Synod Clarifies Questions for Multi-Affiliated Churches

When a church is affiliated with two or more denominations, the logistics can get confusing. For example, to which denomination is the pastor responsible? Who owns the building if the church closes?

Seeking to allow for multi-affiliated churches and to clarify such questions, Synod 2015 added a new provision and a new, supplementary subsection to the Christian Reformed Church’s Church Order.

The supplementary information was submitted by Classis Holland, which includes Pillar Church in Holland, Mich., a dual-affiliated church since 2012, affiliated with both the CRC and the Reformed Church in America (RCA). Because the two denominations are working together on church planting, many new dual- or multi-affiliated churches are anticipated.

The Church Order will now specify matters affecting churches that affiliate with one or more denominations with which the CRC is in ecclesiastical fellowship, including church-giving decisions, appeals against council actions, pastoral discipline, pension plans and procedures for closing churches.

For continuous coverage of Synod 2015 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.