Christian (Dutch) Reformed Church Preparing to Kick Out Churches


The conservative Christian Reformed Church does a lot of media work where I live. It is able to attract candidates for President to its political forums and its statements get in the news. More than anything else, it is anti-gay. 

According to Wikipedia, the denomination has about 1,000 churches and 189,000 members. I assume this means it has a few large churches in larger cities and many tiny and declining ones in rural areas.

The denomination is holding a conference just now and debating what to do about the "sinful" congregations who hold gay marriage ceremonies. Apparently, there are 20 congregations that are now or anticipate doing gay marriages and they are demanding denomination approval. Predictably, a large majority of those at the conference voted to uphold the prohibition.  

Does it matter if 20 churches out of 1,000 leave? These 20 are probably urban churches, larger than the average size. They may represent 40 churches if we used average data. Total membership in the CRC has fallen by almost 1/2 since 1992. One would think leaders would be looking for some way to save the denomination.

It was interesting to read an analysis of the falling CRC membership. The "cause" and "solution" provided in a video was identical to that of another larger denomination I follow, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Both denominations were analyzed in videos by old white men. Both said declines have happened because of lower birth rates and rural to urban migration. Both also said there was no solution except to keep on preaching the same old stuff.  

What could they do? First, they could recognize not everyone in their denomination agrees the Bible condemns homosexuality. This would be followed by a declaration such people are welcomed to be in the denomination and that all such views should go forward together.

On gay marriage, it could leave this up to pastors who were willing, others would have the right to decline. As for using the commonly owed church for a gay marriage ceremony, those who disapprove can stay home. Except for wanting to control the lives of others, a gay wedding in their church has nothing to do with them. 

But we can be assured, both the Christian Reformed Church and Missouri Synod will continue to decline because most members cannot consider losing control over the lives and views of others.

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