Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/77

Contributor - John Opmeer

Title - Some Differences between the C.R.C. and the R.C.A. in Canada

Topic - Church in Canada

A recent article in Calvinist Contact (May 27) on growth within the Christian Reformed churches in Canada caused me to reflect a little bit on some of the differences between our two denominations in Canada. The C.R.C. churches in Canada continue to grow. The growth may not be spectacular - less than 2% last year - but it is constants According to figures published in the 1977 Yearbook, the baptized membership of the churches in Canada now stands at 76,926, up 1,265 from the year before, and almost 5,000 since 1970.

Compared to this, the R.C.A. churches in Canada are a mere dwarf, with 7,596 baptized members, or less than 10,% of the comparable C.R.C. figures. (By the way, contrary to what I hear sometimes, the R.C.A. as a whole has more members than the C.R.C. in the U.S. and Canada: 360,227 and 288,024 respectively. But in the R.C.A., only 2% of membership resides in Canada, as compared to 27% for the C.R.C.

The comparison is not only unfavourable for us in terms of size, but also when we consider growth. Our churches, in Canada have been at practically the same level for about 15 years, whereas the C.R.C. churches continue to add to their rolls year after year. Why the difference?

The R.C.A. has been in a difficult situation in Canada right from the beginning. Whereas immigrants from the Gereformeerde Kerken in The Netherlands would almost to a man be received by the C.R.C. churches in Canada, immigrants from the Nederlands Hervormde Kerk were originally sent to the United Church of Canada. Many of them found that church too liberal, or did not understand the language, and went to the C.R.C. Some others went to The Presbyterian Church. Only after thousands of 'Reformed Church' immigrants had ended up in other churches, and with much reluctance, did the R.C.A. undertake to minister to the Dutch Reformed in Canada. It was a case of "too late and too little". From the beginning on there were mixed feelings; some regarded it as a temporary move; others advocated joining the C.R.C. or the Presbyterian Church. The R.C.A. did not consider Canada an area for R.C.A. church growth, but a mission area. Even though the immigrant churches decided in 1959 that they wanted to remain in the R.C.A., no vigorous church extension in Canada was ever undertaken.

The lack of policy proved costly. Without much of a vision, and without the kind of enthusiasm about their own churches which characterize so much the C.R.C. and also the Canadian Reformed churches, the R.C.A. churches in Canada have not only failed to attract the majority of Dutch Reformed immigrants, but have also continued to see much of its internal growth end up in other denominations. I do not say this in judgment. Many have shown great vision, but they were not able to change the direction, and the above picture reflects the sober facts, to the best of my knowledge.

It is worthwhile to notice at this point that the difference between R.C.A. and C.R.C. in Canada in terms of growth is not a difference in commitment to evangelize. Leaders in both denominations are very much aware of that need. But because of the churches' ethnic and cultural isolation, awareness and desires have not yet been translated in terms of net growth through outreach. As a matter of fact, the C.R.C., despite many efforts, has not yet managed to reverse the consistent trend of more people leaving the denomination than joining it.

Last year, for example, the Canadian churches received 179 persons through evangelism - about 1 per church - and about 362 from other denominations. However, they lost 333 members through resignation, etc., and 462 left to other denominations, for a net loss of 254.

I know this is a cause of real concern in the C.R.C., because this happens every year, not only in Canada but also in the U.S.A.

The difference between our two churches, when it comes to growth, is therefore entirely in the area of internal growth. The only reason the C.R.C. churches are growing is because they are able to retain most of their natural growth, namely the difference between birth and deaths within the denomination. There is a healthy gain every year in the C.R.C. - 1,519 last year - and most of that gain is retained. The R.C.A. churches, on the other hand, have not been able to preserve their natural growth to the same degree. The reasons are obvious:

1. With so few R.C.A. churches, members moving to areas without R.C.A. churches are usually transferred to other denominations; the C.R.C. has a much better geographical spread.

2. The loyalty of the average C.R.C. member to his church is much higher than that of the average R.C.A. member to his church. In case of marriage, therefore, a 'mixed' couple consisting of C.R.C. and other church is likely to end up in the C.R.C.; the same is not true for a R.C.A. - other church couple.

3. Through attending the same school - a Christian school a much higher percentage of C.R.C. young people marry within their denomination than is true for the R.C.A., where most children attend secular schools.

Since I see none of these factors changing for the R.C.A. in Canada, I believe there is only one way for our churches to grow through vigorous community outreach. In Vancouver we have taken that step. Our churches will have to take the initiative; fortunately, they can count on much better support of the mother church in the U.S. than used to be the case. As for the C.R.C.: it will eventually have to go the same direction, since it will not be able to count on its internal growth continuing indefinitely. In the meantime, we congratulate our bigger sister in Canada!

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