Dear Canadians,
What’s the difference between a community of churches and a denomination? Sorry, that’s not meant to be trick question. It’s a real one; the answer has implications on how individual congregations thrive, work out their calling, and develop all their relationships. Toward Canada (TC, formerly Toward CRC Canada) is in the position of now working out what a community of churches could look like.
A friend just shared with me that there are some eight key characteristics of denominations, ranging from congregational accountability, to ministry cooperation to interchurch cooperation (see below for the full list). Globally, there are 50,000 Christian denominations (as of 2025, source: Center for the Study of Global Christianity). The intensity of these characteristics in denominations ranges from nothing to strong hierarchical oversight.
What will/should be the intensity of the relationships? How much “oversight” ought the oversight body (call it “the denominational headquarters”, or whatever you’d like) be given? For that matter, how is this actually decided upon? And when? Does this sort of thing just happen over time?
What should the parametres be that help to determine what this denomination should look like? It seems to me it depends largely on two things:
- How a group of Christians covenanting in a congregation can best serve Creator God in their local and global setting.
- What the Word (in both senses of the term) says about relationships.
This is likely a bit simplistic; I’m no theologian, but I do know that the expansive love of Jesus Christ is grace-ful, for-giving and immeasurable. And we are called to live in and witness to that grace.
Toward Canada will be having a retreat (as distinct from retreating) from June 18-21 this year in Ancaster, ON, to wrestle with those questions. The retreat will be comprised of representatives for churches that have signed on as catalysts, churches that are observers, and the other members. Discussions will revolve around making the draft documents that emerged from the November All-Canada Summit more coherent and specific; discussing the nature of these documents, discussing the nature of the fellowship/community.
There are churches that are envisioning a future of rich inclusiveness and local decision-making looking forward to being involved in this retreat; others are looking forward to the outcomes. Others continue to discern their future.
Please join with us as we pray that the outcomes will be pleasing to our God, and be edifying to his church.
It’s a new day.
Blessings,
Peter Bulthuis
8 Key Characteristics of Denominations
1. Biblical / Theological foundations.
2. Exercise of authority / accountability / discipline.
3. Understanding of ordination and leadership roles.
4. Church order.
5. Government recognition: meeting the requirements for issuing charitable donation receipts and authority to officiate weddings.
6. Cooperation in ministries that are too large for a single congregation to carry out.
7. Interchurch support and care.
8. Administration and oversight of denominational matters.
