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Process for Affiliation of Congregations and their Pastors with the Christian Reformed Church in North America

(Endorsed by Synod 2016; Acts of Synod 2016, p. 845)

Note: The following information, based on a report adopted by Synod 2006 (see Agenda for Synod 2006, pp. 64-70; Acts of Synod 2006, p. 680), is presented to assist in the affiliation process of congregations and their pastors with the CRCNA, as described in Church Order Article 38-c and its Supplement.

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I. Introduction

Contact between congregations and ministries outside of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) and members and ministries within the CRCNA has become normal in the 21st century. Such contact and relationship show our ability in the CRC to navigate the broader world of North America in a much more pronounced way than we did a century ago. Such contact and relationship also sometimes result in discovering the desire of a non-CRC congregation to become affiliated with the CRC.

This document serves as a brief guide to discerning when and how an inquiring non-CRC congregation and pastor can become affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The hope is that this document will facilitate a hospitable, respectful, and wise implementation of denominational policy. The CRC recognizes that receiving such congregations and pastors hospitably and sensitively will enrich the denomination and benefit the affiliating congregation.

II. Receiving congregations and their pastors into the CRC

A. Preface

It is imperative that there be ample opportunity for inquiring groups and for representatives of the CRC to become well acquainted with each other before making any commitments. This process is expected to entail three phases:

  1. Getting acquainted
  2. Mentoring and orientation
  3. Affiliation

It is important that the integrity of both the inquiring group and the CRC representatives (from the local CRC classis) be respected in both the developing relationship and the formal process. Throughout the developing relationship, there needs to be a spirit of mutuality, adequate flexibility, and willingness to exercise adaptability to the specific situation. It should also be clearly understood that the process of affiliation can be terminated at the initiative of the inquiring group or the CRC representatives (classis). The phases described below are designed to provide for a growing relationship. The amount of time required in each phase may vary with each situation. Time frames at any point may be extended as both parties decide together.

While the process described here assumes that the affiliation process is about receiving both a group of believers and a pastor, we recognize that there may well be times when a group will seek affiliation without a pastor.

B. Phase 1: Getting Acquainted

  1. An initial request for affiliation by a non-CRC minister seeking to be received into the CRC (as provided via Church Order Article 8-c) must be processed according to the requirements of the Candidacy Committee and the “Journey Toward Ordination” process, which are outlined in this Article 8 Process Guide and Checklist (Korean/English version). Sometime during the “getting acquainted” phase the classis-appointed liaison and/or the inquiring pastor should contact the director of candidacy, Rev. Susan LaClear ([email protected]).
  2. If this phase goes beyond initial contact and preliminary discussions, the local CRC classis should appoint one of its members to be an official counselor/liaison to represent the classis in further conversations. The goal in this entire phase is to determine whether the group wants to proceed to a deeper phase of meaningful fellowship with a view toward joining the CRCNA denomination, and whether the CRC classis wants to receive the congregation (and its pastor, if applicable) into the CRC. The getting-acquainted phase will typically take from three to six months to complete.
  3. Tools available for this phase include denominational materials and brochures, descriptions of CRC polity, and copies of the Church Order and the CRC creeds and confessions. These tools are available in printed and electronic formats in English, and they are also available electronically in various languages (Korean, Chinese, Spanish, and some others) on the denominational website (crcna.org/languages).
  4. Toward the end of this phase, the inquiring group/congregation and their pastor (if applicable) will gather a variety of documents, with the help of the appointed classis liaison. Note that assistance and advice regarding these matters are available from the CRC denomination through its Candidacy Committee (see crcna.org/Candidacy).
    1. A letter of interest regarding affiliation from the inquiring group’s leadership—this letter should specify whether the affiliating group/congregation is a governmentally registered non-profit organization. If the group is to be received as an organized congregation, a copy of the bylaws need to be attached to the letter.
    2. A group/congregation profile and ministry plan including a description of the group’s ministries, programs, and vision.
    3. Financial documents (budget, actual expenses, pastor’s compensation [salary, benefits, pension, and so forth, if applicable]).
    4. A description of the group’s current state of commitment to a Reformed biblical, confessional, and theological identity, and its current awareness of and readiness to function within CRC polity.
  5. An initial request for affiliation by a non-CRC minister seeking to be received into the CRC (as provided via Church Order Article 8-c) must be processed according to the requirements of the Candidacy Committee and the “Journey Toward Ordination” process. Sometime during the “getting acquainted” phase the classis-appointed liaison and/or the inquiring pastor should contact the director of candidacy, Rev. Susan LaClear ([email protected]).
  6. This initial phase moves toward a conversation between the leaders of the inquiring group/congregation and the designated leaders of the CRC classis to determine in greater detail the course forward. The material described in item B, 4 above should be reviewed and considered. An eventual motion to continue the process should be formulated by the classis and would then need to be adopted by both the potentially affiliating group/congregation and the classis. If the request involves a minister seeking affiliation, the motion must include a “declaration of need” completed in consultation with the Candidacy Committee, which serves as an agent of the denomination (see item B, 5 above).
  7. If both the potentially affiliating congregation and classis adopt such an initial motion to continue the process, then the general orientation of affiliating leaders begins under the guidance of a classis-appointed mentor. (The mentor may or may not be the same person who functions as the contact/liaison.)

C. Phase 2: Mentoring and Orientation

  1. In this phase, the leaders and members of the new group will receive orientation more fully with regard to the confessions, theology, polity, and practices of the CRC. At the same time the classis will acquaint itself more fully with the background, values, beliefs, and vision of the group seeking affiliation. It is desirable that both parties in their joining together may enrich their respective ministries as they serve God together, and this phase allows for such discernment. This phase will normally take not less than six months to complete.
  2. The mentoring and orientation phase includes the following orientation items for the affiliating group or congregation in a plan to be formulated by both the classis representative/mentor and the affiliating group leaders. 

    In-depth orientation and/or training of congregational leaders (elders, deacons, church school and youth ministry leaders, adult group leaders, and so forth) through a series of meetings, a full-day retreat, or a strategy combining both. Material to be considered includes the following:
    • CRC polity and Church Order
    • Distinctive features of the Reformed faith
    • CRC doctrinal and ethical decisions
    • Financial rights, obligations, and practices for the group as a congregation, including church budgeting and accountability, ministry shares, pastoral salary, insurance, pension, and so forth, as may apply
    • CRC history—both origins and the era of development to the present, with appropriate recognition of any unique contextual connections between the affiliating group and the CRC’s story.

    Note that this material and suggested outlines for presenting and interacting with the material are available from the office of the director of candidacy.
    1. Orientation of the whole group/congregation (many of the same topics introduced to leaders will also be covered with the whole group/congregation).
    2. Expected outcome: The congregation and its leaders pass a motion affirming continuation of the affiliation process, which will lead into “Phase 3: Affiliation.”

3. Protocol for pastoral orientation

  1. In-depth orientation of an affiliating pastor takes place in consultation with the Candidacy Committee. The standards used by the Candidacy Committee for affiliating a pastor already ordained in another denomination include creating an individualized learning plan to be formed in consultation with the pastor, the classis representative, and the Candidacy Committee. The plan involves a designated mentor as a guide and includes the following requirements:
    • Trace and review the spiritual formation of the pastor
    • Study or review Reformed theology and confessions, including all of the distinctive features of the Reformed faith
    • Study CRC polity and Church Order
    • Review significant synodical decisions on doctrinal and ethical matters
    • Understand financial rights and obligations (insurance, pension, loan fund, ministry shares, salary, and so forth), as well as options for bivocational situations
    • Understand the relationship of a local church to its classis and of the classis to synod
    • Understand the decision-making process in the CRC, including overtures and the route of appeals
  2. Exposure to the broader life of the CRC begins under the encouraging guidance of the mentor, and the following are suggested:
    • Attendance at denominational events, when possible
    • Introduction to CRC ministries and to the function of denominational boards and committees, including a visit to the CRCNA offices in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S., and/or the offices in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. A strategy for this is described in the contracted individualized learning plan. A sample is available from the office of the director of candidacy.
    • Attendance at classis meetings as guests and observers

4. The conclusion of phase 2 occurs when the orientation of the congregation and its leadership and the learning plan for the pastor (if applicable) are completed.

D. Phase 3: Affiliation

  1. The final phase, “Affiliation,” involves a formal decision by the classis, in response to the announced decision of the congregation (and pastor, if applicable) seeking affiliation (see item C, 2, c above).
  2. A formal determination regarding the status of the congregation as either organized or emerging should be made in conversation between the leadership of the affiliating group and the leadership of the classis (see the guidelines of Church Order Art. 38-c and its Supplements). If a congregation is to be designated as “emerging,” a “mother church” must be designated.
  3. The following documents are prepared for presentation to the classis, along with a motion that this group of believers be admitted to the CRCNA and accepted into the life of the classis (note that sample documents are available from the office of the director of candidacy):
  1. A letter from the affiliating congregation’s leadership addressed to the classis and reaffirming the desire to affiliate with the CRC.
  2. A report from the mentor/liaison appointed by the classis for orientation of the affiliating congregation and its leaders.
  3. A formal covenant, signed by both the leaders of the affiliating congregation and the classis, stipulating a willingness to participate in classis life by sending delegates to the classis meetings, and to participate in the life of the classis and denomination through a level of financial support appropriate to the current situation of the congregation, in view of understandings expressed through ministry share expectations.

4. A letter is presented to the classis from the Candidacy Committee endorsing the affiliation request of the pastor (if applicable) and confirming that all the required elements for the Article 8 pastoral affiliation process have been properly addressed.

5. As the motion to receive the congregation as an organized or emerging body (see item D, 2 above) is acted upon, a suitable time of rejoicing at classis should take place. Also, the classis should appoint a counselor to mark the reception of the congregation in a worship service, and to walk alongside the pastor and congregation for a period of at least two years.

6. The pastor (if applicable) is approved for affiliation by the classis following a colloquium doctum as described in Church Order Supplement, Article 8, E, 5-6. The appointed counselor works with the pastor to determine an appropriate way to mark the new ordinational affiliation of the pastor in the life of the congregation.

7. The new congregation provides the classis with updated articles of incorporation and bylaws, as well as the appropriate information required by the Office of Synodical Services.

III. Conclusion

Affiliating with the CRCNA, to be mutually upbuilding and wholesome, must be based on a shared faith, common confessional commitments, and a mutual interest in the mission to which God has called us. A denominational fellowship is like a covenantal relationship. Each covenant has at least two parties, and it is critical to the process that all parties be honored in the growing relationship. The preceding phases are intended to facilitate that outcome. It is also important that the affiliation process be consistent throughout the denomination (see Church Order Supplement, Article 38-c).