NR #1995-020: For Immediate Release Minnesota South Asks Synod to Disenfranchise Churches with Women Elders and Terminate Members from CRC Committees by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service PIPESTONE, Minn. (March 6, 1995) RBPS - Acting on an overture from Luverne (MN) Christian Reformed Church, Classis Minnesota South submitted a three-part overture to Synod 1995 that would ban churches with women elders from sending delegates to synod, ban members of those churches who agree with their church decision from serving on denominational boards and committees, and ban Classis Grand Rapids East from sending any delegates to synod until it rescinds its support for churches which have women elders. The grounds for the overture, which classis adopted at its March 2 meeting, warned that "an officebearer of a church which does not follow the church order and the decisions of synod should not be allowed to share in making synodical decisions which other churches and their officebearers are expected to follow." The first part of the overture banning delegates from churches with women elders passed unanimously. Much of the discussion noted that the overture was more moderate than other overtures urging stronger action against churches in ecclesiastical disobedience. "I think this is the kind of action we should be taking," said Rev. Terry Genzink, pastor of Pipestone (MN) CRC. "I think it is a wise and rather moderate approach compared to others." Rev. Eric Verhulst, pastor of Hull (ND) CRC, noted that supporting women in office was not the same as disobeying synod. "These actions are moderate attempts to deal with these churches," said Verhulst. "This particular overture is a response to the decisions of some churches to simply say we are going to do what we want and do our own thing, and that can't be tolerated." The second part of the overture, however, met with some stiffer opposition. In its original form, it would not only have banned members of churches which agree with women in office from serving on denominational boards and committees, but also have banned such persons from being hired or continuing their employment with denominational agencies. Genzink warned that the overture could create serious problems if it passed. "I called Gordon Van Harn, provost at Calvin College, and asked what effect this would have on their tenure policy, and he said it would devastating," said Genzink. "Dr. Van Harn said it would result in us losing our accreditation with the accreditation agencies, all federal grants, and probably even result in us losing student aid funds." "I also called Dr. Henry De Moor, the professor of church polity at our seminary, and he said it would produce a lawsuit from a terminated employee," said Genzink. Following Genzink's speech, Verhulst moved to delete the language which would terminate employees but to retain the language terminating members of denominational boards and committees. In the final form of the overture, which was adopted unanimously and sent on to synod, members of churches which have women elders are required to "send a letter to his (her) church council expressing disagreement with the council's violation of the Church Order, Article 3 and decisions of synod and send a copy of this letter to the Christian Reformed Church in North America Board of Trustees." In the absence of such a letter, the denominational board of trustees is to "terminate (or refuse to begin) this person's service on a denominational board or committee." The third part of the overture fared even better; classis voted down an attempt to strike the specific reference to Classis Grand Rapids East and instead asked synod to "declare that Classis Grand Rapids East is not allowed to send delegates to the synod during the time that it continues its official decision made on September 15, 1994, not to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it by Church Order Article 27b and 42b in dealing with its churches which have women elders." The relevant church order citations address articles which require each classis to use its church visitors to ensure compliance with denominational decisions. In a later interview, Elder Ken Vos, a member of the Luverne congregation which submitted the overture, said he was pleased the overtures met with widespread support from delegates. "We are concerned about the unity of the church," said Vos. "The concern is that if we stand back and allow people to defy synod, we will lose our unity." Cross-References to Related RBPS Articles: #1994-038: Classis Grand Rapids East Votes "In Principle" to Permit Churches to Disobey CRC Synod's Ban on Women Elders #1994-041: Unprecedented Decision of Reformed Church in America Synod Removes Voting Rights from Two Regional Classes #1994-050: Classis Grand Rapids East "Refines" July Decision to Disobey Christian Reformed Synodical Ban on Women Elders #1994-064: Number of Christian Reformed Churches Allowing Women Elders Reaches Seventeen #1995-012: Classis Illiana Overtures CRC Synod to Disenfranchise Classis Grand Rapids East for Ecclesiastical Disobedience #1995-021: Classis Hudson: Remove Churches with Women Elders from Christian Reformed Denomination, Effective Immediately Contact List: Dr. Henry De Moor, Professor of Church Polity, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * H: (616) 940-0513 * O: (616) 957-7194 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Rev. Terry Genzink, Pastor, Pipestone (MN) Christian Reformed Church 1105 - 6th Ave. SW, Pipestone, MN 56164 * O: (507) 825-5584 * H: (507) 825-3209 Dr. Philip R. Lucasse, Stated Clerk, Classis Grand Rapids East 3096 Old Kent Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 * O: (616) 957-6000 * H: (616) 942-1219 Dr. Gordon VanHarn, Provost, Calvin College 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * O: (616) 957-6000 Rev. Eric Verhulst, Pastor, Hull (ND) Christian Reformed Church Rt. 1, Box 19, Hague, ND 58542 * H/O: (701) 336-7182 Elder Ken Vos, Luverne (MN) Christian Reformed Church 605 N. Estey, Luverne, MN 56156 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-020.txt .