A variety of acronyms are used throughout this document. We hope this glossary is helpful to you. Please feel free to contact the Candidacy Committee office if you have any questions about the meaning of these terms, or if you need any help finding your way through these pages. Contact Rev. David Koll, Director of Candidacy, at dkoll@crcna.org or call the office at 1-877-279-9994 x0768.
- CRC: The Christian Reformed Church in North America. The CRC is a denomination with approximately 300,000 members in 1,000 congregations across the United States and Canada.
- Synod: CRC ministries and policy are directed and supervised by an annual gathering of appointed elders and pastors from throughout the denomination. This gathering is called the "synod".
- Candidacy Committee: This denominational committee sets ministry standards and oversees the nurture and training of those preparing for ordained ministry in the CRC under the provisions of Church Order Articles 6, 7, and 8 and 23.
- Classis: Local CRC congregations are grouped into regions known as "classis" (pl: "classes"). Each region has 10-20 congregations in it. There are currently 47 classes in the CRC.
- CMLT: Classis Ministerial Leadership Team. Within the denominational structure, there are almost 50 groupings or "families" of CRC congregations based on geographical boundaries. Each family of congregations is known as a classis (plural: classes). The CRC Synod has encouraged all classes to establish a CMLT. These CMLT’s work closely with individuals preparing for ministry in the CRC by providing support and encouragement. They work in partnership with the Candidacy Committee to ensure that the processes leading toward ordination are performed in a just, equitable, and welcoming manner.
- CRC Church Order: The life of congregations and ministries in the CRC is governed by a set of rules and guidelines called the Church Order. This book, and the articles contained in it, describe and state the various commitments we share as we do ministry. A copy of the CRC Church Order is available electronically at www.crcna.org under the “resources” tab, at the bottom of that tab under "synodical resources".
- CTS: Calvin Theological Seminary. As the theological school of the CRC, CTS offers a number of degree programs, including the Master of Divinity program which prepares students for the Ministry of the Word in the CRC.
- M.Div: Master of Divinity Degree. This degree, obtained at CTS or elsewhere, is the degree required by those who are preparing for the Ministry of the Word in the CRC under the provisions of CO Article 6.
- Leadership Development Network: Many local and regional groups have instituted a planned leadership course/curriculum to train church planters and other church leaders. These programs are referred to as "Leadership Development Networks," or LDNs.
- EPMC: The Ecclesiastical Program for Ministerial Candidacy. This program, administered by CTS on behalf of the Candidacy Committee, is designed to give individuals an orientation to the theology and ministry of the CRC. This program is required by all those entering the Ministry of the Word in the CRC under the provisions of CO Article 6, but who have obtained their M.Div from a seminary other than CTS.
- Modified EPMC: A program similar to the EPMC, but designed to train and assimilate those pastors ordained in denominations other than the CRC who wish to enter the CRC. This program is administered by Calvin Seminary in partnership with the Candidacy Committee, and is required for those entering the Ministry of the Word in the CRC under the provisions of CO Article 7 or 8.
- Ministry Readiness Profile: A file of material that documents the progress of a candidate in the journey toward ordination. This file is a progressive document, and will include letters of endorsement, and a variety of other material that testifies to the candidate’s qualifications for ministry and fulfillment of denominational requirements.
- Stated Supply: When a prospective pastor begins serving in a CRC congregation or ministry before the CRC affiliation process is completed, he/she is serving as a "stated supply". This status is by nature somewhat tentative and limited in time duration. It is hopefully followed by a permanent assignment in ministry at that location or at another location.
- Three Forms of Unity: This term refers to the doctrinal statements that have played a major part in the history of the reformed churches in general, and the CRC in particular. They include The Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dordt, and the Belgic Confession. Each of these three comes out of the 16th century western European context. When persons become pastors in the CRC they commit themselves to agreement with the teachings in these documents.
