Paul VanderKlay's Podcast Why are Christian Reformed Churches struggling and Christian Reformed Day Schools Thriving?
Feb 18, 2026
A look at why Christian Reformed day schools are growing while their churches shrink. Explores historical roots, parental control of schools, and how tuition support and vouchers shape enrollment. Discusses demographic shifts, culture-war dynamics, and the rise of educated, family-focused religious networks. Covers conflicts between confessional commitments and institutional flexibility.
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Scaling Schools By Opening Doors
- CRC day schools survived demographic church decline by recruiting non-CRC students and using policies like vouchers.
- Paul notes Florida schools used vouchers to grow schools first, then the church.
Midwest Visit: Schools Transformed
- Paul visited Midwestuary and saw Timothy Christian Schools transformed with bigger facilities and far more students.
- He contrasts those thriving schools with struggling CRC churches in metropolitan areas.
Younger Conservatives On Sexuality
- Younger clergy and laypeople often hold more traditional views on sexual ethics than older cohorts, reshaping denominational alignments.
- Paul cites Ryan Burge's research showing dramatic age differences on same-sex marriage among clergy.