CRC 2013 News Round Up

Here is a look at some of the top stories we here at CRC Communications have published in 2013.

Featured in our CRC News weekly email, the stories focus on the CRC at work in ministry, reaching out to hurting people around the world.

The stories especially show the many ways in which the denomination has faced challenges, experienced uncertainty and loss, and celebrated God's guidance and grace over the last 12 months.

There are stories about the CRC in transition, about a pastor who left home and hasn’t been seen since, and about a controversy over stories published in The Banner.

Celebrations

One of highlights of this past year was the 125th anniversary of Christian Reformed World Missions, which celebrated the occasion with publication of coffee-table book, the unveiling of a specially commissioned painting, and gatherings across North America.

In June, delegates to  Synod 2013 marked the publication of Lift Up Your Hearts, the CRC's new hymnal, by taking part in a Hymnfest in the Calvin College Chapel. Published by Faith Alive Christian Resources, the hymnal was released in May and has already sold more than 25,000 copies.

The 2013 Christian Reformed Church’s annual Prayer Summit opened in early April with a spirit-filled service of prayer and song.

Across the Christian Reformed Church, 2013 was a time to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism. As part of the celebration, churches were asked to set aside time during worship to read portions of the catechism.

Also, a professor of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary made several presentations about the catechism to groups in various cities, including in Heidelberg, Germany.

Changes and Challenges

Especially difficult this year were changes that Faith Alive Christian Resources has faced. In June, Synod 2013 voted to dissolve the board of the ministry, citing an uncertain future for the publishing industry in general and Faith Alive in particular. Existing products continue to be promoted and distributed, while new ways to fulfill the core ministry functions are explored.

Looking to the future of the denomination itself, the CRC has been considering ways to make changes in its structure. As part of this initiative, Synod 2013 endorsed a new model for establishing denominational priorities.

The CRC in 2013 also formed SPACT, its Strategic Planning and Adaptive Change Team.

SPACT has been charged with taking a hard look at issues facing the denomination and asking churches across North America to respond to these issues and suggest possible solutions. Coming out of this will be a recommendations to help create a new denominational ministry plan.

In addition, the CRC is working to fill top leadership positions. After the top candidate to serve as the new executive director dropped out, the CRC has had to continue its search.

Meanwhile, the CRC has launched a search for a new director of Canadian Ministries.

Loss and Uncertainty

In late May, many heartfelt prayers were offered at a memorial service for Tim Bosma, an Ontario man who was murdered after being abducted by two men who came to test drive a pickup truck Bosma was trying to sell.

Many prayers were also offered on behalf of  Rev. George Vander Weit, a retired CRC pastor, and his family.

Vander Weit left his home one morning last July in a Detroit suburb and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.

In March, Nella Uitvlugt, the executive director of Friendship Ministries, died unexpectedly. She had led the ministry, founded by the CRC, for many years.

Rev. Eugene S. Callender, who was the the first black pastor in the CRC, died Nov. 2 in Manhattan. He was 87.

World Renew Responds

The year’s strongest typhoon, Haiyan, battered the central Philippines on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, killing more than 5,000 people, displacing millions and causing an estimated $14.5 billion in damage. Along with its local partners and the international network the Integral Alliance,World Renew has been responding.

Throughout 2013, World Renew has been helping those who have been affected by the Syrian civil war that has forced millions of people to flee the country, and displaced millions more within Syria.

In North America, volunteers for World Renew Disaster Response Services have been busy cleaning debris, rebuilding homes and helping out in other ways following tornadoes, floods and other disasters this year.

Other Items

A controversy arose earlier this year over two articles published in The Banner, the CRC’s monthly magazine.

In October, the Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church accepted the apology of Rev. Bob De Moor, editor of The Banner, for what he acknowledged was an error in his editorial judgment,  according to a story in The Banner.

Rev. Paul Mpindi, French ministry leader for Back to God Ministries International, and his wife, Charlotte, were trapped for a short period when rebel fighters took over the capital city of Bangui, Central African Republic.

Last January, various Reformed denominations, including the CRC, joined with the Roman Catholic Church to sign a historic, mutually agreed upon statement of belief about baptism.

The Christian Reformed Church began a new credentialing process by which lay leaders in churches could undergo training and receive a formal credential for the ministry that they do.

Participants in this summer’s 2013  Sea to Sea bicycle tour ended their 3,900-mile, cross-continental journey in late August by dipping their bike tires into the Atlantic Ocean.