Paul VanderKlay's Podcast Why the Christian Reformed Church Golden Age Failed
Feb 20, 2026
A look at why a midcentury institutional peak in a Reformed denomination faded. Discussions cover shifting theological priorities, institutional control battles, and how academic ambition reshaped church leadership. Demographic changes, migration, and competing Reformed movements get attention. The story traces when long-standing elites lost cultural traction and why their vision did not secure succession.
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Postwar Flourishing Explained
- The CRC's golden age peaked in the 1970s with booming membership, schools, and institutional influence.
- Paul Vanderklay links that flourishing to postwar demographics, Dutch immigration, and strong Calvin College theology.
Childhood in a Thriving CRC
- Paul recalls growing up in the CRC's late 1960s–70s heyday with full churches and many CRC kids at Eastern Christian.
- He uses personal memory to illustrate how dense and interconnected CRC communities once were.
Institutions Held Power Long-Term
- The CRC's institutional power centered on Calvin College and Seminary and a coalition of influential theologians.
- That coalition guided the denomination for decades but failed to secure a future for its vision.