By Rachel Boehm Van Harmelen
In mid-November, 19 Christian Reformed Church (CRC) pastors from across the United States and Canada gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to share their experiences as leaders of peer learning groups. Twenty-two such groups—formed to provide mutual support, mentoring and educational opportunities for those serving in church ministry positions—had received funding in 2005 through the CRC’s Sustaining Pastoral Excellence (SPE) project, made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Throughout the day, pastors shared stories of how involvement in their groups had made a difference in their lives, personally and professionally. Rev. John Van Schepen—who leads a group in the Lynden, Washington, area—explained that although he and his peers made a commitment to explore the role of healing in parish ministry, they did much more than that. Through reading books, listening to guest speakers, praying and sharing, members of Van Schepen’s group accomplished what they set out to do—and much more. With eight pastors in the group—some rookies, some experienced and one already retired—mentoring was a natural outcome, allowing for the exchange of ideas, regular sharing and growth. The benefits of the peer group didn’t end there, either. Van Schepen says the ripple effects of pastors working together extend to their churches as well. “Our churches really see that as pastors we are on the same page,” Van Schepen says, adding that Lynden-area congregations are worshipping together more frequently now. “It’s important for us to serve together in our community,” says Van Schepen. “We are all one church in different settings.”
Rev. Philip Reinders has also experienced how peer groups draw churches together for the good of the community. His peer learning group—located in the Calgary, Alberta area—set out to study creative ways of reaching people in today’s postmodern society through culturally relevant sermons. Reinders and the six other pastors in his group collaborated on sermon series that featured themes from popular movies, including The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers and The Passion of the Christ. Reinders says the sermons definitely got people’s attention. In addition to attracting seekers to Sunday worship, the messages placed local Christian Reformed churches front and centre in the media, allowing pastors to provide a powerful—and unified—witness to the community.
When pastors in a classis develop a strong bond through peer groups, that bond extends to the congregations, says Harold A. Winter, pastor of Trinity CRC in St. Catherines, Ontario. Winter’s peer group has been a source of mutual support and learning for Christian Reformed pastors serving churches in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula. The group has also contributed to a greater sense of unity among churches in the classis. “It’s the whole idea of being in community,” Winter says. “We have that now on a classical level.”
