Synod Votes to Redefine Relationship with PCN

Synod 008 voted on Thursday to try to redefine and perhaps rebuild the relationship between the Christian Reformed Church and what was the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (GKN), now a part of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PCN).

On Wednesday, the synod decided that since the PCN is in effect a new denomination, the relationship that the CRC had with the old GKN no longer applies.  The PCN is a denomination of more than 2 million members that was formed out of three churches, including the GKN.

The CRCNA has had strong historical ties with the GKN and the churches had been in a relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship, though the fellowship was restricted because of the GKN’s stance on issues of sexuality, interpretation of scripture and other things.

After many hours of debate over two days, delegates voted on Thursday afternoon to direct the Interchurch Relations Committee to “attempt to develop a mutually acceptable process to work with the PCN towards a long-term relationship between the CRC and the PCN and report the progress to synod annually.”

Some delegates had argued for a close, formal link with the PCN, while others said that the CRC should not be linked too closely with the new denomination.

“The PCN is not a church that shares our confessions. We’re not being honest. We’re fooling ourselves if we think that it does,” said Rev. Pieter Sinia from Classis B.C. North-West. He said the PCN has pastors who are professed atheists and whose view of scripture is faulty.

Tobias Lewis, an elder from Classis Atlantic Northeast, said that he, too, is troubled by the PCN’s stance on issues such as the ordination of practicing homosexuals.  But he said it is important to try to restore a relationship between the CRC and the PCN.

The IRC was asked to see if it could come up with a relationship that is not full ecclesiastical fellowship but is more than what is referred to as “churches in dialogue.”

The motion that passed on Thursday afternoon comes out of a desire of the CRC “to develop and maintain a relationship with the PCN that … does not obscure the seriousness of the issues that led to restrictions being placed on the GKN prior to formation of the PCN – issues that appear to continue today in the PCN,” says the IRC’s recommendation.

- Chris Meehan, Synod News