Classis Leaders to Discuss Leadership Pathways
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if every CRC church or classis could have an excellent, accredited, Reformed leadership training program right in their own backyard?” wondered Susan LaClear, director of Candidacy for the Christian Reformed Church.
LaClear spoke to Synod 2024 about the current and forecasted pastor shortage that the denomination is facing. At that time, she encouraged delegates to look for young people in their congregations and communities who might have ministry potential, to mentor them, and to provide them with opportunities to lead. Now she and Aaron Einfield, director of lifelong learning and Empower program director at Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS), are working with other staff from Thrive, CTS, and Resonate Global Mission to provide an opportunity for classis leaders and others to gather in Phoenix, Ariz., in February to explore leadership development.
The idea is to equip classes so that they can make concrete plans and programs to train lay leaders, licensed exhorters, and commissioned pastors in ways that fit each classis’ local context.
“Members of the Classis Ministerial Leadership Teams [CMLTs] have already been invited to attend, but others who are passionate and deeply invested in leadership development are also welcome,” said LaClear.
She pointed out that some classes have already begun to train leaders in creative ways. Classis Southeast U.S., for example, has developed a local expression of Calvin Seminary’s Empower program called 222 Leadership Seminary to provide local, contextual training for their emerging leaders.
The campus ministry at Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, Mich.) is another example. They have partnered with the Empower program to train up young adult leaders who are now serving in church staff, council, and other ministry positions.
Many other ideas and options also exist. LaClear is hoping that every classis will send one or two people to the CMLT Gathering Feb. 3-5, 2026, at The Casa in Phoenix, Ariz. The cost is $75 and includes food and accommodation. To register, please complete this form by December 12.
Training emerging leaders at the local level is also part of the proposed framework for church planting that will go to Synod 2026. Synod 2025 had a robust discussion about the need to share and spread a vision for mission work in our church communities. They asked CRCNA leaders to develop a 10-year plan for church planting, and a framework for this plan was approved by the Council of Delegates in October 2025.
The six core elements of the plan are as follows:
- Multiplying disciples and leaders in every congregation.
- Growing support for diaspora and diverse leaders.
- Identifying clear roles and responsibilities to provide strong support and collaboration for church planters between denominational agencies, CRCNA classes, and churches.
- Engaging churches nearing the end of their life cycle.
- Deepening connections with the global church and international churches.
- Clarifying a sustainable financial plan to fund this work.
The goal is to report back to Synod 2026 with a “vision, plan, strategy, and financial proposal for church planting for the CRCNA for the next decade” (Acts of Synod 2025, p. 709).
