GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — At least eight Grand Rapids-area churches plan to leave the Christian Reformed Church, a process called disaffiliation, due to the denomination's recent decisions on sexuality.
For decades, the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) has officially considered same-sex relationships to be sinful, though this belief was not binding. In 2022, during Synod — the annual assembly of the denomination at Calvin University — this changed. Members of the CRC ruled its stance on sexuality bore "confessional" status, meaning it was core to the church and its teachings.
Continuing to clarify its traditional view of marriage, the CRC ruled at Synod this past summer that its churches, pastors, elders and deacons must agree with the denomination on matters of confession — including sexuality — or else face discipline.
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Now at least eight Grand Rapids-area churches — Grace Church, Calvin Church, Church of the Servant, Boston Square, Eastern Avenue, First, Neland Avenue and Oakdale CRCs — are in the process of disaffiliation. Others will likely follow.
"There has been a lot of pain and there was a lot of pain," said Emily Helder, clerk of Grace Church in Grand Rapids.
In the first of two votes, the congregation of Grace Church voted in December to disaffiliate from the Christian Reformed Church. Since Synod 2024, its members had been meeting with each other — and with other disaffiliating churches — to discuss next steps, though a separation seemed "inevitable."
"A lot of grief and sadness and in needing to walk away from the church that nurtured the denomination, that nurtured my faith," Helder said. "It's been all the emotions."
In the Christian Reformed Church, the process of disaffiliation begins when a church council agrees to separate from the denomination. The council then sends a letter to its classis (a regional group of churches) and its congregation holds two votes on disaffiliation. If both votes pass, the classis must then declare it approves of the separation.
"Our intention was never to leave the CRC," said Rebecca Jordan Heys, a pastor at Calvin Church in Grand Rapids. "Our longing was that a congregation like ours could hold that policy of full participation and still be a part of the denomination."
Like Grace Church, Calvin has a policy of full participation, allowing Christian couples in same-sex relationships to be married, be baptized, serve in leadership positions and participate in all aspects of life in the church. It too plans to leave its denomination.
"I wish that this issue didn't divide us," Jordan Heys said. "And also that we saw it as more than an issue but as our beloved siblings and neighbors whom are called to love."
Policies of full participation have led the CRC to place Calvin, Grace and other churches in its classis — Classis Grand Rapids East — under a limited suspension, a "one-year process of conversation and discernment toward either restoration and alignment with CRCNA positions on chastity, or toward disaffiliation from the denomination," according to the denomination's website.
"Our culture is changing and a lot of people are asking questions about their sexuality," said Zach King, general secretary of the CRC. "The church is a place to have those conversations, but it's also a place where we have some firm beliefs about what sexuality means."
In addition to clarifying its stance on same-sex relationships, the CRC has also called on its members to "show love to all people groups, including our LGBTQ+ members" and repent from all other forms of sexual sin, including adultery, pornography and premarital sex.
The standard on sexuality is higher today, King says.
"The space to disagree in the Christian Reformed Church has changed," King said. "There is a higher expectation of alignment now."
The fallout from recent Synods can be found in disaffiliation. Even as a number of churches have recently affiliated with the denomination, a higher amount are leaving, many of them in Grand Rapids, where the CRC is based.
"Many of our hearts are heavy for this. We hoped we could see some restoration and unity at this time but we recognize that it's a tough moment for people who see this issue in a very different way," King said.
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On a wall outside the sanctuary in Grace Church, there hangs a mural: Grace Through Every Generation. Rows and rows of the faces who've helped write the history of the CRC are what make it complete.
"There are a lot of people at [Grace Church] who have worked in the denomination, who have been pastors in the denomination for their whole life," Helder said.
Those churches leaving the CRC can become independent, form a new denomination(s) or join an already existing denomination, likely one whose beliefs are affirming toward same-sex relationships, such as the Reformed Church in America, where many pastors in Classis Grand Rapids East have already transferred their preaching credentials.
"I think a lot of us from these churches don't know yet," Jordan Heys said. "But we want to be careful to explore that well, and any expression of unity is important to us."
"I think we'll probably be disaffiliated and solo for some time," Helder added.
These congregations — and the Christian Reformed Church itself — do not wish to solely be defined by these separations, though, however heavy.
"This has been a tradition that I have loved. It has formed me into who I am and taught me about Jesus and his love," Jordan Heys said. "I'm glad to be able to take all of that wonderful richness from this tradition and continue carrying that forward."
Forward in faith.
"My core hope is that all the LGBTQ kids who are in the CRC will find places of care and support and belonging," Helder added. "Even in the midst of some of the challenges that the denomination is going through."
