Skip to main content

Offices of Race Relations and Social Justice Seek Director

October 19, 2016
Colin Watson

Colin Watson

Following a decision by the Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church, the CRC’s Office of Race Relations and Office of Social Justice will be combined into one management structure yet will continue to maintain the focus and names of their ministries.

“We are doing this because often the issues of Race Relations and Social Justice are inextricably linked,” said Colin Watson, the CRC’s director of ministries and administration.

“But at the same time this doesn’t mean that the two offices are going away. We will still maintain the distinctiveness of both offices.”

The decision to join the offices under the leadership of one director came after former Race Relations director Esteban Lugo left his position and Peter Vander Meulen, coordinator of OSJ, announced he is retiring next year.

"It makes sense to bring OSJ and Race Relations closer together and under one coordinator or director,” said Vander Meulen.

“In my view, racial justice is the most basic social justice requirement—particularly in the U.S. with our recent history of slavery and discrimination.”

Without progress on racial justice, other elements of social justice cannot go forward, he said.

“We at OSJ have been deeply involved in anti-racism work with our denomination in the past. OSJ looks forward to even closer collaboration with the Office of Race Relations on racial justice action in the future.”

The offices already share some staff. The new management structure will facilitate easier and closer collaboration. While the transition may be stressful, said Vander Meulen, it will also offer a positive challenge for doing ministry together in the future.

Currently teams from both offices are working on addressing issues and making way for the transition, said Watson.

Also, current plans call for the CRC to maintain the names of the two offices to demonstrate the continuing importance of each, said Watson.

At the same time that the CRC is searching for a new director for its Race Relations, Diversity and Social Justice ministries, a search is on as well for a new director for the Office of Chaplaincy and Care Ministry. Ron Klimp, the current Chaplaincy and Care director, is planning to retire next year.

“This person will be responsible for developing and promoting the strategic ministry of Christian Reformed chaplains. This includes enlisting, endorsing, encouraging, and enfolding chaplains of the CRCNA and for providing pastoral support, care, and advocacy for chaplains serving in specialized settings,” says an advertisement for the job that will appear in the November 2016 issue of  The Banner.