US Pastor Leaves Church Synod After Vote to Ban LGBTQ+ Members From Leadership

A pastor from the Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, left the church’s annual decision-making meeting on Thursday, June 15, after delegates voted to disallow LGBTQ+ members from leadership positions.

Pastor David Struyk referenced the “pain” caused to LGBTQ+ people in the church, including his own son, by the church synod’s decision before leaving the assembly hall at Calvin University in Grand Rapids.

“We’re called to be a voice for the voiceless, and in light of the decisions that were made yesterday, which some would characterize as hypocritical, on behalf of the pain that was caused to many in the LGBTQ community, including my son, and the message that was sent for so many people that they’re not welcome in the CRC, I will be leaving the synod in protest,” Struyk said.

While the synod prayed, Struyk could be seen being embraced by other delegates before leaving the room.

According to Religion News, last year the gathering ordered a church to rescind its 2020 appointment of a deacon in a same-sex marriage. “It remains unclear from synodical proceedings, however, how the denomination will enforce this year’s decisions … the deacon has completed her three-year term and is no longer in office,” Religion News said. Credit: Christian Reformed Church North America via Storyful

Video transcript

DAVID STRUYK: Dave Struyk, Classis Grand Rapids South. We're called to be a voice for the voiceless. And in light of the decisions that were made yesterday, which some would characterize as hypocritical, on behalf of the pain that was caused to many in the LGBTQ community, including my son, and the message that was sent for so many people that they're not welcome in the CRC, I will be leaving Senate in protest.

- I'm sorry to hear that, David. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that you, our Lord and our God, will be with us today, that you will be with your Church, Church with a capital C around the world, but especially your church as we know it in the Christian Reformed Church of North America.

I pray that you will be with Dave, even as he leaves. I pray that you will be with other brothers and sisters who are quite unhappy, broken, and dismayed and in despair by decisions yesterday.

I pray that you will be with our brothers and sisters who see truth in the decisions that we made yesterday, even in the midst of the brokenness. I pray that you'll be with those who find themselves this morning thinking that we did what must be done yesterday, and those who find themselves thinking, how could we do what we did yesterday?

In short, Lord, I pray for all of our brothers and sisters and pray that we will strive for full restoration, full restoration that we know only comes when we keep our eyes on you in rejoicing.