Rephonic
Artwork for The Messy Reformation

The Messy Reformation

Jason Ruis
Christian Reformed Church
Synod 2024
Reformation
Synod 2025
Synod
Discipleship
Confessions
Human Sexuality
Reformed Theology
Church Planting
Covenant For Office Bearers
Courageous Leadership
Youth Ministry
Human Sexuality Report
Synod 2026
Ecclesiology
Leadership
Prayer
Calvin Seminary
Baptism

We love the Christian Reformed Church; we want to see reformation in our denomination; and we recognize that reformation is typically messy. So, we’re having conversations with pastors throughout the CRC about what reformation might look like.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes288Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Religion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Messy Reformation

Latest Episodes

Chris Ganski and Derek Buikema join Jason to talk about the overture out of Classis Wisconsin to Synod 2026 calling for a study committee on the nature of the church. It is not a flashy overture. It is not addressing a fight. But Chris and Derek argu... more

Jason and Dan DeGraff kick off the Messy Reformation's annual Synod coverage with a breakdown of the convening session of Synod 2026. The convening session is mostly a warm-up — an hour of tech troubleshooting and a chance for delegates to find their... more

In part two of our conversation with Lora Copley, editor of The Banner, the question turns from where the Banner has been to where it could go. Lora doesn't dodge — she names specifics. A Banner podcast launching this year, fully funded through grass... more

Lora Copley never thought she'd be editor of The Banner. When her name first came up, she sent back a crying-laughing emoji. She was a campus minister in Iowa, not a journalist. But on a Saturday afternoon — the day before the application deadline, w... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Three Forms Podcast
Three Forms PodcastThree Forms Podcast
Reformed Podmatics
Reformed PodmaticsReformed Podmatics
Renewing Your Mind
Renewing Your MindLigonier Ministries
White Horse Inn
White Horse InnMichael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, Walter R. Strickland II
The Briefing with Albert Mohler
The Briefing with Albert MohlerR. Albert Mohler, Jr.

Recent Guests

Chris Ganski
Co-author of the overture and fellow pastor
Unknown from transcript
Episode: Episode 274: Synod 2026 — What Is a Church? Forcing a Theological Conversation (Chris Ganski & Derek Buikema)
Lora Copley
Interim editor of The Banner (current)
The Banner
Episode: Episode 271: Breaking the Echo Chamber - Wider Voices in the Banner — Lora Copley (Part 1)
Lee Christoffels
Minister with 52 years of ministry, Worthington CRC
Worthington Christian Reformed Church
Episode: Episode Replay: Why Reformation Is Always a Return, Never an Evolution — Lee Christoffels
Harry Frielink
Pastor
Episode: Episode 266: If We Are Faithful Now, We Can Trust the Word — Harry Frielink (Part 2)
Shaun Furniss
Pastor and church leader discussed in episode
Episode: Episode 264: I've Never Fixed Anyone — Shaun Furniss (Part 2)
Roger Sparks
Pastor; STM participant
Church leadership circles mentioned
Episode: Episode 262: The Communication Problem Every Church Has — Roger Sparks & Harv Roosma (Part 2)
Harv Roosma
Pastor; STM participant
Church leadership circles mentioned
Episode: Episode 262: The Communication Problem Every Church Has — Roger Sparks & Harv Roosma (Part 2)
Cameron Oegema
One of the pastors at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Listowel, Ontario.
Bethel Christian Reformed Church
Episode: Episode 257: From Passive Participant To Active Leadership — Cameron Oegema (Part 1)
Kurt Ritsema
Pastor with over 22 years of experience in ministry and background in youth ministry.
Bethel CRC
Episode: Episode 255: What Seminary Cannot Teach You — Kurt Ritsema (Part 1)

Hosts

Jason Rice
Host with multiple affiliations in CRC congregations and ministry contexts
Willie Cronke
Co-host bringing CRC local church perspectives

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 73 ratings
  • Refreshing

    Thanks for being a voice of reason and clarity to work through whats going on with the CRC. Really enjoying all the different perspectives and it’s so encouraging to see how many faithful preachers there still are in the denomination and these conversations are a great starting place for starting conversations we need to be having in our own local church communities.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MBHB95
    Canada2 years ago
  • Dropping truth

    Dropping reformation truth weekly.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aromatharpy katie
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-value guests and practical takeaways for local churches and synods.
Candid discussions on governance and leadership that attract pastors and church leaders.
Thoughtful, steady conversations that push toward reform without abandoning doctrinal grounding.

Top Religion & Spirituality Podcasts

The Bible Recap
The Bible RecapTara-Leigh Cobble
followHIM
followHIMHank Smith & John Bytheway
The Briefing with Albert Mohler
The Briefing with Albert MohlerR. Albert Mohler, Jr.
The Drop the Needle Podcast
The Drop the Needle PodcastThe Drop the Needle Podcast
Fringe Beyond Limits
Fringe Beyond LimitsFringe Beyond Limits, Bleav
WHOA That's Good Podcast
WHOA That's Good PodcastSadie Robertson Huff

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 271: Breaking the Echo Chamber - Wider Voices in the Banner — Lora Copley (Part 1)
Q: So going from the interim editor to Senate as the permanent editor, did you feel prompted to pursue the permanent role as strongly as the interim role?
Lora describes the ongoing discernment process, conversations with colleagues, and a sense that continuing the work was a natural progression once trajectory changes were identified; the decision involved prayer, weighing commitments, and discussions about releasing from previous roles.
Episode Replay: Why Reformation Is Always a Return, Never an Evolution — Lee Christoffels
Q: What role does preaching style play in maintaining doctrinal integrity within the church?
Expositional preaching is crucial because it centers Scripture as the authoritative voice, preventing the pastor from becoming the sole sense-maker and helping the congregation engage a biblically grounded message across generations.
Episode Replay: Why Reformation Is Always a Return, Never an Evolution — Lee Christoffels
Q: How has the CRC's understanding of Scripture authority shaped debates about reform over the decades?
Scripture's authority is the central testing ground; reform should align with Scripture and the confessions, not with changing cultural pressures or novelty, which helps explain why confessional unity matters for steady reform.
Episode Replay: Why Reformation Is Always a Return, Never an Evolution — Lee Christoffels
Q: What were some of the joys of ministry over 52 years, and how do they inform your view of reform in the CRC?
Joy comes from seeing people come to know the Bible and the Reformed faith, from long-term ministry where relationships and mentoring flourish, and from watching former congregants grow in faith and family life; these experiences underscore the value of stability and doctrinal clarity in pursuing reform.
Episode 266: If We Are Faithful Now, We Can Trust the Word — Harry Frielink (Part 2)
Q: As we approach Synod and talk about reform, what words would you leave with our listeners?
He urges pastors to blow on the live embers of people's faith, to stay in the Word and in prayer, and to walk with those God is drawing to Christ, emphasizing personal devotion as the source of public leadership.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Messy Reformation

What is The Messy Reformation about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations center on reforming a bi-national denomination through practical, pastor-led dialogue. Episodes frequently tackle governance, church polity, synod decisions, and the balance between tradition and renewal, with guests ranging from interim editors and church leaders to pastors and STM specialists. The show often blends candid, sometimes provocative takes on strategy (e.g., budgeting, classis planning, church planting) with grounded pastoral care discussions, making it a go-to for listeners who want tangible paths toward healthier churches and a more coherent reform agenda. A standout trait is its willingness to debate contentious topics openly—while staying rooted in Reformed doctrine and CRC accountability—often aiming to trans... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Messy Reformation?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Messy Reformation. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Messy Reformation and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Messy Reformation get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Messy Reformation, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Messy Reformation?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Messy Reformation, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Messy Reformation have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Messy Reformation has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Messy Reformation?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Messy Reformation:

1. Three Forms Podcast
2. Reformed Podmatics
3. Renewing Your Mind
4. White Horse Inn
5. The Briefing with Albert Mohler

How many episodes of The Messy Reformation are there?

The Messy Reformation launched 6 years ago and published 288 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Messy Reformation?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Messy Reformation?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Messy Reformation from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Messy Reformation?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Messy Reformation. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Messy Reformation?

Recent guests on The Messy Reformation include:

1. Chris Ganski
2. Lora Copley
3. Lee Christoffels
4. Harry Frielink
5. Shaun Furniss
6. Roger Sparks
7. Harv Roosma
8. Cameron Oegema

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days