NR #1995-013: For Immediate Release Tie Vote Kills Overture Comparing Those Leaving CRC Over Women in Office to Circumcision Party, Galatian Judaizers * Second Overture Passes Urging Immediate Ratification of Women in Office by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service ORLAND PARK, Ill. (January 18, 1995) RBPS - Following extensive debate, on January 17 Classis Chicago South of the Christian Reformed denomination rejected an eleven page overture from Hope CRC in Oak Forest asking synod to allow all churches in the denomination to have women ministers and elders beginning immediately, and instead adopted a one page overture from Hessel Park CRC in Champaign which also called for immediate ratification of women in office. The Christian Reformed denomination has normally understood that changes in the church order must be ratified by a subsequent synod, but a number of recent overtures have argued that synod can forego the two year process and ratify the original 1990 proposal which was voted down in 1992, resurrected in 1993, and voted down again in 1994. Each overture cites different and often highly technical grounds, but most argue that since synod has been debating women in office for over 25 years, it has had sufficient time to debate the issue and its church order revisions on women in office therefore do not require ratification by a subsequent synod. Length was by no means the only difference between the Hope and Hessel Park overtures. The grounds for the Hessel Park overture repeated familiar arguments that "Synod 1994 inappropriately imposed on all the churches an official exegesis of several biblical passages as the centerpiece of its decision not to ratify the proposed Church Order change," advocating local option on the grounds that allowing but not requiring women elders did not bind the conscience of either side of the debate. The Hope overture, however, supported its ratification request with grounds using much stronger language. When originally submitted to the September meeting of Classis Chicago South, the overture said the principles of Scripture used to oppose women in office were "proof-text" methods arising out of Arminianism and fundamentalism rather than out of the Reformed faith. According to the original overture, giving in on the women in office issue would involve acquiescing to Arminian proof-texting methods of Scripture interpretation, resisting grace, limiting responsiveness, relying on our own righteousness, suppressing the mind of Christ, and using the same methods of Scripture interpretation used by the Judaizing heretics of the early church to require circumcision of new converts. "I have a lot of respect for people who differ with me on this issue, but when someone is willing to split the church over this issue, that in my view is very similar to circumcision," said Dr. Marvin Hoogland, chairman of a Hope CRC committee on women in office, in a subsequent interview. "Those churches which separate from the Christian Reformed Church because of women in office, that is circumcision," said Hoogland. "When we take something limited and finite and turn it into an absolute, that's what we call idolatry. Those people who are for women in office and those people who are opposed to women in office but see the possibility of living together have more faith in common than those people on either extreme who say we can't live with each other. The best we do is polluted with sin and only a small beginning of obedience to the Scriptures." Much of the strongest language was removed by an advisory committee which was appointed by classis in September and reported back to the January meeting. According to the committee majority, the overture was revised for reasons of clarity and "to eliminate the harsh edge found in some statements, thereby showing a pastoral regard for all members of the CRC regardless of their position on this issue." The comparison between circumcision and opposition to women in office remained, however - and prompted more than a few protests in later debate. A minority report submitted by classical stated clerk Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel advised classis not to accede to the overture at all, arguing that the view of Scripture, grace, righteousness, and mind of Christ cited in the Hope CRC overture were wrong. "It suggests that an appeal to specific statements and commands in Scripture is mere proof-texting and works righteousness," said Vanden Heuvel's minority report. "However, the Bible is full of passages that give us instructions in what we must do, and we should follow those instructions; not, of course, in order to earn God's favor, but in order to honor and obey our Heavenly Father who has already accepted us in grace." Hoogland opened the discussion at classis with an extensive summary of the intent behind the overture. "We are convinced out of 25 years of study on women in office that the Word of God compels us to do this; this is what the grace of God means to us," said Hoogland, who noted that Hope CRC was only one of "fifteen to twenty" CRC congregations which have ordained women elders. "Is the Christian Reformed Church's understanding of obedience to God and the gospel of grace big enough for us and all these churches, or is your view too narrow to include us?" asked Hoogland. "We're not going to convince you, you're not going to convince us. We want to be part of the covenant union of the Christian Reformed Church. Do you want us?" Hoogland also said the Hope CRC overture had been misunderstood. According to Hoogland, Hope CRC never meant to say that anyone who opposes women in office is Arminian, that the Bible doesn't give answers on how to live, or that "somehow Hope Church just wants some vague principles and does not want the very words of Scripture." Hoogland's speech was strongly opposed by Rev. David Feddes, well-known to many CRC members through his role as Minister of English Broadcasting and Listener Contact for the CRC's official radio and TV ministry, the Back to God Hour. "Maybe the strategy employed is that the best defense is a good offense," said Feddes. "If the intent is not to label those who oppose women in office as proof-texters, legalists, members of the circumcision party, what is?" asked Feddes, who reminded delegates that they needed to make their decision based on the words of the overture rather than Hoogland's oral explanation of the intent behind the words. "I could endorse most of Marv's comments from this podium, but I think the overture is very bad," said Feddes. Feddes was not the only speaker to remind delegates to address the actual words of the overture. On several occasions, Hoogland reminded delegates that some items they were criticizing had been removed from the overture by the advisory committee. However, the actual words of the overture also came in for criticism. "Because one uses specific texts does not mean one is unreformed," said Rev. Al Machiela, pastor of Immanuel CRC in Burbank. "Church office and circumcision are not in the same ball park; if you honestly believe it is a central issue, please demand that everyone comply. If not, stop making a big deal about it." Rev. Tony Van Zanten, pastor of Roseland Christian Ministries Center in Chicago, responded by emphasizing the importance of the overture's parallel between circumcision and women in office. Van Zanten said the Christian Reformed synod was in a similar position to that faced by the early church in Acts 15 when deciding whether new Christian converts must be circumcised according to Old Testament mandates. "In spite of those Scripture texts, the church came to see, guided by the Spirit, that circumcision was no longer necessary and would in fact get in the way," said Van Zanten. "I saw this as a biblically-based study of what burdens we want to place on people." While many objections to the overture did not convince the delegates, Vanden Heuvel said one sentence would make the classis "become a laughingstock at synod" and persuaded classis to amend it. Vanden Heuvel took strong exception to a statement in the overture that "we must remember that what is recorded in Acts 15 is not simply a dictum given by one Christian to another (despite the exalted position of that person) as with Paul to Timothy." "What the authors of this statement are saying is that First Timothy is just one Christian writing to another Christian. This is the Word of God. We believe that, I think," said Vanden Heuvel. "Don't these people in Chicago South believe in the inspiration of Scripture? I don't want this going to synod over my signature," said Vanden Heuvel. "When we've come to the point where we are saying Paul writes to Timothy just as one Christian talking to another, then I'm not in the same church as you people." The advisory committee majority, while affirming belief in the inspiration of Scripture and insisting that Vanden Heuvel had misunderstood their intent, agreed to allow the deletion of the offending part of the sentence. After some additional debate, the classical vote on the revised Hope CRC overture resulted in a tie. Vanden Heuvel read classical rules of procedure stating that in the case of a tie the chairman may break the tie by voting, but if he chooses not to vote the motion under discussion fails. As chairman of classis, Rev. Gary Hutt chose not to vote. Later in the day, Rev. Jack Reiffer presented Hessel Park CRC's overture that Synod 1995 ratify the women in office decision originally proposed in 1990. "We really make the same effort as the Hope overture, my understanding is that the Hope overture tried to meet the requirement of new grounds by going in a different direction," said Reiffer. Following a brief debate, the Hessel Park overture passed by a 19 to 11 vote. Cross-References to Related RBPS Articles: #1994-035 Christian Reformed Synod Rejects Women in Office on Biblical Grounds #1994-036 Two Hundred Women Take Over Synod Floor in Protest Against Christian Reformed Denial of Women's Ordination; Synod Votes to "Urge" Churches Not to Ordain Women Elders, Pastors Contact List: Rev. David Feddes, Minister of English Broadcasting and Listener Contact, The Back to God Hour 6625 Maple Lane Dr., Tinley Park, IL 60477 * O: (708) 371-8700 * H: (708) 614-7276 * FAX: (708) 371-1415 Dr. Marvin Hoogland, Executive Director, Chicago Christian Counseling Center 14801 Sunset Ave., Oak Forest, IL 60452 * O: (708) 361-1935 * H: (708) 687-4769 Rev. Gary Hutt, Pastor, Park Lane CRC 3450 W. Maple Ave., Evergreen Park, IL 60642 * O: (708) 636-4585 * H: (708) 424-1570 Rev. Bill Lenters, Pastor, Hope CRC 6609 Courtney Dr., Oak Forest, IL 60452 * O: (708) 687-2095 * H: (708) 687-2530 Rev. Al Machiela, Pastor, Immanuel CRC 8302 S. Normandy, Burbank, IL 60459 * O: (708) 599-5335 Rev. Jack Reiffer, Pastor, Hessel Park CRC 910 S. Lynn St., Champaign, IL 61820 * O: (217) 356-3177 * H: (217) 459-6328 Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel, Stated Clerk, Classis Chicago South 9401 S. 54th Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453 * H/O: (708) 422-1428 Rev. Tony Van Zanten, Pastor, Roseland Christian Ministries Center 9803 S. Prospect, Chicago, IL 60643 * O: (312) 264-5665 * H: (312) 881-3937 * FAX: (312) 264-9442 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-013.txt .