Insights

Such a community would allow for greater autonomy in decision-making while maintaining deep ties with our Reformed tradition with potentially new forms of governance and structure that would allow for greater local and contextual ministry. All of this, so that we can better love God and our neighbour in our own Canadian context, determining our own parametres for ministry.

1. Rooted in the Bible and Reformed tradition.
2. Honouring local church leadership.
3. Listening and leading together.
4. Creatively engaging in our culture.
5. Life-long learning and growth.
6. Creating communities of belonging.
7. Engaging in stewardship.

Such a community would be fully Reformed, deeply connected to our history, and committed to serving Canadian churches and communities. But more importantly, it would be a community that would reflect the needs and desires of Canadian churches.

There are an increasing number of Canadian CRCs that are (in the process of) disaffiliating from the CRCNA. Many have not completely decided on being singular, individual, independent churches without a community or federation, therefore a potential, cross-country community appears warranted.

Now is the time to act, not because of one issue, but because the need has become too big to ignore (See Foundational Understandings). 

Hence: the All Canada Church Summit.

The Summit was a gathering of over 150 Canadian CRC and former CRC members—office-bearers, pastors, ministry leaders, and laypeople from 55 congregations, representing every classis in Canada—who met to pray, discern, and explore the contours of a renewed, Canada-specific Reformed expression. It was held in Kitchener, Ontario, November 5-9, 2025.

Churches across Canada have expressed a desire for more local governance, ministry structures suited to the Canadian context, and a more direct connection to shared decision making.

Participants affirmed a desire to continue the conversation with the intention of establishing a Reformed and Canadian fellowship with shared mission and relational governance.

Our Vision Statement includes greater respect for the authority of the local church and for conscientious decision-making. These are strong values that already exist within the Canadian CRC and are a foundation for finding ways to work together with respect for differences.

Vision Statement: "For the Christian Reformed Church in Canada to flourish independently while remaining connected to our shared faith and history. Recognizing the distinct legal, cultural, and ministry needs of Canada and the U.S., we acknowledge that a single, cross-border structure is no longer effective. Therefore, we seek to build a new community, living in the spirit, working for God in Canada, together."

The common focus on contextual ministry in Canada provides a strong bond, and the smaller scale would allow stronger connections among local churches, to enable local congregational authority to flourish.

Toward Canada is gathering interested congregations to establish a shared ecclesiastical network, refine proposals, develop governance models, and host follow-up events.

A Catalyst Church publicly joins the movement, assigns a representative to the Toward Canada Board, provides financial support, and helps shape what comes next.

An Observer Church signals interest and general support but without a formal public commitment.

No. Neither status requires disaffiliation from the CRCNA or affiliation with any other denomination.

Catalyst Churches will support the developing community at a mutually agreed upon level; Observer Churches have no financial requirements.

Email Toward Canada with your council’s decision and contact information: towardcrccanada@gmail.com.

All materials are available on the Summit page. These documents include a two-page summary of the event, a picture/slideshow summary, a copy of the tone-setting presentation by the board chair, links to each of the keynote speakers’ presentations, the (amazing) 16-page Consolidated Workgroups Final Report, even a playlist of the songs sung in worship.