Top Stories of 2016

In looking back at some of the most-read CRC Communications stories of 2016, the way in which Synod 2016 dealt with the issue of same-sex marriage is at the top of the list.

Other synod-related stories—for example, about its repudiation of the centuries-old Doctrine of Discovery and a call for a sweeping look at CRC ministries and a review of the church’s funding system—were standouts as well.

Read this story for a quick overview of what synod did when it met last June at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Categorized by themes, here is a snapshot of other top stories published by CRC Communications over the past 12 months.

Stories of Hurt and Healing

Hugs, tears, and even some laughter showed the relief of many as verdicts were announced last June in the trial of two men accused in the murder of Tim Bosma, a member of Ancaster (Ont.) Christian Reformed Church.

Christian Reformed congregations in Edmonton, Alta., opened their doors and rallied their resources in May when a massive wildfire swept through the city of Fort McMurray, north of Edmonton, and sent residents fleeing for safety.

Andy Rusticus died in February 2012 of a heart attack while jogging near his home. He was training to be a canine officer for the Grand Rapids, Mich., police department at the time. In memory of their son, Christian Reformed Church members Roland and Mary Rusticus set up the Andrew Elliott Rusticus Foundation, through which they sponsored a conference on restorative justice in October at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill.

Celebrations

Twenty years ago the Christian Reformed Church ordained its first female minister of the Word. As a way to mark the 20-year celebration, CRC News presented the stories of four women who talked about their various callings to ordained ministry.

Fifty years ago, Gordon Buys of Christian Reformed World Missions served as one of the first teachers at what was then the Wukari Combined Secondary School in Takum, Nigeria. Last year Buys returned with other representatives of the CRC to help celebrate the golden anniversary of the school, which was destroyed in the late 1990s by war and has been now been reopened.

Almost 200 people representing classes, churches, ministries, agencies, and educational institutions met in May in Waterloo, Ont., at the Canadian national Gathering 2016 to connect, listen, and share ideas about the Christian Reformed Church in its Canadian context.

New Initiatives

Plans were announced at Synod 2016 for Inspire 2017, a conference for people involved in ministry at any level in their church. Set for Aug. 3-5 in Detroit, Mich., the event will be gathering and connecting people from across the CRC’s 1,000-plus churches for three days of worship, practical workshops, speakers, and conversation. It will be an opportunity to refresh, refocus, and reimagine how our shared calling finds expression in local church communities and beyond.

Also last year, the CRC launched Our Journey 2020, the church’s new ministry plan. Setting an agenda for the years ahead, the plan is spelled out in a downloadable document, brochure, poster, and videos that feature the stories of CRC people and ministries. Our Journey 2020, which was several years in the making, centers on five desired futures which address challenges that congregations across the CRC have identified. These desired futures focus on Church and Community, Discipleship, Leadership, Identity, and Collaboration.

Progress continued throughout 2016 on working toward the unification of Christian Reformed Home Missions and Christian Reformed World Missions into one agency for ministry. Plans are to  nominate a director for the new mission agency by spring and to recommend that Synod 2017 approve that person. Synod will also be asked to approve the new agency structure and to formally make the agency a reality.

To maximize the ministry impact of CRC-produced resources throughout the denomination, the CRC opened a new Digital Library early last year to provide CRC members and churches with free, online access to hundreds of titles from Faith Alive Christian Resources. The library’s resources are easily available at any time of the day by simply signing up to join the library.

Learning, Growing through Challenges

• Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollemans recalled how growing up the daughter of a Muslim father and a Christian Reformed mother shaped her life. Although it led to some painful challenges, she appreciates how it gave her the chance to live in two cultures and learn about two religions.
• Tension hung in the air as Native American and European-descent members of the Christian Reformed Church discussed their thoughts after doing the Blanket Exercise in the sanctuary of Rehoboth CRC in Rehoboth, N. Mex. During the exercise, participants were given a challenging historical overview of relations in North America between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. That involved a look at the Doctrine of Discovery, the topic of a task force report that went to Synod 2016.
• Ruth Tucker says she finally decided to write her new book when she saw a 2014 video showing NFL running back Ray Rice beating his fiancée in a casino elevator. Before then, Tucker had been asked twice by an editor to recount the story of how she had been physically abused and berated over several years by her husband, who was a pastor.
• Several years ago, Sara Walters, who has severe arthritis, was able to realize her dream, and she moved into an accessible new condominium in the Holland, Mich., area. As soon as she moved in, she knew she wanted to help other people with physical disabilities do the same.
• Helping to resettle a Syrian family of five into their remote town of Terrace, B.C., has helped members of Terrace Christian Reformed Church see beyond themselves, says Pastor Joel Ringma. They have been able to look at the terrible struggle occurring in Syria from which millions of people are fleeing for their lives and, in a small but meaningful way, respond to that ongoing tragedy.

These are an examples of the stories published every week in the CRC News electronic newsletter. To sign up for CRC News, click here.