Bethel Church is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America (RCA), a historic Reformed Protestant denomination in the United States and Canada. The RCA is governed through a representative form of church leadership and maintains a strong commitment to biblical teaching, evangelism, and Christian mission.
In recent years, some neighboring churches in Northwest Iowa have chosen to leave the RCA, expressing concerns that the denomination has experienced a liberal shift in theology. Similar divisions have occurred in other denominations, particularly surrounding questions of human sexuality and LGBTQ inclusion.
Because of these developments, Bethel's Consistory believes it is important for every member to understand both the biblical convictions of our congregation and the current reality within the RCA. The document attached to this email provides an overview of RCA governance, recent tensions within the denomination, the restructuring that is scheduled to take effect in 2027, and answers the question on whether the denomination has changed its position in regards to marriage and human sexuality.
The short answer to that question is No: the RCA has not changed its historic theological position on marriage and human sexuality. While there are differing viewpoints among some congregations and leaders, the denomination's official standards and confessional documents remain unchanged. We encourage you to read the attached document and hope you find it helpful.
In Christ’s love,
Your Elders & Deacons