This is the first in a series of stories on local churches affiliated with Reformed Church in America who are changing denominations.
SIOUX CENTER—Sioux Center’s oldest church recently unveiled its new name as part of its move to join a new denomination, the Alliance of Reformed Churches.
Centerpoint Church launched its name change Feb. 20 but officially became an ARC partner church Jan. 1.
Previously, its two campuses — First Reformed Church in Sioux Center and Granite Church in Hawarden — belonged to the Reformed Church in America, one of the oldest Protestant bodies in the United States.
Centerpoint Church and New Life Church in Sioux Center along with Faith Church in Rock Valley make up the three partner churches in Iowa so far that have split from the national denomination this year because of theological differences regarding same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy. According to ARC21.org, 22 other churches in Iowa are also in the process of joining the ARC.
“There are great churches in the RCA, but we understand based on scripture that we’re going to be a church that supports the traditional view of marriage. That’s not up for debate. Scripture is the authoritative word of God and that’s not up for debate either,” said Centerpoint lead pastor Rev. Jamie Dykstra. “There has been a lot of tension and energy focused on that issue within the RCA at the national level, but we as a church wanted to move forward, investing energy into doing the work that Christ called us to do through the Great Commission, going out and making disciples.”
The tension within the national denomination resulted in the 2018 General Synod creating a Vision 2020 team to provide a way for churches within the denomination to move forward. The coronavirus pandemic pushed the RCA’s unveiling of the ARC as a way “to formally and legally plant a new community of churches as an entity independent from the RCA” according to ARC’s website, back to 2021.
Simultaneously, starting in 2019, Dykstra said Centerpoint’s leadership team started to review who the church was and how it fit, if at all, within the RCA.
“We looked at existing denominations but as we evaluated who we are and our values, it felt like joining the ARC was worth investing in,” Dykstra said. “We thought there was value in aligning with this emerging denomination that could be a landing spot for churches in that grace-filled separation and trying to invest and maintain relationships with other churches we’ve known for a long time.”
The church body voted late last summer to leave the RCA and join the ARC.
“It’s a big decision to transition from the RCA to something else and making that decision while a global pandemic, which has strained the church as well as a lot of society, is also happening; it is hard,” Dykstra said. “Trying to move forward with all different groups of people is hard to navigate so there’s some grief in this change.
“We love and celebrate our time with the RCA. It’s a big part of who we’ve been, so we appropriately grieve that transition, but we’re also really excited about the possibility and opportunity to join with other churches in a shared mission in the ARC.
Centerpoint created a new name after being asked to do so by the West Sioux classis of which the church as First Reformed was a member.
“In an agreement with that classis, we were asked to change our name and reintroduce ourselves as part of our decision to leave the RCA,” Dykstra said. “Because the classis asked us to do this, we engaged with a consultant to walk through the process of rebranding ourselves.”
Centerpoint worked with Artistry Labs of Houston for about six months to develop its new name and logo as well as its restated mission, vision and values.
“Our new name comes out of our roots,” Dykstra said. “In 1877, pioneering men and women made their way out to what is now Sioux Center. They planted a church. It was called the Reformed Church of West Branch; that was our initial church and the name was based on West Branch Creek, which flows into the Floyd River. It took on a geographical identity. Then, in 1889, those same pioneers rebranded and became First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, taking on a denominational identity.”
In 2017, after Hawarden Community Church made the decision to close, Dykstra said Centerpoint’s leadership decided that was a ministry it wanted to take on, out of which Granite Church was born.
“Now in 2022, we are Centerpoint Church with two campuses,” Dykstra said.
A close up look at the logo reveals a “C” from the blue on the left and a “P” in the negative white space at its center.
“One of the things that drew us to this particular design was that the shape reminded our team of the points on a Google map or mall kiosk that says ‘you are here,’” Dykstra said. “We wanted to communicate belonging, that people are in the right place.
“This is also a place you can come for direction, to navigate the life of discipleship — place where you can come to navigate from here to there on your journey to Jesus.”
The church’s new name also reflects its historical roots.
“The gospel invites us to make disciples in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth,” Dykstra said. “At this mission outpost here where they planted West Branch Church, that was an extension of that calling. So in that same pioneering legacy of faith, though we leave behind our affiliation with the RCA, whom we wish well, Christ continues to be our center and the point of everything we do. We exist to make Christ known.
“As we go forward living into that calling, we feel it’s an appropriate time to start a new chapter.”
One way in which Centerpoint will be living out that calling is sending out a husband-wife team, who’ve been in training for about five years, into the mission field this year.
“I’m grateful for the hard work of the staff, church leadership and volunteer groups who navigated through this process,” Dykstra said. “Though there is some grief in this process, we have found joy in seeing the hard and purposeful work we’ve done be unveiled and help us move forward, inviting people into a relationship with Jesus through our campuses and beyond.”
SIOUX CENTER—Sioux County Conservation is hosting a free Family Ice Fishing Clinic 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at Sandy Hollow Recreational Area east of Sioux Center. Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch or snacks and a bucket for a seat. Staff will pre-drill the holes, provide bait and poles and discuss the types of fish you may catch and equipment being used. Guest instructor will be 10th-grader Rowan Oostra from Sioux Center. Rowan is an avid fisherman and is a Clam Outdoors Pro. No day park pass will be needed. Participants age 16 and over need a valid fishing license. Visit www.mycountyparks.com/county/sioux.aspx.
SIOUX CENTER—Sioux Center American Legion will host a Chili Cookoff at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Legion Hall. Help to send Sioux Center boys to the Des Moines Statehouse to learn about their government. Bring your best/hottest chili. Judging will be done by public vote. First, second and third place winners. To register if bringing chili, call 712-722-3851. The public is invited to judge (taste test) then eat it with cinnamon rolls or cornbread. $10/per person.