Calvin Reaffirms Partnership and Celebrates Faithful Progress at Synod

At Synod 2025, Calvin University expressed gratitude for its covenantal partnership with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA), reaffirmed that the theological standards and interpretations of the church are the university’s theological standards and interpretations, and emphasized its deep commitment to serving the church through Christ-centered teaching, learning, and scholarship.

Delegates engaged in a thoughtful and collegial conversation that recognized the university’s efforts to respond faithfully to Synod 2024’s guidance on confessional alignment and sought to understand differences between the university and the church. Speaking on behalf of the university were board chair-elect Perrin Rynders and provost Dr. Noah Toly, who shared the ways in which Calvin is striving to live more fully into its Reformed identity.

Strengthening a Shared Mission

Rynders emphasized that the Calvin University Board of Trustees continues to affirm the confessions of the CRCNA and is committed to maintaining a clear and robust process for board member selection—one that prioritizes alignment with the theological convictions of the denomination. He noted that the majority of trustees are now required to align fully with the denomination’s confessional positions in order to serve.

“Our work is grounded in the teachings the synod has entrusted to us,” Rynders said. “We are grateful for the partnership we share with the church and take seriously our role in stewarding the mission of this institution.”

Toly outlined the university’s intentional and pastoral process of faculty formation. He described a three-year onboarding journey that includes mentoring, theological formation, and covenantal discernment—aimed at helping faculty understand and embrace the Reformed confessions in both belief and practice.

“At Calvin, our mission is not just to teach but to form. We believe the faculty who shape students’ minds and hearts must be shaped by the commitments we hold in common,” Toly said. He noted that, in rare cases, the university may grant carefully considered exceptions to confessional subscription following extended service and mutual discernment—an area in which synod has requested additional clarity, which Calvin is committed to provide in 2026.

Gratitude and Celebration

Delegates celebrated several markers of God’s faithfulness in Calvin’s recent work and ministry:

• The ongoing impact of the Calvin Prison Initiative, a transformative partnership between Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary.
• Calvin’s upcoming 150th anniversary celebration, to be held on March 29, 2026.
• The Christ-centered leadership of President Greg Elzinga, marked by humility, wisdom, and grace.
• Notable academic achievements, including the awarding of three Goldwater Scholarships and recognition as the No. 1 teaching university in the Midwest.

A Future Rooted in Faith

Synod affirmed Calvin’s continued work to strengthen its Reformed foundation and encouraged the Calvin board to offer further definition regarding exceptions to confessional subscription. Delegates recognized the university’s current policies as thoughtful, robust, and reflective of a sincere desire to honor both the expectations of the church and the academic vocation Calvin pursues on its behalf.

As Calvin looks ahead to its 150th year and beyond, the university remains deeply committed to serving the CRCNA with excellence, humility, and conviction—preparing students to think deeply, act justly, and live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world.