NR #1995-090: Grand Rapids East Becomes First Christian Reformed Classis to
Seat Women Elders

 Acting without audible dissent and without even a single request to discuss
the issue, Classis Grand Rapids East voted on September 21 to exercise the
option granted it by Synod 1995 to declare the church order's prohibition of
women in office to be "inoperative." While not the first classis to act on
the matter, a subsequent motion to seat Elder Betty Van Dinther of Eastern
Avenue CRC and Elder Eunice Bruinooge of Woodlawn CRC made Classis Grand
Rapids East the first classis to seat women elders.

NR #1995-090: For Immediate Release
Grand Rapids East Becomes First Christian Reformed Classis to Seat Women
Elders

by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer
United Reformed News Service

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (September 21, 1995) URNS - Acting without audible
dissent and without even a single request to discuss the issue, Classis Grand
Rapids East voted on September 21 to exercise the option granted it by Synod
1995 to declare the church order's prohibition of women in office to be
"inoperative." While not the first classis to act on the matter, a subsequent
motion to seat Elder Betty Van Dinther of Eastern Avenue CRC and Elder Eunice
Bruinooge of Woodlawn CRC made Classis Grand Rapids East the first classis to
seat women elders.

 The classis decision was hardly a surprise. Even before Synod 1995
authorized churches to elect women elders, at least six of the classis'
fifteen churches had already done so. This fact was noted by First CRC in its
overture asking classis to declare the church order's ban on women in office
"inoperative."

 "Our reasons for these requests are the need to use the gifts of all members
in the ministry of the church, and the new possibility created by this synod
to place us all within synodical rules again," wrote the First CRC council.
"We thank you for acting on these requests."


Cross-References to Related Articles:

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

#1995-088: List of Classis Decisions on Women in Office

[See related article list at crossreferences]


Contact List:

Rev. Rolf Bouma, Pastor, Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church
 900 Benjamin SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49506 * H: (616) 637-5180 * O: (616)
637-6575

Elder Eunice Bruinooge, Woodlawn Christian Reformed Church
 2100 Raybrook SE #101, Grand Rapids, MI  49546

Rev. Morris Greidanus, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church
 1349 Alexander SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49506 * H: (616) 243-9549 * O: (616)
452-3590

Rev. John Timmer, Pastor, Woodlawn Christian Reformed Church
 2257 Edgewood Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49546 * O: (616) 942-8180

Elder Betty Van Dinther, Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church
 506 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49503





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