Collars & Calluses: Episode 53 - Introducing the CREC

Bill and Rich discuss the legitimacy of denominations, noting they are not the ideal visible unity of the church but are often a providential, pragmatic reality after historic splits and doctrinal disagreements; they emphasize humility, cooperation across orthodox traditions, and “Reformed Catholicity” as a long-term unity project. They explain the CREC’s origins in the mid-to-late 1990s as independent Reformed churches banding together, its pan-Reformed confessional breadth (including 1689 Baptists), and distinctives such as paedo-communion, liturgical covenant-renewal worship, emphasis on covenant family and Christian education, postmillennial optimism, and cultural engagement. They describe CREC polity (presbyteries, triennial council, memorials as gatekeeping statements), COVID-era stances, international growth, a Memorial on Nations addressing both globalism and extreme ethnonationalism. Contact collarsandcalluses@gmail.com; Bill is @wrs2_ and Rich is @Vicar1973. Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches https://crechurches.org/ “Paedofaith” by Rich Lusk https://me-l.co/g23ajrrs “A Covenant Primer” by Bill Smith https://me-l.co/0ds5ovrv “The Lord’s Service” by Jeff Meyers https://me-l.co/o87v7aws