The Messy Reformation

By Jason Ruis

We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the ... more

· Religion & Spirituality

3838 ratings

FAQs about The Messy Reformation:

How many episodes does The Messy Reformation have?

The podcast currently has 277 episodes available.

The Messy Reformation episodes:

February 02, 2026 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
...more
34min
January 26, 2026 Episode 258: From Reformation to Rebuilding — Cameron Oegema (Part 2)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
35min
January 19, 2026 Episode 257: From Passive Participant To Active Leadership — Cameron Oegema (Part 1)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
33min
December 22, 2025 Episode 256: More Than Sunday Christians — Kurtis Ritsema (Part 2)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
36min
December 15, 2025 Episode 255: What Seminary Cannot Teach You — Kurt Ritsema (Part 1)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
35min
December 08, 2025 Episode 254: Standing Firm When Truth Costs Something — Richard Britton III (Part 2)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
34min
December 01, 2025 Episode 253: The Value of Confessional Accountability — Richard Britton III (Part 1)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
37min
November 24, 2025 Episode 252: Faithfulness Over Institutional Preservation — Jim Hollendoner (Part 2)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
37min
November 17, 2025 Episode 251: Learning to Be Visitors Not Hosts — Jim Hollendoner (Part 1)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
35min
November 10, 2025 Episode 250: Church Roundtable—Training Office Bearers Who Love Ministry—Jeff Weima & Chad Workhoven (Part 2)
Join and Support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/
Check out the Abide Project: https://www.abideproject.org
We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.
Intro Music by Matt Krotzer
...more
38min

FAQs about The Messy Reformation:

How many episodes does The Messy Reformation have?

The podcast currently has 277 episodes available.

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The Messy Reformation

FAQs about The Messy Reformation:

How many episodes does The Messy Reformation have?

The Messy Reformation episodes:

FAQs about The Messy Reformation:

How many episodes does The Messy Reformation have?

More shows like The Messy Reformation

The Briefing with Albert Mohler

The World and Everything In It

Reformed Podmatics

Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson

Three Forms Podcast