Kerk&Raad

What Kerk&Raad does

Kerk&Raad B.V. is a Dutch advisory and professional services firm that supports ecclesiastical communities — primarily Protestant church councils (kerkenraden), parish boards (parochiebesturen), and individual officeholders (ambtsdragers) — across the Netherlands. Founded in 2021 in Gorinchem and operating under a steward-owned structure with no profit motive, the firm combines ecclesiastical domain expertise (church law, canon law, theology) with financial, organizational, and governance advisory practice. Its portfolio spans five thematic clusters: coaching/guidance, organization and governance, policy and finances, church buildings, and liturgy/music, plus bespoke training, interim officeholder placement, and a managed VOG (Certificate of Conduct) registry service.

The firm's core intellectual assets are proprietary advisory methodologies rather than software platforms: the Kerk&Raad Samenwerkingsmodel (a five-step framework for church mergers and partnerships), the Nieuw Kerkelijk Peil (NKP) survey instrument adapted from Australian church bodies to measure nine core qualities of a Dutch congregation, and the Kerk&Raad Spel (a board game used as a facilitation tool). It supplements these with partner integrations — Donkey Mobile for community apps, Bestuursgemak for governance platform, and ArkelStad Notarissen for legal execution — to deliver a bundled advisory-plus-execution stack.

Kerk&Raad generates revenue through project-based advisory engagements, interim professional placements, training workshops, book sales (Kirsten Slettenaar's 'Zin in Zijn'), and a recurring monthly VOG-beheer subscription at €35 incl. VAT. Go-to-market is sales-led and community-led, relying on content marketing (blog, newsletter), earned media in church publications, partnership referrals from VKB, and free monthly WhatsApp Q&A sessions. Effective January 1, 2026, Kerk&Raad merged with Kerk&cetera to consolidate advisory, interim, and execution services under one roof.

Name

Kerk&Raad

Legal name

Kerk&Raad B.V.

Website

https://kerkraad.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kerk&Raad is a Dutch steward-owned advisory firm that supports Protestant church councils, parish boards, and ecclesiastical officeholders across the Netherlands with governance, financial, legal, and interim-management services, including a VOG-beheer subscription.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecclesiastical Advisory Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

Keywords

• Church governance advisory
• Ecclesiastical consulting services
• Parish board advisory
• Church financial administration
• Ministry interim support

Headquarters

HQ city

Gorinchem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory and Consulting Services: Kerk&Raad provides advisory and professional services to church councils, parish boards, and ecclesiastical officeholders. Services include kerkrechtelijk advies (church law advisory), organizational consulting, future-oriented policy development, financial administration and advice, interim church council members, team coaching, conflict mediation, and merger/fusion support. These are billed as project-based or retainer engagements.
2. Administrative and Managed Services: Ongoing administrative support including financial administration, VOG register management, and bookkeeping for church communities. VOG management is priced at a recurring monthly fee of €35 incl. VAT.
3. Publications and Products: Sale of published works such as the book 'Zin in Zijn' authored by Kirsten Slettenaar, available through bookstores. Also includes facilitation tools such as the Kerk&Raad Spel.
4. Training and Workshops: Customized training programs for church officeholders (scriba, voorzitter, kerkrentmeester, pastoraat). Referrals to PKN dienstenorganisatie for standardized PKN trainings, with Kerk&Raad providing bespoke training for other denominations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kerk&Raad provides advisory, interim-professional, and administrative services to church councils (kerkenraden), parish boards (parochiebesturen), and individual ecclesiastical officeholders across the Netherlands. Core offerings span church-law advisory, organizational development, financial administration, future-oriented policy planning, conflict mediation, interim council-member placement, safe-church (Veilige kerk) and VOG (Certificate of Conduct) management, merger and fusion support, and customized training for scriba's, voorzitters, kerkrentmeesters, and pastoral workers. The firm combines theological, governance, and financial expertise under a steward-owned structure with no profit motive, serving Protestant, Catholic, and other Christian denominations nationwide.

Product overview

Kerk&Raad is a consultancy firm that supports churches, parishes, and ecclesiastical organizations in the Netherlands with advisory, interim, and administrative services. The offering is organized into five thematic clusters: Coaching and guidance (Conflictverkenning, Spelen met liturgie, Bezinningsdag, Trainingen, Veilige kerk/Vertrouwenspersoon), Organization and governance (Kerkelijke organisatie, Kerkrechtelijk advies, Predikant en kerkenraad, Tijdelijk kerkenraadslid, Kant en klaar fusiepakket, Nieuw Kerkelijk Peil), Policy and finances (Toekomstgericht beleid, Kerkelijk geld, Beleggingen), Church buildings (Kerkgebouwen), and Liturgy and church music (Muzikaal kerkzijn, Escape from Egypt, Lichaam en ziel). Supplementary services include VOG-beheer (certificate management), specialized trainings (scribe, treasurer, chairperson, pastoral care), and the published book 'Zin in Zijn'. The portfolio also includes the Kerk&Raad Samenwerkingsmodel, a structured cooperation model with five building blocks for inter-congregational collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kerkrechtelijk advies (Church Law Advisory) Expert advice on church law and canon law for church councils and parish boards, including a broad network of specialists to navigate rules for organizing ecclesiastical life.
• Tijdelijk kerkenraadslid (Interim Church Council Member) Placement of interim officers (president, scribe, church treasurer) to church councils when regular office bearers cannot be found, particularly when major decisions are pending.
• Kerkelijke organisatie (Church Organization Advisory) Advisory on organizational restructuring when the need for activities changes due to demographics, volunteer availability, or operational complexity.
• Kerkgebouwen (Church Buildings Advisory) Policy development and decision-making support on the use, exploitation, maintenance, and management of church buildings, including monumental heritage.
• Toekomstgericht beleid (Future-oriented Policy Development) Assistance to church councils and parish boards in developing future-oriented policy plans with clear goals and informed choices, drawing on external expertise.
• Spelen met liturgie (Playing with Liturgy) Guidance for church councils in developing liturgical policy that balances different musical styles and traditions, including blended worship approaches.
• Escape from Egypt (Reflection Day) Experiential day of deepening and connection based on the biblical story of Moses, where participants prepare their own 'Escape from Egypt' through dialogue, texts, and ritual.
• Lichaam en ziel ('Zin in Zijn' book) Publication of the book 'Zin in Zijn' (Sense of Being) written by Kirsten Slettenaar, using elements from the Christian tradition and haptonomy to guide readers in discovering bodily and emotional limits through biblical stories; available through bookstores.
• Training scriba (Scribe Training) Tailored training for scribes and secretaries of church councils or parish boards, helping them understand expectations in their role as office holder and church council member.
• Veilige kerk (Safe Church Program) Comprehensive support for developing and implementing church safety policy, including behavior codes, VOG (Certificate of Conduct) management, information sessions, and external confidential advisor services.
• VOG-beheer (VOG Certificate Management) Professional management of VOG (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag / Certificate of Conduct) registers including inventory, policy development, renewal reminders, and digital VOG applications via eHerkenning chain authorization; priced at €35 per month incl. VAT.
• Kant en klaar fusiepakket (Ready-made Merger Package) Ready-made merger package for church communities that fulfills all ecclesiastical requirements for mergers, providing a clear timeline and step-by-step checklist.
• Predikant en kerkenraad (Minister and Church Council Coaching) Guidance for both ministers and church councils when visions diverge, supporting the council's protective role toward the minister and facilitating productive collaboration.
• Nieuw Kerkelijk Peil (NKP) Parish Vitality Survey Scientifically grounded survey instrument examining nine core qualities of a congregation and mapping existing strengths, helping church councils shape future-oriented policy.
• Conflictverkenning (Conflict Exploration) Assessment of conflict situations through conversations and advice on how to move forward, helping to recognize and address conflicts in church council settings.
• Beleggingen (Investment Policy Advisory) Evaluation and adjustment of investment policy and strategy, and support in drafting or revising investment statutes for church communities.
• Kerkelijk geld (Church Financial Advisory) Financial advisory on responsible use of available funds, linking resources to policy goals, and presenting the story behind the numbers for church communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• The team grew from its founding to 10 persons by 2023, serving church communities across the Netherlands

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VKB (Vereniging voor Kerkrentmeesterlijk Beheer)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKerk&Raad is an official partner of VKB, the service bureau for kerkrentmeesters (church administrators) in the Protestantse Kerk in Nederland. VKB refers its members to Kerk&Raad for specialized advisory services and also advocates for church employees in CAO negotiations and organizes knowledge sessions.
• ArkelStad NotarissenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArkelStad Notarissen is a modern notary firm with a low-threshold approach. It supports Kerk&Raad in all aspects of merging and fusing church communities, as well as in the purchase and sale of special real estate (church buildings).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kerkpunt: Dutch Catholic support organization that provides advisory and support services to parishes and parish boards in the Netherlands. Most directly comparable peer because it serves the same customer archetype (local ecclesiastical governance bodies) with similar advisory services on the opposite denomination.

Broad incumbents

• Protestantse Kerk in Nederland (PKN): Largest Protestant denomination in the Netherlands, whose internal dienstenorganisatie provides training, guidance, and standardized support to PKN church councils. Competes indirectly because PKN refers its members to Kerk&Raad for non-standard / bespoke work, but also offers overlapping in-house advisory capabilities.
• Berenschot: Major Dutch management consulting firm with a dedicated public-sector and nonprofit practice. Overlaps with Kerk&Raad on organizational, governance, and change-management advice that could be offered to large denominations or umbrella bodies, though it lacks ecclesiastical domain specialization.
• Bisdom Rotterdam: Roman Catholic diocese that provides governance, administrative, and pastoral support to parishes in its region. Comparable because it serves the same ecclesiastical governance-vertical client base (parish boards) and provides overlapping advisory on church order, finance, and organizational matters.
• Bisdom Haarlem-Amsterdam: Roman Catholic diocese covering the western Netherlands with internal advisory staff supporting parish boards on governance, finance, and church law. Overlaps directly with Kerk&Raad's kerkrechtelijk advies and organizational advisory services for Catholic parish boards.

Others

• KASKO: Pension fund and employment-conditions administrator for church employees in the Netherlands. Adjacent rather than competitive, but serves the same Dutch ecclesiastical client base and offers complementary financial-administration infrastructure.
• Raad van Kerken in Nederland: Dutch ecumenical council bringing together Christian denominations for dialogue and cooperation. Not a direct competitor but engages with the same constituencies on governance and societal positioning topics; an ecosystem participant rather than an advisory peer.
• Kerk in Actie: Mission and service arm of the Protestantse Kerk in Nederland, supporting congregational life and societal engagement. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but works with the same Dutch Protestant constituency on church vitality topics that overlap with Kerk&Raad's NKP and policy offerings.

Emerging players

• VKB (Vereniging voor Kerkrentmeesterlijk Beheer): National association and service bureau for kerkrentmeesters (church administrators) in the PKN tradition. Functions as both a referral partner and an adjacent service provider to the same client base, with overlapping expertise in financial administration and church governance support.
• SKIN (Samen Kerk in Nederland): Dutch support organization for migrant and international Christian churches in the Netherlands. Comparable as an emerging specialist serving a specific ecclesiastical sub-segment with advisory and governance support services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kerk-raad
• Instagraminstagram.com/kerkraad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kerk&Raad