Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Episode 259: Why the CRC Needs Vision More Than Another Fight
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Episode 259: Why the CRC Needs Vision More Than Another Fight
It's January, which means it's time for our annual team conversation — just Jason, Willy, and Dan talking about where we are, where the CRC is, and where we think things need to go.
After life updates (Dan's upcoming sabbatical, Willy's new pastor in Pease, Jason's transition into school ministry), we dive into an honest assessment of the denomination's current state. Willy frames it well: the CRC has spent the last few years establishing what we're against, but now we're struggling to articulate what we actually stand for. That's the opposite of how our confessions work — they lead with affirmations, then denials. We've done it backwards.
The result? An unsettling quietness across the denomination. People are asking "now what?" and nobody has a clear answer. We talk about the temptation to start another fight just to rally the troops — and why that's exactly the wrong move. This is the rebuilding phase. And rebuilding starts with identity.
Timestamps:
- 0:00 — Intro
- 2:47 — Dan's update: sabbatical, candidacy gathering, Quorum Deo Conference
- 4:46 — Willy's update: new pastor at Pease, COD work, biennial synods, RCA dialogue committee - 7:13 — Jason's update: school ministry, teaching systematic theology, grieving Greg Zonnefeld
- 10:03 — The state of the CRC post-Synod 2025
- 11:04 — "We've established what we're against — now what do we stand for?"
- 14:09 — The Eugene Peterson story: what happens after you "win"
- 17:35 — Classis renewal and organizational challenges
- 21:01 — The CRC's lack of vision
- 22:07 — Local church leadership vs. looking to denominational HQ
- 24:27 — How classes can share gifts and work together
- 31:24 — "What we're doing isn't working"
Join and support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
Intro music by Matt Krotzer
View all episodes
By Jason Ruis
5
3838 ratings
It's January, which means it's time for our annual team conversation — just Jason, Willy, and Dan talking about where we are, where the CRC is, and where we think things need to go.
After life updates (Dan's upcoming sabbatical, Willy's new pastor in Pease, Jason's transition into school ministry), we dive into an honest assessment of the denomination's current state. Willy frames it well: the CRC has spent the last few years establishing what we're against, but now we're struggling to articulate what we actually stand for. That's the opposite of how our confessions work — they lead with affirmations, then denials. We've done it backwards.
The result? An unsettling quietness across the denomination. People are asking "now what?" and nobody has a clear answer. We talk about the temptation to start another fight just to rally the troops — and why that's exactly the wrong move. This is the rebuilding phase. And rebuilding starts with identity.
Timestamps:
- 0:00 — Intro
- 2:47 — Dan's update: sabbatical, candidacy gathering, Quorum Deo Conference
- 4:46 — Willy's update: new pastor at Pease, COD work, biennial synods, RCA dialogue committee - 7:13 — Jason's update: school ministry, teaching systematic theology, grieving Greg Zonnefeld
- 10:03 — The state of the CRC post-Synod 2025
- 11:04 — "We've established what we're against — now what do we stand for?"
- 14:09 — The Eugene Peterson story: what happens after you "win"
- 17:35 — Classis renewal and organizational challenges
- 21:01 — The CRC's lack of vision
- 22:07 — Local church leadership vs. looking to denominational HQ
- 24:27 — How classes can share gifts and work together
- 31:24 — "What we're doing isn't working"
Join and support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
Intro music by Matt Krotzer
More shows like The Messy Reformation
View all
The Briefing with Albert Mohler
8,701 Listeners
The World and Everything In It
7,147 Listeners
Reformed Podmatics
26 Listeners
Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson
1,580 Listeners
Three Forms Podcast
8 Listeners