Church Order and Its Supplements 2017 Available in New, Side-by-Side Translations

The Christian Reformed Church is now making the Church Order and Its Supplements 2017 available in an edition featuring side-by-side translations of the material in English, Spanish, and Korean.

Available online on the Synod Resourcespage of the CRCNA website, this side-by-side effort is the result of work undertaken over the past two years by the CRC’s Translation Committee.

Now Spanish- and Korean-speaking members of the CRC can review this resource by comparing the text, paragraph by paragraph, in English and in their native language, said Charles Kim, a member of the translation committee and ethnic ministries leader for Resonate Global Mission.

“This is a very important resource, especially for churches that may be new to the Christian Reformed Church. The Church Order helps us as we journey together as brothers and sisters,” said Kim.

The Church Order and Its Supplements is now updated annually  in English, Spanish, and Korean. A 2013 translation of the document is available in Chinese as well, and a team of translators is in the process of updating it.

The introduction to the document explains, “The Church Order is a document that shows how congregations of the Christian Reformed Church in North America have decided to live together and organize themselves.”

The Church Order addresses such topics as

• What is a minister of the Word and sacraments?
• What are the tasks of officebearers?
• What are the council, classis, and synod?
• What are the tasks of the church?

Formed two years ago, the CRC Translation Committee was appointed by the executive director of the CRCNA to expedite and monitor the translation of church documents and other resources into languages other than English, making sure to address the needs of growing non-English-speaking communities in the denomination.

Among other things, the translations team

• helps to identify resources currently available in translation (crcna.org/languages), as well as resources to be made available, and to communicate this availability to the various language groups.
• serves as a catalyst and advisory group to CRC agencies and ministries in initiating or implementing translation of documents produced by the agencies and ministries.
• helps to secure funds for translation and to prioritize current requests and recommendations for materials to be translated.
• works with the CRC’s Ministry Support Services to provide translation, editing, and critical review services.

“Our translation team works hard to keep this material up-to-date so it can be useful for leaders and others in churches,” said Dean Heetderks, a member of the team.

“We are pleased to offer this new format in the three languages and are hopeful that it will help church members better navigate aspects of the polity of the church and what it means for us to live out our faith together.”