NR #1995-088: For Immediate Release
List of Classis Decisions on Women in Office

Note: unless otherwise specified, the motion "voted down," "passed,"
"tabled," or otherwise addressed was a motion to declare the word "male" in
Article 3a of the church order inoperative with the effect of allowing the
ordination of women as ministers, elders, and evangelists. Some classes
qualified this motion and qualifications are specified where known. Most
proposals to declare the church order inoperative had their own unique
grounds, in some cases quite lengthy, and no attempt has been made to
reproduce these grounds. Most classes took no action on the synodical option,
as indicated by "n/a"; the word "male" remains operative by default in
classes which took no action or in which requests for action were defeated. A
few classes voted to declare the word male to be "operative" - this motion is
the opposite of and must not be confused with motions to declare the word
male to be "inoperative."

Monday/Tuesday, September 11/12:
1 Classis Minnesota North: VOTED DOWN
Tuesday, September 12:
2 Classis Chatham: VOTED DOWN
3 Classis Illiana: Declared "male" operative and reserved right to discipline
churches with women in office
4 Classis Kalamazoo: RULED OUT OF ORDER
5 Classis Northcentral Iowa: n/a
Wednesday, September 13:
6 Classis Huron: n/a
7 Classis Pacific Northwest: PASSED by one vote. Subsequent motion adopted
prohibiting delegation of women to classis.
8 Classis Zeeland: n/a
Thursday, September 14:
9 Classis Minnesota South: n/a
Friday, September 15:
10 Classis Pella: n/a
11 Classis Yellowstone: n/a
Saturday, September 16:
12 Classis Arizona: VOTED DOWN overtures to declare male "inoperative" and
"operative"
Tuesday, September 19:
13 Classis Central California: TABLED until March meeting
14 Classis Hamilton: n/a
15 Classis Iakota: n/a
16 Classis Thornapple Valley: n/a
Tuesday/Wednesday, September 19/20:
17 Classis British Columbia North-West: n/a
18 Classis British Columbia South-East: n/a
Wednesday, September 20:
19 Classis Niagara: n/a
20 Classis Northern Illinois: n/a
Thursday, September 21:
21 Classis Chicago South: OVERTURE WITHDRAWN on Hessel Park credential
22 Classis Georgetown: n/a
23 Classis Grand Rapids South: n/a
24 Classis Grandville: n/a
25 Classis Holland: PASSED 29-25
26 Classis Muskegon: n/a
27 Classis Grand Rapids East: PASSED without dissent
Friday/Saturday, September 22/23:
28 Classis Florida: POSTPONED action to March meeting
Saturday, September 23:
29 Classis Red Mesa: APPOINTED COMMITTEE to come to January meeting with
recommendation
Monday/Tuesday, September 25/26:
30 Classis Hackensack: PASSED
Tuesday, September 26:
31 Classis Northern Michigan: TABLED to March meeting
32 Classis Quinte: WITHHELD ACTION
33 Classis Wisconsin: n/a
Tuesday/Wednesday, September 26/27:
34 Classis Rocky Mountain: TABLED
Wednesday, September 27:
35 Classis Columbia: n/a
36 Classis Heartland: Word male "operative"
37 Classis Hudson: Word male "operative"
Thursday, September 28:
38 Classis Toronto:  PASSED
Tuesday/Wednesday, October 3/4:
39 Classis Alberta North: VOTED DOWN
40 Classis Greater Los Angeles: n/a
Thursday, October 5:
41 Classis Atlantic Northeast: VOTED DOWN 13-11. Overture approved from
Goshen asking for rejection of 1995 decision.
Friday, October 6:
42 Classis Lake Erie: PASSED. Committee appointed to come to March meeting
with study of concerns on Synod 1995 restrictions on women in office.
Monday/Tuesday, October 16/17:
43 Classis Alberta South: TABLED until March meeting
Tuesday, October 17:
44 Classis Grand Rapids North (joint classis with RCA): n/a
Tuesday/Wednesday, October 17/18:
45 Classis Eastern Canada: n/a
Wednesday, October 18:
46 Classis California South: n/a


Cross-References to Related Articles:

#1995-087: Most Christian Reformed Classes Decline Synodical Option to End
Prohibition on Women in Office

[See related article list at crossreferences]





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