Presbyterian Church in America’s Classis Southeast US Hosts Conference to Catalyze 10-Year Church Planting Vision

The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has taken a significant step toward a decade-long transformation in church planting, marked by the recent Multiply Conference. Hosted in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the event was co-sponsored by Classis Southeast US and Resonate Global Mission. The conference aimed to catalyze a denomination-wide strategic plan focused on church planting, with the goal of building momentum across the CRCNA.

Pastors and church planters expressed enthusiasm about the conference, seeing it as a pivotal moment for the denomination. Lora Copley, interim editor-in-chief of The Banner, and Martin Spoelstra, a church planter in Ontario, both shared their excitement about the potential impact of the event. They described it as a turning point that could shape the future of the CRCNA over the next ten years.

Classis Southeast US, a regional group of churches, played a central role in initiating the conference. The classis has been a driving force behind the push for church planting, leading to a resolution at Synod 2025 to prioritize church planting within the denominational budget. Synod encouraged churches to connect with Resonate Global Mission, check with their connected church planters, and develop or strengthen church planting strategies in partnership with the organization.

At the prompting of Classis Southeast US delegate Scott Vander Ploeg, Synod instructed the Office of General Secretary to coordinate with agencies and classes to develop a vision, plan, strategy, and financial proposal for church planting over the next decade. This plan was to be presented to the churches by the time of the next synod. The Multiply Conference was launched to sustain the momentum and further develop this vision.

Spoelstra noted that Vander Ploeg had already been discussing the idea of a conference as a catalyst for the conversations around the vision before Synod 2025 concluded. The collaboration between Vander Ploeg and Spoelstra during the conference highlighted a shared commitment to advancing the church planting initiative. The conference served as a platform to communicate the vision and mobilize support across the CRCNA.

The initiative reflects a broader effort within the CRCNA to address the challenges of church planting and to foster growth and vitality within the denomination. By prioritizing church planting and developing a strategic plan, the CRCNA aims to strengthen its presence and impact in communities across the country. The Multiply Conference marks a significant milestone in this journey, setting the stage for continued progress and collaboration.

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