Bi-National Justice

Dear Canadians, It appears that theologically, American CRCs are becoming more "evangelical", leaning in some cases towards fundamentalism. And as witnessed throughout the current political discourse in the United States, quite hesitant to hold the government accountable to the standards of Scripture. That and the great imbalance in synodical delegates (75/25) all add up to difficulty for the historical "transformationalist" views from Canadian CRCs with a Canadian Kuyperian slant to be heard, understood and implemented across the CRCNA. It has often been said the Canadian CRCs, with their unique perspectives, can function as one of three rudders to help steer the ship (along with the other voices). That will only work when everyone is open to listening. Today there are fifteen national bodies worldwide that identify themselves as Christian Reformed Churches. The CRCNA is the only bi-national church. Some of the national churches have been established through earlier immigration from the Netherlands, others through missionary endeavours by the CRCNA itself, and yet others by other means. Common to all these churches is their embrace of the Three Forms of Unity which have historically and theologically grounded the Reformed tradition. What differentiates them are their own nationalities, cultures, histories, characteristics, languages, and ecclesiastical governing structures [see footnote]. The CRCs of Canada exhibit differences from the CRCs in the USA in each of those factors. Yet, there is no autonomous Canadian CRC. It is time for the CRC in Canada to engage as full partners with other CRC churches in other countries; our Canadian experience can be helpful to others in ways that are different from the American experience. Synod 2024 adopted the report of a COD study committee tasked with exploring “the integration of international churches into the composition of the CRC.” The adoption of this report reflects a desire to bless and be blessed in turn by our sister denominations around the world through a shared reformed identity and unique cultural and contextual differences. It is an expression of a “vision for a deeper global engagement.” While the CRCNA has decided to pursue this initiative, Synod also acknowledged a number of challenges found by the Global Vision report including “physical distance; cultural and language differences.”  They also said that “an ever-present concern is paternalism,” along with the “concern about maintaining local autonomy” expressed by some leaders of Reformed denominations outside North America. The Canadian experience suggests these global leaders are wise to be cautious, and these concerns have been repeatedly experienced and identified by CRC ministry leaders in Canada. In pursuing this Global Vision, Synod 2024 made a firm statement that free and equal partnership with churches in different countries is of high value. It was also made clear that the goal is not incorporating or absorbing those other denominations into the CRCNA and blunt their distinctiveness or unique contribution, but instead “developing an ecclesiastical body that would be the global CRC church. This body would not be a single global denomination but, rather, an opportunity for the CRCNA and its global partners to go deeper in partnership with each other.”  The creation of a distinct Canadian CRC in an equal partner relationship to a distinct US CRC would be a consistent application of these expressed values. All of this is particularly true today, when the CRCNA has been able to muster only a mild comment on the chaos we are witnessing in Washington, D.C. (statement here). What is needed, is strong condemnation of the vitriol against legitimate national governments and states and against image-bearers by a strong, prophetic ecclesiastical voice. The transformationalist voice is missing. What good then, is a denomination espousing bi-nationality, unable to speak justice when injustice is being experienced within its own body?   Thank you all for your support, Blessings, Peter Bulthuis, for TCRCC [footnote] While maintaining their own independence, these national churches now work together through the World Communion of Reformed Churches, website here.