The Abide Project is not hosting this event; it is simply promoting it. We are excited to come alongside Our Three Forms and help share this great conference.

We are excited to announce that next fall, Our Three Forms will be hosting several speakers and theologians at Hillcrest CRC in Hudsonville, MI, to help us think more deeply about “What is the Church?” Please mark your calendars for Oct 24 and use the link below to sign up. We are excited that Dr. R. Scott Clark will be joining us, along with Rev. Stephen Terpstra and others. There will be a special Pre-Conference preaching Seminar on Friday night Oct 23, with Rev. Stephen Terpstra. Past guests & speakers to Our Three Forms (3F) have come from the CRC, OPC, URC, PCA, and Alliance, etc. However, these events are designed for anyone who wants to grow in their understanding of Confessionally Reformed Christianity. Last year, we gave an overview of the Three Forms (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort). This year marks the beginning of a three-year project.

October 24, 2026: The Church Defined (Beauty of Reformed Ecclesiology)

2027: The Church Gathered (Worship and The Ordinary Means of Grace)

2028: The Church Committed (Leadership, Belonging, and Membership)

3F: A coalition to encourage, nurture, and equip churches, officebearers, and members to live out a confessionally Reformed faith in the CRC and beyond.

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We cannot bring an update without first pausing with humbled, grateful hearts at God’s mercy to the Christian Reformed Church. What God has done among us is something he has not done in many other denominations. The “Human Sexuality Report” (HSR) has been adopted by a landslide. Those who were in open defiance of the biblical and catholic position on marriage and sexuality have been admonished and encouraged to repent. Those who refused to comply have moved on to churches that aligned with their vision. The last synod saw a revived cooperation that we have not seen in years. Conversations have changed. The Lord has delivered the Christian Reformed Church, and we are grateful. May He fix our eyes upon Jesus and move us into greater and greater faithfulness.

Because of this, the Steering Committee has wrestled with whether or not to continue. It has always been the intention that The Abide Project would be a temporary grassroots movement for this particular moment. The ultimate goal is local ministry in each of our contexts.

We realize that there is always more work to be done regarding discipleship and pastoral care surrounding matters of sexuality. We still breathe the cultural air of the sexual revolution. Its ideas still find their way into the church. The plague of pornography is a constant battle. We call upon all members and ministry leaders to practice pastoral care that is both faithful and tender, with grace and truth, in correction and encouragement.

We also realize that the reason marriage and sexuality became a debate in the first place was because of our weak biblical and confessional rootedness.

This is our call moving forward. We need to do the work of teaching and shepherding. People need to grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We share in his anointing to be prophets, priests and kings in a world that needs him. People need to know that their needs and desires are ultimately met in Jesus Christ and all that he offers to us. True love is Christ on the cross for our sins. True intimacy is our connection with God the Father through Jesus Christ and his body of the church. True acceptance is in his grace. True purpose is in holiness. True fulfillment is in carrying a cross. This is the good news needed in a sexually broken world. We all need to live out these truths in our lives and preach them with our words. This is best done in our local congregations, so we hope to continue helping the Christian Reformed Churches live into these challenges with the hope of the gospel.

From the very first Zoom meeting that led to the formation of “The Abide Project,” we also knew that these discussions were not merely about human sexuality. It was symptomatic of a deeper and more fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be confessionally Reformed. We hope to spend the next year exploring some of those underlying questions: what does it mean to be confessional? What does transformation look like in the life of a believer? And fundamentally, what is the gospel? These are all necessary questions to explore to live faithfully as followers of Jesus Christ.

So, what is happening with the Abide Project? While on the one hand, we will be scaling back our work because of many answers to prayer; on the other hand, because of the ongoing needs mentioned above, we will be continuing the work the Lord has led us to pursue from the start:

For the sake of the true Gospel, the faithfulness of Christ’s Church, the glory of God, and the good of His people, we strive for the Christian Reformed Church to uphold the beautiful, Biblical, confessional, and historic understanding of human sexuality in doctrine, discipleship, and discipline.

You can expect to see more articles published in 2026, as well as lectures hosted via Zoom. We continue to urge all members of the CRC to be actively engaged in their local congregations as well as at classis and denominational levels. This is Christ’s church, and he calls his people to join together in the work of ministry. May the Lord continue to build his church, shape us by his Word, and encourage us with his grace.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Chad Steenwyk
Rev. Aaron Vriesman
On behalf of the Abide Project Steering Committee

We are inviting you to join us at our usual time (each Tuesday at noon ET) each week during the month of October. These prayer times will follow the same format that we’ve enjoyed together over these past years; however, we are sensing that the focus of our prayers ought to take a particular turn.

The Abide Project more broadly is in a season of discerning what the future holds. As a reminder, the mission of Abide has been “for the sake of the true Gospel, the faithfulness of Christ’s Church, the glory of God, and the good of His people, we strive for the Christian Reformed Church to uphold the beautiful, Biblical, confessional, and historic understanding of human sexuality.” Under this mission, and in light of past decisions and current direction of the CRCNA, the Abide Project is discerning what this mission looks like going forward.

We see our prayer times as a necessary component to that discernment!

Thus, the first thing we want to do in our meetings next month is offer gratitude to God for how He has answered so many of our prayers. To a significant extent, the mission of Abide Project has been a success! For that, we need to give our sovereign Lord thanks.

But second, we want to use our time together to ask for direction about the future. On one hand, some sense that Abide has perhaps served its stated purpose. But on the other, our team senses that praying together has provided a significant blessing, not only related to the subject of our prayers, but in the relationships built. In addition, though Synod has established the position of the CRCNA, there remains some important work regarding the follow-through of those decisions (i.e. Calvin University, ecumenical relationships).

So, what ought our prayers look like going forward? Our team would like to pray through the many questions with our entire praying community in the hopes that this will help us gauge what the plan ought to be moving ahead.

We hope you’ll join us, and we look forward to seeing you all again!

In his farewell editorial, Shiao Chong lamented the CRC’s inability to share “diverse opinions” about our dogma. It’s not hard to see why this was so lamentable for him, since he has repeatedly said his mission, from the Lord, has been to stand between diverse opinions as a bridge. If we remove the space for such diversity, the bridge is no longer needed. In such situations of homogeneity, the populace looks “spiritually insecure,” in Chong’s words. I write as one of those people.

In one way, I understand how the desire for doctrinal unity can be the result of spiritual insecurity. If I am genuinely unsure about my beliefs, I may want to squash all opposition so that I can blanket myself with the absence of any dissenting voices. For example, Scientologists aren’t likely to open the door to Christian evangelists equipped to share their “diverse opinion” about L. Ron Hubbard and his spirit-space ships from Lord Xenu. They would, understandably, rather live in a cloistered world where people don’t question Hubbard’s doctrine. Are we the same? Was Chong right?

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Ironically, though we could be spiritually insecure, there is another way to look at this situation. If I am extremely confident in what I believe, and I believe that what I believe is essential to believe, then I will be someone who isn’t all that keen on printing, promoting, and publishing other beliefs. Though I’d relish the opportunity to squash the house of cards L. Ron Hubbard built (2 Cor 10:5), I wouldn’t want to give him the space (no pun intended) to publish his “diverse opinions” in my quarterly newsletter. Why? The reason is clear—I am perfectly confident that what he is teaching is wrong and harmful. Thus, it is my spiritual security that leads me to say “no, not in my magazine.”

Even more ironically, if I were spiritually insecure, I might think that Hubbard’s space aliens made sense of recent astronomical events (what were all those “drones” anyways?) more than the Bible could. If I was in such a state of uncertainty, I may think that allowing him the opportunity to give his piece could engender some discussion among my readers and perhaps allow me the opportunity to improve my belief system and finally get a grasp on what is going on in the world. Maybe my “faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3) needs an adjustment. In this way, if my faith in my faith is weak it leaves me more open to hearing divergent opinions with anxious curiosity.

Therefore, what the CRC needs today is not another editor of The Banner who is looking for diverse opinions, no matter how well intentioned he or she is—and Chong was very well intentioned, I’m sure. Rather, the CRC needs an editor who is spiritually secure, so much so that he or she is willing to tell opinion writers submitting articles about animal thermoregulation (p. 31), wristwatches, emojis, and especially, the possibility that we got it wrong about doctrine X, Y, or Z, “No thank you.” Ours should be a magazine that does one thing—glorify Christ. Whether it be through systematic theological treatises about the essence of God, or apologetic articles designed to equip the average CRC’er to answer everyday objections to his biblical view of sexuality, The Banner should be a place where every person in the CRC who believes CRC doctrine should be able to rally for support. Indeed, that’s what a banner is for—it’s a symbol above us designed to bring soldiers together under one heading. Chong has said he was merely following the “kitchen table” model that preceded him, which uses The Banner as a place for different people to gather and share their diverse opinions as they might for a meal. But keep reading the history of the The Banner and you’ll see it was originally intended to be a rallying point where we could all gather under our shared doctrine in a world trying to pull us apart. That is, after all, why it’s called The Banner and not The Kitchen Table.

May all those who gather under our banner believe wholeheartedly the doctrines of the CRC. May its forthcoming editor, under the providence of God, trim the longstanding frayed edges that have so long been wisping in the wind and re-dye its faded colors in the crimson shade of Christ’s once-for-all work so that all who lay eyes upon it will instantly know “this is what we believe.”

Rev. Rob Golding was ordained as a Minister of the Word in 2024 and serves First CRC in Artesia, CA.

The Every Tongue Confess convention is only a few short weeks away! The convention team has been busy working out the details and, the schedule is finalized (although subject to change).

We are very excited to host General Secretary Rev. Zach King for a discussion, along with a host of great speakers and panellists. These two days in Ontario will be a truly rich time of fellowship, growth, and worship of Christ.

Wednesday, August 13

8:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

9:00 - 9:40 AM - Welcome and Opening Worship

9:40 - 10:35 AM - Sermon, Philippians 1 - Rev. Christian Sebastia

10:40 AM - Break

11:00 AM - Panel Discussion with Q&A - Review of Synod 2025 (Ken Benjamins)

12:00 - 2:00 PM - Lunch

2:00 - 3:00 PM - Interview with General Secretary, Rev. Zach King

3:00 - 3:20 PM - Break

3:20 - 4:20 PM - Sermon, Philippians 2 - Rev. Rich Grift

4:30 - 5:30 PM - Roundtable Discussion - How are we engaging our communities with a gospel witness?

5:30 - 7:00 PM - Dinner

7:00 - 9:00 PM - Public Lecture and Q&A - Above and Below, Above in Below: Transposition and the Glory of Preaching - Rev. Dr. Ed Gerber

Thursday, August 14

8:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

9:00 - 9:30 AM - Morning Worship

9:30 - 10:30 AM - Sermon, Philippians 3 - Rev. Michael Bentley

10:30 - 10:50 AM - Break

10:50 AM - 12:00 PM - Panel Discussion - Binationality in the CRC (Stephen Terpstra, Brian Dunn, Rich Grift, Ken Benjamins)

12:00 - 1:30 PM - Lunch

1:30 - 2:30 PM - Panel & Q&A - The Future of the Abide Project (Abide Project Steering Team)

2:30 - 2:50 PM - Break

2:50 - 3:50 PM - Panel Discussion and Q&A - Mission 46 (Curtis Meliefste, Aaron Vriesman, Michael Bentley)

3:50 - 5:15 PM - Sermon and Closing Worship, Philippians 4 - Rev. Chris DeWinter

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• Lloyd is the pastor of Coopersville CRC and host of the Three Forms Podcast.

• Cam is the pastor of Bethel CRC in Listowel Ontario.

Pastors Lloyd and Cam are here to recap today's Synod meeting.

• Lloyd is the pastor of Coopersville CRC and host of the Three Forms Podcast.

• Cam is the pastor of Bethel CRC in Listowel Ontario.

Pastors Lloyd and Cam are here to recap today's Synod meeting.

• Lloyd is the pastor of Coopersville CRC and host of the Three Forms Podcast.

• Cam is the pastor of Bethel CRC in Listowel Ontario.

Pastors Lloyd and Cam are here to recap today's Synod meeting.

• Lloyd is the pastor of Coopersville CRC and host of the Three Forms Podcast.

• Cam is the pastor of Bethel CRC in Listowel Ontario.

Pastors Lloyd and Cam are here to recap today's Synod meeting. Lloyd is the pastor of Coopersville CRC and host of the Three Forms Podcast.

Cam is the pastor of Bethel CRC in Listowel Ontario.

This article was written before Synod 2025 convened on May 28th.

There is a temptation to believe that most of the work of charting our beloved denomination forward in an orthodox direction is largely finished in the CRC, now that Synods 2022, 2023, and 2024 have deliberated and made their solid decisions regarding matters of human sexuality. Robust standards were laid out of what we expect of our officebearers when it comes to upholding the doctrinal teachings of the CRC, and ‘exceptions’ to those biblical standards were not permitted.

But it would be a mistake to think the work is finished.

Synod 2025 has before it an opportunity through Overture 7 (from Classis Zeeland) to continue the important work of shepherding the various ministry and institutional boards forward in a healthy Reformed biblical direction. The CRC has a long history through our agencies and institutions of living into our Reformed identity where ‘every square inch’ of this world belongs to Christ the King. Because of this Reformed understanding, 150 years ago our denomination established Calvin College & Seminary, to train up teachers and preachers to help God’s people better know God’s Word and God’s world. Because of this Reformed understanding we engaged in robust missions both in our home lands of the United States and Canada as well as lands beyond our two nations’ borders. Because of this Reformed understanding we engaged in ministries that helped us to more faithfully love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Because of this Reformed understanding we created discipleship ministries to help train us up into maturity.

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Through our agencies and institutions we came together as individual churches and as classes to do broader ministry, to live out our calling as Reformed Christians. And in setting up those agencies and institutions Synod created boards to oversee that work and carry out the mission of the church in those agencies and institutions. It was a way for us as the church to faithfully live out our Christian faith, being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us by our God.

But it’s for that reason that the work of Synods 2022, 2023, and 2024 is not finished. The desire of those synodical delegates to see our Christian Reformed Church once again more robustly and lovingly grow into our Reformed and evangelistic identity needs to continue forward, reaching into the work of our shared ministries and institutions. The challenges of our post-Christian Western world are growing more acute, not less, and therefore the need for our shared ministries and educational institutions to rise to those challenges also grows.

For that reason Synod 2025 will be given an opportunity to more actively participate in what was previously a more perfunctory matter at every Synod, that of approving (or not) board members that oversee and govern our shared institutions and ministries, such as Calvin University, Calvin Seminary, and the Council of Delegates. In the past (if you’ve ever served as a delegate to a Synod you know that) near the end of Synod delegates were given a list of names with a brief bio, provided by the respective institutional and agency boards, for an “up/down” vote.

But often delegates felt that they were largely voting ‘blind,’ not being able to more personally invest themselves in the interviewing process, even on a committee level. We as delegates were essentially ‘rubber stamping’ names of nominees provided to us that most delegates didn’t know and had no way of getting to know in the space of our brief window of time in that week. And so these votes were cast based largely on ‘trust.’ Trust the institution. Trust the agency. Trust that they have put forward the best nominees for the positions needed to be filled.

This trust perhaps worked better when the CRC was a more culturally monolithic church body where most people knew most everyone else, either directly or indirectly through family ties, friendships, or having gone to seminary or college together. However, those earlier days have changed as our denomination has now become more wonderfully diverse. That diversity brings new blessings, but it also brings new challenges…the challenges of not knowing each other very well.

Overture 7 seeks to help change this by creating a new Synodical Advisory Committee, to join the other existing Advisory Committees that meet to do the committee work of Synod. Those committees then forward their reports (unified or else majority/minority reports) to the full body of Synod for adjudicating and voting. This newly-proposed advisory committee would be tasked with doing these individual interviews (the overture helps to spell out how that could happen in a practical way using today’s technologies), to help the delegates get a fuller sense of where these board nominees are at theologically, biblically, and ethically. For instance, do they know the gospel? What is it? Are they able to articulate it? What is the Reformed faith? How might they apply the Reformed faith to the particular board they are being asked to serve on? What is their view on human sexuality? On marriage? On the sanctity of human life? What is their view on baptism? Questions such as these.

Now the various boards that presently govern our agencies and institutions have many different concerns to keep in mind as they go about selecting possible board members (diversity, expertise, etc.). But for Synod, that governing church body concerned primarily about the gospel and doctrine, there is a vested interest in ensuring that prospective (or re-nominated) board members are confessionally Reformed and rooted well where the CRC wishes to see its agencies and institutions live out our shared gospel-ministry work.

The work of continuing to bring greater vitality and commitment in our agencies and institutions to our shared confessional Reformed heritage and life isn’t yet finished. And Synod 2025 will give us a very important and vital opportunity to continue on in the necessary work we have all begun.

(Rev. Wagenmaker has been serving as the pastor at Beaverdam CRC in Hudsonville, Michigan since graduating from Calvin Seminary and being ordained in 2000. He has served on numerous classical committees over the years, as well as recently a six year stint on the Council of Delegates. He presently is serving as a board member on the Calvin University Board of Trustees. He has been a delegate to Synod numerous times over the past 25 years and will be attending Synod 2025 as a delegate from Classis Zeeland.)

Links:

Three Forms Podcast

Three Forms Podcast is a project exploring the trusted paths of the Reformed Three Forms of Unity, and considering how they apply to our lives today!

General Prayer Items

• For biblical fidelity, integrity, humility and clarity to shine throughout this Synod

• For wisdom in understanding the broader implications of Synod 22–24’s decisions concerning sexual ethics. (eg. ecumenical, agency, and financial implications)

• For God to be glorified and the Church to be strengthened through Synod 2025

Prayers for Delegates - to be...

• Resembling Christ Jesus – Lord, may Synod 2025’s delegates resemble Jesus’ integrity, humility, righteousness, gentleness, wisdom, guilelessness, courage and joy. "Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk as Jesus walked." — 1 John 2:6

• Guided by the fear of the LORD - Lord, may we take nothing more seriously than You. "Do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread." — Isaiah 7:12-13

• Empowered by the Spirit – Lord, you poured out the sevenfold* Spirit; may we look to Your Spirit in all we deliberate and act upon. Live by the Spirit. — Galatians 5:16 (*the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom and discernment, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2)

• Drawing from God’s Word - Lord, fill our mouths with Scripture and shape our decisions by your Word - for worship and every good work. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." — Psalm 119:105

• Repentant and obedient to Jesus Christ, Lord of the Church – Lord, show us our blind spots and our sin; may we be responsive to Your correction and lordship. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." — James 4:10

• Fitted with spiritual armor – Lord, in this spiritual battle, may we resist Satan with weapons you provide, and may we withstand his attacks. "For the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." — 2 Corinthians 10:4

• Courageous and persuasive – Lord, make delegates bold in faith and skillful in words. "Now, Lord, enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." — Acts 4:29

• Prayerful - Lord, may our Synod look to You again and again in all actions. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." — James 1:5

• Kept in the gospel’s peace, healing and trust – Prince of Peace, surround this assembly with healing peace because they trust in You and not themselves (Isaiah 26:3). "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:6-7

  Aspects of Synod 2025 to Pray Over

  1. Delegates

  • First-time

  • Elders, Deacons, Pastors

  • Officers (president, vice-president, clerk, second clerk)

  2. Logistics

  • Binational (and international) details

  • Travel; border crossings

  • Technology

  • Health and stamina

  3. Advisors

  • Youth advisors

  • Ethnic advisors

  • Seminary Faculty

  • Parliamentarian

  • Staff Consultants

  4. Advisory Committee Work

  • Advisory Chairs and Reporters

  • Recommendations on reports, overtures, task forces

  5. Synodical Services team and CRCNA Leadership & Staff

  6. Worship Team & Worship Times

  7. Technical /Support Staff

  8. Agency heads/ Ecclesiastical representatives

  9. Observers, Protestors, Reporters, Reactions (also on social media)

  10. Prayer-teams CRC Synod Prayer times and prayer efforts

  ---

“The task of the dogmatician is to think God’s thoughts after him and to trace their unity. This is a task that must be done in the confidence that God has spoken, in humble submission to the church’s teaching tradition, and for communicating the gospel’s message to the world.”

So goes the introduction to Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics (Bavinck, Herman, Reformed Dogmatics vol. 1 Prolegomena p 25). The phrase “to think God’s thoughts after him” had great impact on me from the moment I first heard it during seminary. As the Presbyterians confess, the chief end of man is to glorify God, and therefore the chief end of the theologian is to think God’s thoughts after Him.

Of course, another great Reformed theologian later built his entire ministry on the truth that “everyone is a theologian” (R.C. Sproul). Every single person makes conclusions about God and what He is like. These sorts of beliefs undergird the very existence of The Abide Project. As the Christian Reformed Church has sought to discern theology in the area of human sexuality, just as any other, Abide is aiming to help both pastor and church member alike think God’s thoughts after him, in humble submission to the church’s teaching tradition and for communicating the gospel’s message to the world.

I hasten to add a component that can often be overlooked in this pursuit: the task of prayer. While it is certain that we think God’s thoughts after Him through study of His word, this must be done in conjunction with a zealous seeking of His face in prayer.

What I am not saying, however, is that we must pray for the primary purpose of reforming or reviving the church. This confuses the end of prayer. While reformation and revival are good and certainly worth praying for, and indeed can only come about through prayer, it is a mistake to use prayer merely as the lever to achieve what we want. Is it good to want those things? Yes. Is it good to pray for them? Yes. But is prayer merely the means to getting them? No.

Reformation and revival happen as byproducts. They are the side effects, you might say, of what prayer truly is: the means of abiding in Christ. Just as I have started to think very much like my wife through ten years of conversation and life together, we can only think God’s thoughts after Him through conversation with Him.

Parallel to the “earth-bound” lane of Scripture, prayer serves as the “God-bound” lane. As we seek the face of God, it is then, as we find ourselves delighting in His presence, that we become accustomed to thinking His thoughts after Him.

As I have meditated on some of the texts recounting Christ’s final week leading up to His death, I was struck by a seemingly obvious point from the Garden of Gethsemane. He had gone there to pray. What Jesus needed most, on the doorstep of his death by crucifixion, was to pray. And during that time, we have the mysterious request, impossible to fully comprehend: “Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” It is in prayer that the Son, at the most challenging point in His life, seeks the Father’s face in order to abide in His purposes, and then to carry out His earthly purpose faithfully.

We follow in Christ’s footsteps. Prayer is the essential means for the end of abiding in Him, and thinking His thoughts after Him. And as a bonus, His power and grace may revive and reform the church we love, if it be His will.

This is why the Abide Project includes a prayer component. Each Tuesday, at noon ET/9 PT, we meet to seek God’s face together. We always love to have more people and new people praying with us. If you’d like to know more, visit the ‘prayer’ page to sign up or email our prayer team.

Evening, August 13, 2025. Room 212

Is preaching the Word a sacramental version of ‘Protestant transubstantiation’? In his talk, Rev Dr. Ed Gerber will explore this question while interacting with CS Lewis’ brilliant essay ‘Transposition.’

Taking the strange phenomenon of glossolalia or ‘speaking in tongues’ (as opposed to xenoglossolalia or ‘speaking in other nation’s tongues)’ as his point of departure, Lewis observes the limitations of the human body with reference to the soul. Since the experiences of the soul outdistance the body’s range of manifesting abilities, tears flow for joy, relief, anger, and sadness. Similarly, the experience of spiritual rapture or union with God, Lewis argues, can be seen to result in the effusion of non-words or gibberish or glossolalia. Scripture recognizes other experiences wherein the movement of the soul is stopped short of articulate speech, as when in prayer the soul groans and the Spirit renders these groans intelligent before the throne of God. As with the inarticulate creation and creatures of creation itself, then, there are times when the human being speaks more than they utter. All of this is fine at the level of private experience. For the good of church and world, however, I will argue that, in accord with our uniquely human vocation conveyed in Scripture as it relates to Lewis’ concept of transposition, followers of the Word must strive with zeal and passion to Word-keep and word-make as sanctified sense-makers. For as Christians in cooperation with the Spirit preserve and work with the truth(s) of Scripture to make the inarticulate articulate, the unutterable uttered, the as-yet unspoken spoken into languages and idioms that are comprehensible in our day (as in days gone by), we participate sacramentally in God’s creative and redemptive purposes in the world.

Thanks to a generous donation we are able top offer $50 off the convention fee for the first 100 attendees! Register quickly to secure your spot!

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Additionally, we are pleased to offer a discount to seminary students who are seeking ordination in the CRCNA. Email abideprojectorg@gmail for more info!

Be sure to register soon for Every Tongue Confess

As mentioned last month, the Abide Project Convention planning is well underway. We are excited to be hosted in Ontario at Redeemer University! The theme for this year is Every Tongue Confess from Philippians 2:11.

The convention will feature preaching from the entire book of Philippians and an evening public lecture from Rev. Dr. Ed Gerber, Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministries at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC (and an ordained CRC minister!)

.

Thanks to a generous donor we are able to offer steeply discounted Early Bird pricing to the first 100 attendees. Register by clicking the button below!

Early Bird Registration!

Convention attendees are able to book accommodation with their convention fee for two nights (12th and 13th) with Redeemer University! Just select the add-on for $50 when you register.

We hope to see many of you there for a few days of encouragement and connection along with a healthy diet of the preached Word!

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Event Synopsis:

This event will provide an opportunity for office bearers, and/or potential future office bearers from local and regional CRC churches (as well as other churches of orthodox and reformed traditions), to be encouraged and instructed on the key attributes and tenets of our historical Three Forms of Unity: The Belgic Confession; Heidelberg Catechism; and Canons of Dordt.

In the wake of Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA) Synod Gatherings of recent years, we want to instruct and encourage reformed church leaders in these confessional standards.

Whether church leaders are fresh out of seminary, or have been serving in their local churches, classes, or Synod for many years - we all could benefit from a fresh conversation and overview of our Three Forms of Unity!

The focus of this training opportunity:

1. Provide a day-conference style opportunity for current pastors, elders and deacons - As well as potential future leaders as identified by their churches.

2. To emphasize and affirm the Biblical-based beauty and truths of our confessions.

3. To facilitate small group conversations, panel discussions, and Q&A opportunities.

4. To spend time in prayer and worship together - to seek God’s will for our local churches and classes - as it relates to instructing and emphasizing our confessions.

5. To ultimately encourage, equip, and embolden church leaders to, “take back what they’ve learned,” to their local church bodies - with the goal of seeing the CRCNA (and other reformed traditions) continue on a path of renewal and commitment to reformed orthodox theology.

Dr. Chad VanDixhoorn (Westminster Theological Seminary) and Rev. CJ den Dulk (Trinity CRC of Sparta) will be keynote speakers, along with panelists for discussions and the opportunity for Q&A.

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This event will be recorded for a later digital distribution. If you would like to be notified when that becomes available, please click below. This will be a great resource for a council retreat or elder/deacon training.

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In this edition, Curtis sits down with Revs Aaron Vriesman, Aleah Marsden, and Eric Dirksen to discuss what it means to be Christian Reformed. While there are many ways to express our 'reformedness,' in this discussion we hope to put forward some ideas what it means to be CRC in our current moment as we wade through the aftermath of Synods 2022, 2023, and 2024.

This conversation was started over at The Banner, the CRC magazine. Aaron posted an article entitled Synod 2024: An Appraisal and a Vision offering a look forward for the CRC. This prompted some conversation between co-pastors Eric and Aleah and they published an article entitled A Positive Theological Vision for the CRC. This podcast continues the conversation about the future and identity of the CRC.

In the episode, Eric and Aleah talk at length about their ministry practices. Eric references some previous synod reports and Faith Alive publications. You can find them here:

1968 Synod Agenda

1997 Acts of Synod: Authentic Worship

Authentic Worship in a Changing Culture

Rev. Aaron Vriesman is the pastor at North Blendon CRC in Hudsonville, MI.

Revs Eric Dirksen and Aleah Marsden are pastors at Christ Church in Davis, CA.

Michael Bentley and Curtis Meliefste host Rebecca McLaughlin as she talks about her latest book and the topic of same sex relationships in the Bible.

Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships? Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality (Biblical response to lgbtq+, homosexuality) was released in 2024 from The Good Book Company.