Rabbi Susan Talve, who had been serving Congregation Shaare Emeth, consulted with the founding families in 1984, as they determined what kind of community they wanted to create. The initial group held services in a park during the summer of 1984 to build interest about the new community. CRC was formally founded that year, with 30 families attending the first High Holiday services.
A year later, Rabbi Susan was hired part time for the congregation, and has been with CRC ever since. That same year, CRC formally joined the Reform movement by affiliating with what is now known as the Union for Reform Judaism.