URCNA Synod Calgary 2026: A Retrospective

by on June 15, 2026 | Comment

The fourteenth Synod in the history of the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA), Synod Calgary 2026, met at the Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre in Calgary, Alberta from Monday, June 8 to Thursday, June 11.1 Trinity Reformed Church of Lethbridge, AB was the convening consistory.2 For those unfamiliar with such terminology, in the URCNA a consistory is composed of a local church’s ministers and elders, and is the only continuing body in the URCNA.3 Classes (singular classis) “are temporary assemblies of federated churches within a region, meeting to seek each others’ advice in matters of common interest . . . Synods, like classes, are periodic and temporary meetings conducted under the authority of the churches to deal with issues of importance to the churches in common; synods include all of the federated churches.”4 Essentially, the URCNA’s synods are our equivalent to a general assembly in a Presbyterian church.

Opening Prayer Service

The opening prayer service on Monday night was led by Rev. John van Eyk (pastor of Trinity Reformed Church). The delegates sang a number of psalms and joined their hearts and minds in prayer, and Rev. van Eyk gave a message from Colossians 1:15–20, reminding the delegates that Christ is supreme and must be prized, glorified, and proclaimed by his servants. As usual, the singing was thunderous and earnest, providing a faint preview of the worship of the people of God in the new creation.

Election of Officers

Rev. Doug Barnes (Grace United Reformed Church in Alto, MI) is the Stated Clerk of the URCNA (a position to which he was re-elected at the end of Synod, with the body expressing their thanks for his continued good work). Rev. Joel Dykstra (Wellandport United Reformed Church in Wellandport, ON) was elected as chairman.5 Rev. Bradd Nymeyer (First United Reformed Church in Chino, CA), a five-time synod chairman, was elected as vice-chairman. Rev. James Sinke (Bethel United Reformed Church in Woodstock, ON) was elected as first clerk. Rev. Nick Smith (Christ Reformed Church in Nampa, ID) was elected as second clerk. These officers performed their tasks honorably, admirably, and efficiently, and the churches of the URCNA should be thankful for and to them. A total of 225 delegates registered for Synod, with a number of congregations only able to send one delegate instead of two, and some none at all for extenuating circumstances. Fifteen men observed Synod as fraternal delegates, and many members of the Synodical Organizing Committee, exhibitors, and guests came and went.

URCNA Statistics

Mrs. Jody Luth is the URCNA’s Statistician, and she does a wonderful job (as evidenced by her re-election to the position at the end of Synod). According to the Statistician’s Report, at the end of 2025 the URCNA was composed of 140 congregations (125 organized churches and 15 church plants), 26,034 members (17,212 communicant and 8,822 baptized), and there were 214 ministers in the federation (48 of whom have emeritated). This is a stark contrast to 1997, when we numbered 44 congregations and 9,299 members. From 2005–25 the URCNA saw 20% growth, faster than either the OPC or PCA. Classis Eastern U.S. noted separately that much of that growth has come from church planting, with “legacy” churches (those in existence in 2005) actually declining by 4%.

Missions Night

One of the highlights of recent synods is the Missions Night, which takes place after dinner on Wednesday. This year the delegates heard and saw presentations from foreign missionaries laboring in Costa Rica, France, Italy, Mexico, and at MINTS International Seminary. There was also a presentation about the five URCNA ministers currently serving as chaplains, followed by each classis giving a presentation about their home missions works. It was a time of encouragement as the URCNA’s efforts in missions and church planting were on display, and for that we praised God!

Fraternal Greetings

The delegates were privileged to hear greetings from sixteen other Reformed and Presbyterian denominations/federations, with three sending letters to Synod and thirteen sending fraternal delegates to address the body in person.

  • The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales sent a letter noting that they were unable to send a delegate due to distance, time, and They have roughly 2,000 communicant and baptized members, and requested prayer for more men to preach and plant churches in England, Wales, and the rest of Europe.
  • The United Reformed Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo sent a letter requesting aid from the URCNA in order to help them train men for ministry. They currently have only 60 ministers for 177 congregations, and they also have a pressing need for more theological books and infrastructure for the training of pastors.
  • The Evangelical Church of Latvia sent a letter expressing thankfulness for Mark Vander Hart and Cornelis Venema coming over to do some teaching recently.
  • William Macleod of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) noted that all churches in Scotland are in terrible decline. Roughly 1% of all Scots go to churches of any stripe on a given Sunday. He requested prayer for revival, more preachers/evangelists, and the growth of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) and all true churches in Scotland.
  • Aaron De Boer of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church outlined the shared theology and practice of the URCNA and ARP, putting their history side by side. Both have shared struggles with people attracted to Federal Vision doctrine and practices, as well as Christian Race Realism in recent years.
  • Bruce Backensto of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America noted that the during week of June 15 the RPCNA will be voting at their Synod about whether or not to require men to subscribe to the ordination of women as deacons—they may pivot to leaving it up to the individual congregations. They are also dealing with a discipline case against a former minister who holds to Kinism. The man has been deposed and excommunicated by the RPCNA, and they are debating whether or not to hear his appeal at their Synod since he is no longer a member of their denomination.
  • Anup Hiwale of the Evangelical Reformed Church India reported that they are praising God for their growth since we last heard from them at Synod Escondido 2024. Over the last two years their number of churches has increased from 140 to 152, and total membership has increased from 11,800 to 15,400. Their capacity to train theological students has also increased from 29 students to 96 students.
  • Dirk Poppe of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia reported that the FRCA began with post-WWII Dutch immigration. They currently have 19 congregations and 1 church plant, with a total of 5,500 members—recently they have added 1 congregation every 2 years on average. They sent 6 young men to seminary this year, and they asked for prayer for more young men to preach the gospel in their federation. They also asked for prayer as the western state where many of their churches reside is considering a law which would make it illegal for a minister to counsel a person against homosexuality or transgenderism.
  • Dirk Stolk of the Free Reformed Churches in North America noted that they have 23 churches, 6 of which are currently vacant. They currently have 1 student and 1 potential student, and asked for prayer for more laborers to be sent into the field.
  • Peter Szobo of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe reported that this denomination was founded 1998 after separating from the mainline Hungarian Reformed Church, a separation which was driven by many of the same issues that caused the URCNA to come out of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) in the 1990s. They hold to the Westminster Standards, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Second Helvetic Confession. They currently have 15 ministers serving 16 churches among ethnic Hungarians in Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine.
  • Travis Grassmid of the Reformed Church United States reported on the encouraging news that their recent synod showed a renewed emphasis on church planting within their denomination. He reported that the RCUS is thankful for pulpit exchanges and occasional joint worship services with URCNA congregations, and he reminded the assembly that 2025 was the 300th anniversary of the RCUS.
  • John Nymann of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church outlined the ways the OPC and URCNA have worked together over the years, highlighting the Trinity Psalter Hymnal and foreign missions in Uganda, among other things at the local level. The OPC had 33,941 members at end of 2025, and in that same year they saw 9 churches particularize and 11 new church plants begin. They currently have a committee working on updating language of Westminster Standards, including using a newer translation than the King James Version. They have also formed a study committee on Christian Nationalism and Racism. He reported that they also have a shortage of ministers—31 vacant congregations, not including the shortage of foreign missionaries. Therefore, their General Assembly announced a day of prayer and fasting on September 13, 2026.
  • Gerben Meijer of the Reformed Churches of South Africa (GKSA) reported that they currently stand at 70,000 members. Their churches struggle with secularization, immigration, cultural decline, and membership/infrastructure decline in South Africa. Renewed efforts in evangelism, planting, and overall church growth are reasons to praise God. One of their primary challenges is in training pastors, and they have numerous vacancies, especially in rural areas. They are transferring the training of their ministers to a newly-founded seminary partnering with Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Certain churches did not hold the GKSA stance excluding women serving as elders, so Synod 2026 gave these churches an additional year to rectify the situation, after which they will be detached from the GKSA if they still have women elders ordained and installed.
  • Steve Vandervelde of the Canadian Reformed Churches expressed thanks for their relationship with the URCNA, even if full federative union is not on the immediate horizon. They have had recent struggles with identity owing to some newfound freedom in worship, and he requested prayer as they work through this.
  • David Stares of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand reported that they are thankful for their relationship with the URCNA, as well as the URCNA’s work (including the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, which they have adopted as one of their songbooks). They currently have 3,600 members in 25 churches across both islands. The RCNZ currently have some vacancies, but their desire is not to import ministers from overseas but rather grow them from within, and by God’s grace that is happening. They thank the URCNA for how some of our churches have assisted by giving RCNZ seminarians a place to worship and intern.
  • Bernard Westerveld of L’Église Réformée du Québec reported that this French-speaking denomination was formed in 1988. He requested prayer for the ERQ, which is the only confessionally Reformed church serving the province of Quebec. Only 1–2% of Quebecers are evangelical, and the ERQ is comprised of just 5 churches and 350 members. They have seen no new churches in last 40 years, and 4 out of their 5 churches are currently vacant. Thankfully, a Brazilian man and a South African man have been examined and called, but they are waiting for immigration. The ERQ also has tensions among office bearers, and requests prayer that this would dissipate.

Big Issues

  • Synod approved writing a letter to the CRCNA, encouraging them in the recent signs of reformation and exhorting them to continue this trajectory in the different areas where it is necessary. This is notable since many of the churches, ministers, and mandated members in the URCNA came out of the CRCNA in the 1990s due to concerns about the overall direction of the federation.
  • Synod affirmed the following statement: “The 14th Synod of the United Reformed Churches in North America join with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church in America, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and condemn without distinction any theological or political teaching which posits a superiority of race or ethnic identity born of immutable human characteristics and call to repentance any who would promote or associate themselves with such teaching, either by commission or omission.” There was significant debate on this, especially about the propriety of affirming another denomination’s statement, the perceived ambiguity of some of the language in the statement, and whether the statement is necessary for the URCNA at this time. Dr. Alan Strange and John Nymann (both from the OPC) spoke to the assembly, offering their own experience and thoughts. The body voted to affirm this statement in addition to forming a study committee on these issues (see below). The grounds (reasons) given for affirming this statement are these:
    • This statement conforms to the truth of Scripture as summarized in the Three Forms of Unity (e.g., Belgic Confession Article 12 and Canons of Dort II.5).
    • This statement was approved at the 221st General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in 2025.
    • This statement was approved at the 52nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America in 2025.
    • This statement was “commended” at the Synod of 2025 of the 193rd Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America.
    • This statement was publicly affirmed by the 92nd General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 2026.
    • This is a real problem that many congregations throughout the URNCA and all NAPARC are facing.
    • It is good to show unity with other churches in NAPARC on these serious issues.6
  • In addition to the above, Synod assigned a study committee to study Kinism, Race Realism, and related matters. This was adopted without dissent, and this committee will report to the next synod, although it is possible that its final recommendation(s) will not be ready until after the next synod. The committee was tasked with defining Kinism and Race Realism with precision, present to Synod a biblical, theological, and confessional evaluation of the principal forms of Kinism and Race Realism, and provide Pastoral Advice, Doctrinal Affirmations, and any other helpful guidance to aid consistories as they encounter these false teachings. The committee is comprised of:
    • Ralph Pontier
    • Ryan Swale
    • Harry Zekveld – Chairman
    • Bill Boekestein – Reporter
    • Collin Welch
    • Elder Mark Van Der Molen
    • Jonathan Van Hoogen
    • Daniel Ventura
    • Elder Alfredo Rodriquez
    • Mitchell Persuad
  • Classis Michigan brought an overture asking Synod to adopt a Doctrinal Affirmation7 Regarding Death before Sin. This proposed Doctrinal Affirmation is summarized under these five headings:
    • Affirmation of the Trustworthiness of Scripture Regarding World History
    • Rejection of a Significant Time Lapse Between the Formation of Animals and the Formation of Mankind
    • Rejection of Animal Death Prior to Adam’s Sin
    • Rejection of Non-Human Death as “Natural”
    • Affirmation of Sin as the Cause of All Death

The recommendation by the advisory committee was to withhold action indefinitely.8 After lengthy debate, Synod voted to accede to the committee’s recommendation, which means that “it is wise and prudent to avoid a direct vote on a matter without deciding either positively or negatively.”9 Synod’s answer to the overture was to reaffirm its commitment to the statements on creation from Synod Escondido 2001.

  • Synod also appointed a study committee on Bioethics of Reproductive Again, this committee will report to the next synod, although it is possible that its final recommendation(s) will not be ready until after the next synod. It was tasked with exploring the relationship between marriage, sex, and procreation, offering reflections on the biblical theology of infertility, singleness, and adoption, providing a framework for assessing the merits and drawbacks of specific reproductive technologies, considering the ethical implications of the adoption of embryos by both married couples and single adults, deliberating how to balance Christian liberty with biblical and ethical considerations, and providing recommendations that uphold human dignity and the integrity of human life. The committee is comprised of:
    • Jacques Roets – Chairman
    • Mark Vander Pol – Reporter
    • John Elgersma (General practitioner)
    • Heidi Veldman (Nurse practitioner)
    • Caryn Troost (Nurse)
    • J. Mark Beach (Ethics professor)
  • Based on a communication from Classis Eastern U.S., Synod acknowledged “that as a federation of churches we have often been God’s reluctant missionary, indifferent to the miseries of our lost neighbors; yet we give thanks to the Holy Spirit is stirring up renewed evangelistic zeal in our churches, and encourage them to strive to take the gospel out through preaching, church planting, and personal witness, and therefore encourage the consistories to explore prayerfully and humbly ways in which they can cultivate a vibrant culture of evangelism within our congregations.”

Miscellaneous Items

  • Synod ratified the decision of Classis Central S. to admit Redeemer Reformed Church of Golden Valley, MN into the URCNA.
  • The URCNA is a full member in the Presbyterian and Reformed Chaplain Commission (PRCC). The Synod acknowledged this with gratitude, and Don Sampson, associate director for the PRCC, was given the privilege of briefly addressing the body during missions Synod thanked the consistory of Faith URC (Beecher, IL) for their years of faithful service as the URCNA liaison to the PRCC, a role which is now taken up by the standing Liaison Committee for the Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel. The 5 URCNA ministers serving as chaplains are part of the 333 ministers in the PRCC from 7 NAPARC denominations/federations endorsed by the PRCC.
  • The URCNA will enter into Phase One “Corresponding Relations” with the Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC).10
  • The URCNA will enter into Phase Two “Ecclesiastical Fellowship” with the Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC) and made arrangements for ratification by a majority of the consistories according to Church Order Article 36. The date for ratification is 12/31/26.
  • Synod voted to enter into Phase One “Ecumenical Contact” with the Presbyterian Church of Australia, as well as the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Central and Eastern Europe.
  • The URCNA received the invitation for a September day of prayer and fasting for the revival and renewal of the church. This invitation was extended by the PCA’s Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley. The URCNA’s Stated Clerk will coordinate and communicate a suitable date for all willing URCNA congregations and members to join in this day.11
  • Synod received a communication from Classis Eastern S. about the current shortage of both URCNA pastors and seminarians. This communication included proposed steps to better support seminarians and interns in the churches.
  • One of the last actions of Synod was determining the year and convening consistory for each of the next two synods. The 2028 synod will be convened by Covenant Reformed Church of Kansas City, MO (Classis Central S.), and the 2030 synod will be convened by Zion United Reformed Church of Sheffield, ON (Classis Southwestern Ontario). As seen in a number of items above, the 15th synod of the URCNA promises to be a weighty one.

Conclusion

As a point of personal privilege, this was my first time as a delegate to a URCNA synod, and although it was a tiring experience I enjoyed it. Not only was it good to have fellowship with brothers I rarely see and to meet new friends it was also good to see the body deliberate and come to its conclusions even when there were substantial disagreements. Going to synod may not be the most exciting part of being a minister in the URCNA, but it is a part of doing the work of the churches. Christ has given ministers and elders to his church, and we trust that the delegates to Synod Calgary 2026 carried out their work decently and in order for the good of Christ’s churches. To God alone be the glory!

Notes

  1. To access the daily press releases, synodical documents, and recorded livestreams visit the URCNA Synod Calgary 2026 page.
  2. From the URCNA’s Church Order Article 28: “Each synod shall determine a time and place for the subsequent synod and shall authorize a Consistory to convene that synod. If a majority of the classes deem it necessary that a synod meet earlier than the regular time determined, the Consistory charged with convening the meeting shall determine when and where the meeting is to occur.”
  3. URCNA Church Order Article 16.
  4. URCNA website.
  5. Not only was this Rev. Dykstra’s first time chairing a synod it was also the first synod to finish on Thursday (instead of Friday) since Synod Visalia 2014. Rev. Dykstra also became the first chairman of a URCNA Synod whose father also chaired a URCNA synod—Elder Chuck Dykstra chaired Synod St. Catharines 1997 and Synod Hudsonville 1999.
  6. Note: After Synod’s action here, the Free Reformed Churches in North America also adopted this statement at their synod.
  7. “A Doctrinal Affirmation is an interpretation of the Ecumenical Creeds and the Three Forms of Unity on a specific point of their teaching.” From the URCNA Regulations for Synodical Procedure, Appendix D.
  8.  These advisory committees function as microcosms of the plenary session. They consider potential concerns and address them in committee, and then bring advice to the whole body, setting the discussion for the body and thus streamlining the synod’s work.
  9. See the URCNA Regulations for Synodical Procedure, 6.3.3.
  10. For this and the next two items, see here for more information on these phases.
  11. “Call for a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Revival and Renewal of the Church” from the PCA Mississippi Valley Presbytery.

©Christopher Smith. All Rights Reserved.

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    Post authored by:

  • Christopher Smith
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    Christopher Smith is originally from Bellevue, Nebraska. A graduate of Westminster Seminary California (M.Div 2019; MA (Historical Theology) 2020). He is associate pastor of Phoenix URC in the United Reformed Churches of North America. He is currently pursuing a ThM in systematic theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.

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