The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC or CRCNA) is a Protestant Christian denomination in the Reformed tradition. It was founded by Dutch immigrants in 1857 and currently has over 1,000 congregations across the United States and Canada.
Some key beliefs and practices of the CRC include:
- Bible – The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God, which reveals God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. CRC holds to biblical inerrancy.
- Creeds – In addition to the Bible, the CRC adheres to three historic Reformed creeds: the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort.
- God – There is one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is sovereign, holy, gracious, and loving.
- Humanity – Humans were created in God’s image but became alienated from God through the fall into sin. All people are in need of God’s saving grace.
- Jesus Christ – Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay for sins, resurrected bodily, and ascended to reign as Lord.
- Salvation – Salvation is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the means.
- Church – The church is the body of Christ called to worship God, equip believers, and proclaim the gospel locally and globally.
- Sacraments – The CRC practices two sacraments instituted by Christ: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- Second Coming – Jesus will visibly return to judge the living and the dead. Believers will receive resurrected bodies and dwell forever with God.
History
The CRC traces its roots to the Reformation of the 16th century. Leaders like John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli helped renew biblical faith and practice. Many Reformed believers fled persecution in Europe and settled in America, especially the Netherlands.
In the 1800s, a division occurred in the Reformed Church in America (RCA) over doctrinal laxity and declining spirituality. Under the leadership of pastors like Albertus van Raalte, congregations left the RCA and formed the CRC in 1857. They desired greater fidelity to Reformed theology and piety.
The CRC initially used the RCA’s liturgy and catechism curriculum. In 1914, the CRC adopted the Heidelberg Catechism and other confessions still used today. The 1934 CRC Psalter Hymnal helped unify congregational singing. In 1959, the Belhar Confession was adopted addressing racial unity in South Africa.
Missions have always been a priority, starting with indigenous tribes in North America, then spreading overseas to countries like China, Nigeria, and Honduras. Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary were founded to train CRC leaders. Social justice issues like poverty, racism, abortion, and the environment have also become denominational concerns.
Today, the CRC continues its emphasis on biblical fidelity, theological rigor, missional outreach, and applying the gospel to all of life. It maintains ecumenical relations with several Reformed denominations.
Governance and Polity
The CRC has a representative form of church government with four levels:
- Consistory – Each local church is governed by a consistory composed of pastors, elders, and deacons elected by the congregation.
- Classis – Groups of nearby churches form regional classis bodies that meet several times per year.
- Regional Synods – Classes are organized into regional synods in the U.S. and Canada that meet annually.
- General Synod – The denomination-wide General Synod meets annually to address doctrinal and missional issues.
This connectional structure allows local churches to benefit from wider counsel while retaining autonomy. Elders and deacons are reaffirmed annually and pastors undergo a rigorous ordination process.
The CRC has modified its polity at times, such as allowing women deacons in the 1950s and women pastors in the 1990s. While initially divisive, these changes exhibit the CRC’s blend of biblically rooted conviction and thoughtful contextualization.
Worship and Sacraments
Weekly worship in the CRC is both biblical and traditional. A typical service includes reverent hymns, congregational prayers and creedal recitations, Scripture readings, biblical preaching, and observance of the sacraments.
The two sacraments practiced are baptism and the Lord’s Supper:
- Baptism – Infants of believers are baptized into the triune name of God, marking their inclusion in the covenant community. Adult converts who make a profession of faith are also baptized.
- Lord’s Supper – During the Lord’s Supper, bread and wine are consumed representing Christ’s body and blood given for sinners. This strengthens the faith of believers who partake in a worthy manner.
These sacraments visibly depict the gospel of salvation by grace that is the basis for Christian life and hope.
Social Justice
The biblical call to “seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8) has long prodded the CRC toward social compassion and reform. Major justice concerns include:
- Poverty – Serving the poor is a duty. The CRC supports food banks, housing assistance, job training, living wages, and systemic change.
- Race – Undoing racism and building racial reconciliation is crucial. Efforts include multiethnic church planting, education, dialogue, and policy advocacy.
- Abortion – Abortion is rejected while coming alongside struggling women with compassion. Adoption and prenatal care are promoted.
- Environment – Caring for God’s creation includes conserving resources, advancing renewables, addressing climate change, and acting locally.
- Marriage and Sexuality – Marriage between one man and one woman is affirmed. Same-sex relations are prohibited, though same-sex attracted persons are loved.
- Religious Persecution – Advocacy for persecuted Christians and other religious minorities around the world is a focus.
These stances aim for biblical faithfulness in complex cultural circumstances. Justice is pursued with humility by grace-changed people ever in need of God’s mercy.
Education
The CRC prioritizes Christian education believing that faith should permeate learning and academia should engage a biblical worldview. Two CRC affiliated institutions are:
- Calvin University – Founded in 1876, Calvin is a liberal arts college in Grand Rapids, Michigan seeking to prepare students for service in God’s kingdom. It has over 3,500 students studying 100+ majors and minors.
- Calvin Theological Seminary – Established in 1876, Calvin Sem prepares students for gospel ministry through rigorous biblical and theological training. Degree programs include M.Div, M.A., and more.
Beyond this, many CRC members teach or study at Christian primary, secondary, college, and graduate schools worldwide. Quality education fortified by faith is seen as an invaluable asset.
Global Missions
Participating in God’s mission has defined the CRC since its start among Dutch immigrants who were themselves missionaries to North America. Today, CRC missionaries serve in over 20 countries worldwide.
Several CRC ministries support missions:
- Resonate Global Mission – Sends and equips cross-cultural CRC missionaries and plants churches.
- World Renew – Focuses on disaster response, community development, and justice in poverty stricken areas.
- Back to God Ministries International – Utilizes media like radio broadcasts to proclaim the gospel in countries with limited Christian witness.
The CRC encourages all members to participate in missions through prayer, giving, and short-term trips. Both evangelism and mercy/justice ministries are valued in obeying the Great Commission while fulfilling the Great Commandment.
Ecumenical Relations
While maintaining its Reformed theological integrity, the CRC also seeks unity and fellowship with other believers. It has formal ecumenical dialogue and cooperation with several denominations including:
- Reformed Church in America (RCA)
- Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
- Reformed Church in Japan (RCJ)
- Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN)
- Christian Reformed Churches of Australia (CRCA)
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)
- Reformed Churches of South Africa (GKSA)
This demonstrates the connectional Reformed principle of unity in essentials, liberty in non-essentials, and charity in all things. Cooperation advances the witness of the true gospel while bypassing minor differences.
Recent Controversies
The CRC has faced several recent controversies reflecting larger tensions in the global church:
- Women in Office – After long debate, the CRC approved women pastors in 1995 and elders/overseers in 2022. Some saw this as unbiblical while others affirmed gifts-based ministry.
- Sexuality – The CRC holds to biblical orthodoxy on marriage and homosexuality while urging compassion towards LGBT persons. This remains contentious.
- Inerrancy – Defending the total truthfulness of Scripture grew controversial as critical methods impacted CRC seminaries. Calls have gone out to reaffirm inerrancy.
- Social Justice – Emphasizing social issues like racism raised charges of political correctness and minimization of evangelism. Discussions continue on finding biblical balance.
These disputes reveal the challenges of applying God’s unchanging Word to ever-changing human cultures and contexts. They drive the CRC deeper into God’s grace while clarifying its theological convictions.
Conclusion
For over 150 years, the CRC has sought faithfulness to God’s Word and relevance to God’s world. Its blend of doctrinal rigor, thoughtful engagement with culture, and deep spirituality continue to inspire many believers today.
With its strongly biblical DNA and Reformed heritage, the CRC seems poised to keep proclaiming Christ and building His Kingdom in North America and beyond for many years to come, come what may.