CRC Picks Detroit for Binational Gathering

Detroit has been selected as the location for an upcoming binational CRC gathering to be held August 3-5, 2017. The 2017 event will be the largest in a series of gatherings for the Christian Reformed Church, with capacity for 2,000 people to attend.

Detroit was selected as the location for the 2017 gathering for both practical and symbolic reasons, according to Steve Timmermans, CRCNA Executive Director.

“Detroit’s diverse makeup and growing surge in innovation and revitalization set the perfect stage for a denomination-wide gathering.” said Timmermans. “And not only is it an easily accessible location for many Christian Reformed churches - nearly a third within a three-hour drive -  but it also embodies the binational spirit of the CRCNA.”

Ben Van Arragon, pastor at First Christian Reformed Church of Detroit, echoed similar thoughts.

“The kinds of collisions of ethnicity, social class, and urban and suburban community that make Detroit a dynamic place to live and minister are occurring in congregations across our denomination,” said Van Arragon. “We look forward to the ways in which the upcoming binational gathering facilitates dialogue about our church's dynamic present and exciting future.”

With Detroit’s location on the border of the United States and Canada, and Windsor, Ontario just across the river, organizers felt the city is especially appropriate for a binational gathering.

“Detroit is a border city,” said Melody Van Arragon, music coordinator at First Christian Reformed Church of Detroit. “Our hope is that it serves as a symbolic connecting point for delegates from across Canada and the United States.”

“The conference center is in a perfect spot along the river,” said Ashley Bootsma, a young adult member of organizing team from St. Catharines, ON. “I was pleasantly surprised to find out that even the cell phone coverage there is binational.”

As each of the gatherings is meant to highlight a particular aspect of the church’s identity, the 2017 gathering has a specific purpose as well. The event seeks to bring together people engaged in church ministry to refresh, refocus, and reimagine how the CRC’s mission finds expression in local communities and beyond. People from across the 1,000-plus CRC congregations will gather for this purpose for three days filled with workshops, speakers, worship, and conversation.

Speakers for the 2017 gathering are still being finalized and will be announced at a later date.

“We’re in talks with several high-profile speakers, and we can’t wait to announce the names as they’re finalized,” said Timmermans.

The name of the 2017 gathering has yet to be announced as well. In keeping with the participatory spirit of the event, organizers asked nearly 1,000 Christian Reformed Church members to suggest and provide feedback on possible names. The selected name will be announced at Synod 2016.

Organizers expect nearly 2,000 CRC members to attend the 2017 gathering. The affordability of the gathering is one of the reasons organizers expect a high turnout. Much of the cost of the gathering is being covered by donors who are excited about the future of the CRC and  equipping local ministry leaders. The goal is that every church in the denomination will be represented.