(Board Chairman) Vermaire would not elaborate on the sketchy wording of the press release. CRC Director of Communications Henry Hess said in an email, “It is fair to say that it was related to disagreements between Jerry and the board over how he was doing his job.”

The Rev. Jerry Dykstra says Christian Reformed Church trustees made an “abrupt” decision by asking him to resign as executive director of the Grand Rapids-based denomination.

“The board of trustees made the decision this was a time for us to part company, so I accepted that and resigned,” Dykstra said in his first interview since stepping down from the CRC’s top administrative post last week.

While stressing he did not want to criticize the board’s action, Dykstra said he “did not know it was coming” prior to meeting with board members April 5. He said he had not had prior conversations with the board about leaving the post he has held for five years.

“It’s certainly not how I would have handled it with any of my staff,” Dykstra added.

“Why would we not have done a smooth transition and hand-off, so the way was well-prepared and well-paved for the next person? It’s a little too abrupt.”

CRC officials did not specify why Dykstra resigned, other than citing “personal and family reasons” in a press release. They later clarified there was no wrongdoing involved.

“While ‘personal and family reasons’ can sometimes be code-words for a moral failing or misconduct, they are not here,” said Board of Trustees President the Rev. Mark Vermaire. “Jerry has been and remains a member in good standing in the CRC….”

Dykstra, 61, a Holland native and minister’s son, was named executive director in 2006. He had served as director of denominational ministries for a year and as pastor of CRC congregations since 1990.

Read More: http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/04/former_crc_leader_says_he_was.html