hurting world. And others have experienced some of both. Wherever your church finds itself in this season, PCR is here to support you.
To learn more about Pastor Church Resources and to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
As the pandemic spread, congregants’ jobs were lost, and giving was reduced, these grants allowed churches to continue to pay their pastors, support their most-affected members, and purchase equipment to hold online services. For some churches, these grants also enabled them to minister to their communities in beautiful ways.
Take Grace and Peace Community, a CRC on Chicago’s West Side. Since the pandemic started, its food bank ministry has served thousands of struggling families in working class Black and Latino neighborhoods, providing donated groceries to their neighbors hardest-hit by the pandemic and its economic fallout.
With the help of denominational funding, Grace and Peace has embodied servant leadership, sharing good news with its neighborhood and “forming a heart of service and evangelism in our small but mighty congregation,” says associate pastor Preston Hogue.
“We have learned that God can take what little we have-150 congregants--and bless 28,000 families (since March) with groceries!”
During a disorienting 2020, some churches have barely kept their heads above water. Some, like Grace and Peace, God has moved to step out in bold witness to a hurting world. And others have experienced some of both. Wherever your church finds itself in this season, PCR is here to support you.
To learn more about Pastor Church Resources and to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Personal and Practical Learning
Raise Up Global Ministries
People change and transform when learning opportunities are personalized and practical. The programs of Raise Up - a partnership of Global Coffee Break, Timothy Leadership Training and Educational Care --- equip global church and school leaders with tools for effective learning and life change ---through Bible discovery, action plans for Kingdom change, and hands-on learning.
Here are a few recent examples:
These well-loved programs equip small groups, pastors and educators --who need it most --- with interactive materials and training to adapt and facilitate effective learning and lead towards Kingdom change.
To learn more about Raise Up Global Ministries, please read the PDF report.
Here are a few recent examples:
- A Coffee Break leader from Denver personalized the Discover Your Bible skeleton of questions so that her group of seekers and experienced Christians could grow deeper in their faith side-by-side.
- A girl in India (pictured above) studied the COVID manual with her family. She created an action plan to prepare hand-washing water each morning for her family.
- Six Educational Care manuals provided educators with a holistic learning program so that students and teachers could become salt and light in the world.
These well-loved programs equip small groups, pastors and educators --who need it most --- with interactive materials and training to adapt and facilitate effective learning and lead towards Kingdom change.
To learn more about Raise Up Global Ministries, please read the PDF report.