Paul VanderKlay's Podcast How the Post-War Consensus Changed the CRCNA with Rod Hugen and Aleah Marsden
Jun 23, 2025
Rod Hugen, a lifelong CRC member and evangelist from Iowa, shares his reflections on growing up in a close-knit Dutch community and navigating faith through societal changes. Aleah Marsden, a female minister who came to the CRC as a teenager, discusses her seminary journey and the challenges of representation in a male-dominated ministry. Together, they explore the cultural tensions within diverse congregations, the balancing act of tradition and inclusivity, and the evolving identity of the church in changing times.
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Rod Hugen's Childhood CRC Experience
- Rod Hugen shares his childhood in the Dutch Christian Reformed Church's tight-knit community in Pella, Iowa and Phoenix, Arizona.
- He highlights the care within the colony despite the community's insularity and lack of diversity.
Aleah's Introduction to CRC
- Aleah Marsden describes joining the CRC with limited knowledge of its Dutch roots or Reformed theology.
- She found the community welcoming, intellectually satisfying, and was introduced to infant baptism and Reformed teaching.
Rod’s College Journey Outside CRC
- Rod attended a Southern Baptist college due to family obligations after his father's death.
- A professor encouraged him to challenge and share his beliefs, which shaped his theological perspective.