Kelly Talsma Appointed as the MFCA’s Next Director

The Ministerial Formation Certification Agency (MFCA), a theological agent of the Reformed Church in America, has appointed Kelly Talsma as its next director, effective January 1, 2026. She steps into this role after 33 years on General Synod Council (GSC) staff, beginning as an administrative assistant for the Theological Education Agency (TEA), the MFCA’s predecessor, then transitioning to her current position as manager and registrar for the MFCA.

“This is a recognition of Kelly’s leadership capability and experience,” says Christina Tazelaar, the RCA’s chief operating officer, who served as the hiring supervisor for this position. “Kelly is always fully present and interested in what is happening. She’s willing to step up and take things on, she’s invested in improving culture, and she’s very humble. Kelly engages candidates and alumni in awesome and personable ways. She’s grounded in the focus of the MFCA’s work and committed to moving the work forward in ways that are Christ-centered and ways that create opportunities for diverse people.”

“Kelly has the experience, and being the person she is, we’ve long felt she’s a person of great compassion and collaboration,” adds Rev. Verlyn Hemmen, chair of the MFCA board of trustees. “She’s the person to take us into a cloudy future. We are confident in Kelly—her experience, her knowledge, and her commitment.”

The MFCA, officially established in 1999, awards certificates of readiness for examination (CRE) to candidates for ministry who are seeking an MDiv or its academic equivalent from a seminary that is not officially related to the RCA. The MFCA also approves alternate routes (AAR) for ministry candidates who might meet the requirements for a CRE but have not attended an officially related RCA seminary.

Currently, there are 27 candidates for ministry in the MFCA’s programs, which Talsma says is the lowest number the MFCA has seen. The MFCA boasts nearly 600 alumni, granted either the formerly used certificate of fitness for ministry or the current CRE, since TEA’s inception in 1986. (Read more about the CRE process and rationale.)

The MFCA reports to its board, as well as to the general secretary. Going forward, Talsma will report to the chief operating officer for GSC-accountable responsibilities; she will also continue her management and registrar roles. Amy White will continue to serve the MFCA as a full-time administrative assistant until this spring when her hours will be reduced.

“Kelly is passionate about the MFCA’s work of preparing leaders for ministry, and she brings a wealth of experience after serving MFCA and its predecessor, TEA,” says Rev. Eddy Alemán, RCA general secretary. “I’m very pleased that Kelly will become the next director of the Ministerial Formation Certification Agency.”

Recent transitions and changes related to the MFCA

The MFCA’s outgoing leader, Rev. David Schutt, is retiring at the end of December, after five and a half years in the role.

“It has been a privilege and honor to serve the RCA and the MFCA over the last five and a half years. I am most pleased with the strides we have made in collaborating with our Hispanic leaders and pastors seeking ordination in the RCA,” says Schutt.

“I am excited and grateful that Kelly Talsma will be the new director of the MFCA. Kelly has the leadership skills and gifts that make her perfectly suited to serve in this position,” he adds. “I have had the privilege of working with her for the past five years and have no doubt that she will do an excellent job. She comes with over 30 years of experience working for the MFCA and this will serve her well in her new role. The MFCA and the RCA are blessed to have Kelly in this position of leadership.”

Following the July 2020 retirement of Rev. Dr. Cornelis Kors, the MFCA’s executive director for 29 years, Schutt was hired on an interim basis to dissolve the MFCA in the face of financial strain, a recommendation that was approved by the General Synod Council in 2020. The Pastoral Formation Oversight Board (PFOB)—approved in 2018 to oversee the certification process and to collaborate with the RCA’s theological agents to approve candidates for ministry—was directed to work with the Commission on Church Order to bring necessary changes to the Book of Church Order to that effect. Ultimately, PFOB decided that it was best to reform the MFCA, not dissolve it.

In 2021, the MFCA began operating off of its reserves, and with a significantly reduced budget, after its theological education assessment was eliminated. (The theological education assessment for MFCA was reinstated the following year.) Savings were also realized when the MFCA stopped offering its own courses and instead directed candidates to take courses offered by Western Theological Seminary and New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Additional changes in recent years clarified language in the Book of Church Order, emphasizing the role of the classis as primary in the ordination process, while the theological agent—New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Western Theological Seminary, and the MFCA—is responsible for attesting that a candidate has been appropriately instructed and may be examined for ordination by the classis.

“With God’s help, I’ve been able to accept the uncertainty over the last number of years,” says Talsma. “I know change is coming. It doesn’t rattle me. We’re going to continue to do what we’re doing, and do it well. The MFCA staff is committed to walking with our candidates and classes/middle assemblies in all the changes that are coming and helping those transitions be as smooth as possible. We’re doing what we are tasked to do: guiding and preparing people to serve as ministers of Word and sacrament in the RCA.”

Looking forward with confidence

While dissolution of the Ministerial Formation Certification Agency is no longer in the works, a restructure is still likely. 

“The work of the MFCA has been impacted by financial realities and lower enrollment,” says Alemán. “The Pastoral Formation Oversight Board is still working on a proposal to restructure the work of the MFCA to better match available resources and current realities for theological education. PFOB brought an initial proposal to General Synod last year, which was sent back to the team for further work. That has been in process, and I expect them to bring a more detailed proposal to General Synod 2026 for consideration. I am confident in Kelly’s ability to lead throughout that upcoming transition.”

As director of the MFCA, Talsma will also be a member of PFOB.

For now, the MFCA staff continues to walk alongside its candidates pursuing ordination in the RCA, with a special focus on creating pathways for Spanish-speaking leaders.

“We’re working on getting our documents translated into Spanish. It’s exciting that we have a collaboration to better serve Spanish-speaking leaders,” says Talsma. “We continue to move in a direction that will better serve the RCA and its changing needs. We are open to what’s ahead and are working to be as prepared as possible to serve the RCA as we are called to do. I believe there is still a place for us, but it might look a little different.” 

“We remain highly committed to our mission and our work,” confirms Hemmen. “We have commitments to a lot of folks that we need to fulfill. Participants in the process shouldn’t expect much change. We remain available, and we remain steady as we go. I’m quite optimistic.”