NR #1995-100: Grand Rapids East Attempts Compromise on Question of How to Minister to Christian Reformed Gays Classis Grand Rapids East accomplished what one delegate called a "miracle" on the question of how to minister to an estimated 100 to 400 gays within its member churches and 530 to 2100 Christian Reformed gays in the six classes of greater Grand Rapids. By tabling a minority report and deleting most of the majority report, classis avoided making an explicit statement on whether homosexual practice is sinful and ended up with a simple statement that ministries to homosexuals "should work with everyone in Christian community to discern what it means to live lives faithful to Jesus Christ." NR #1995-100: For Immediate Release Grand Rapids East Attempts Compromise on Question of How to Minister to Christian Reformed Gays * "These ministries should work with everyone in Christian community to discern what it means to live lives faithful to Jesus Christ." by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (October 23, 1995) URNS - Faced with a sizeable audience and fully aware of the widespread public scrutiny its decision would receive, Classis Grand Rapids East accomplished what one delegate called a "miracle" on the question of how to minister to what it estimates are 100 to 400 gays within its member churches and 530 to 2100 Christian Reformed gays in the six classes of greater Grand Rapids. By tabling a minority report and deleting most of a majority report, classis avoided making an explicit statement on whether homosexual practice is sinful and ended up with a simple statement that ministries to homosexuals "should work with everyone in Christian community to discern what it means to live lives faithful to Jesus Christ." The October 19 special meeting of Classis Grand Rapids East, called specifically to discuss the issue of homosexuality, was presented with an eleven-page report from its "Study Committee on Ministry with persons who are Homosexual." While the first nine pages and five of the six recommended parameters for homosexual ministries were submitted unanimously, the committee divided on the sixth parameter. A four-member majority, signed by Calvin College professors Dr. Hessel Bouma III and Dr. David Holquist, Booth Family Services staff member Betty Zylstra, and Gladys Verhulst, argued that "ministries with persons who are homosexual should not be contingent upon declaring homosexual activity as sin or as distinctive evidence of the fall." "To do so is to give an incomplete moral testimony to the issues of homosexuality with the potential harm in practice of closing ministry with many persons who are homosexual," reported the majority. "Instead, these ministries should work with everyone in Christian community to discern what it means to live lives faithful to Jesus Christ." A two-member minority report, signed by Calvin Seminary professor Dr. Mel Hugen and Calvin College professor Dr. James Bradley, noted that all sexuality was distorted by the fall, that "the homosexual orientation is one form of such distortion," and that "at all times the church must call all her members to a life of obedience to God's provision of marriage as the proper relationship for the expression of genital sexuality." Hugen made clear that the term "marriage" should be interpreted only as heterosexual rather than homosexual marriage. Three of Classis Grand Rapids East's fifteen churches sent critical responses for consideration at the classis meeting. Referring to the 1973 synodical report, Boston Square CRC wrote that "the Committee Report plainly challenges the Synod Report when it hints that 'committed, monogamous relationships' between homosexual persons may be a 'legitimate option'" and stated that "we recommend rejection of the Committee Report in its current form." Neland Avenue CRC and Seymour CRC submitted different responses but shared a concern that the committee had exceeded its mandate and that its report would further divide the Christian Reformed denomination rather than make it possible to do effective ministry with its gay members. Classis began its meeting with an informal sharing of reports from congregations on their discussions on how to minister to gays. One major concern was voiced by Rev. Rolf Bouma, pastor of Eastern Avenue CRC: "We wanted to see that classis was put on notice or reminded that we're dealing with a concrete situation," said Bouma. "We did not want to lose sight of that." The "concrete situation" mentioned by Bouma is that of Rev. Jim Lucas, a member of Eastern Avenue CRC and part-time chaplain of "As We Are," a Grand Rapids ministry to the homosexual community. Lucas' ministerial credentials have been extended five times, in recent years on the grounds that his situation as a celibate gay minister makes it unlikely that he will receive an ordinary pastoral call and that Eastern Avenue CRC wished to wait until receiving the classis report on ministry to homosexuals before considering his request to officially call him as chaplain for As We Are. Many delegates expressed frustration with the report for a variety of reasons. Asked whether it met Eastern Avenue's specific needs, Bouma said he shared some but not all of the concerns. "Is it as helpful as it could be? No. Is it helpful at all? Yeah," said Bouma. "The most important question is, it it helpful to classis in giving guidance to people in this concrete situation." After some dispute, classis decided that the proper procedure to process the report was to consider the majority report unless motions were made to do something else. Committee chairman Dr. Hessel Bouma urged passage of the majority for the very reason that it included the language that "ministries with persons who are homosexual should not be contingent upon declaring homosexuality as sin or distinctive evidence of the fall" which made it controversial. "If you adopt the minority report, it means that many of the best ministries in Grand Rapids will balk, and I wouldn't be surprised if they did," said Bouma. However, Rev. Scott Hoezee of Calvin CRC warned that classis would be treading on dangerous ground if it appeared to contradict the official 1973 CRC position on homosexuality which declared that "homosexualism - as explicit homosexual practice - must be condemned as incompatible with obedience to the will of God as revealed in Holy Scripture." "I wonder if part of the reason we're in a quandary tonight about how to proceed, why we're all sitting on our hands and not even being able to make motions, is because of ambiguity in the report," said Hoezee. "It seems to me we are not here to take a stand against synod and establish some new position as a classis." Hoezee echoed the concerns of a number of other delegates in noting that the report provided little concrete guidance in evaluating the five gay ministries with local offices in the Grand Rapids area. "The report I was looking for is one that if I had a young person come to me with homosexual tendencies, would help me know where to refer him," said Hoezee. "It gives sort of a yellow page listing of ministries, but it doesn't help me one bit in knowing where these ministries stand." Elder Dave Schuyler of Madison Square CRC - who told an earlier classis meeting that he was converted from a homosexual past - was more pointed in his comments. "What I sense here is a reluctance to bring the question to discussion because we all fear the impact that discussion could cause," said Schuyler, noting that while both the majority and minority wanted to minister to gays they proposed quite different methods of doing so. "One presumes that homosexuality is a sin as it is defined in the Bible and therefore needs to be covered, forgiven, by the grace of Christ. The other way accommodates that behavior and seeks to make that behavior generalized, so that other people think and come to accept what homosexuals do in their behavior," said Schuyler. "It's not easy to discuss these things, but I think until we do, we will not be able to do ministry in our church." While agreeing that ministry to gays was central, Elder Betty Van Dinther of Eastern Avenue CRC urged passage of the majority report for precisely that reason. "What this report says clearly is that we have a lot to learn about homosexuality and its nature," said Van Dinther. "We would be extremely remiss to accept the minority report because it fails to deal with the fact that we don't know a lot about homosexuality and still goes ahead and calls it sin. I would prefer the majority report because it gives us more freedom to learn and discuss." That wasn't the sentiment of classis, however. Acting on a motion from Plymouth Heights CRC, classis decided on a voice vote to take up the minority report. Dr. Mel Hugen, speaking as a member of the committee minority and also as a member of the synodical committee which produced the 1973 synodical report on homosexuality, urged the adoption of the minority report. "It does ask us to affirm the position of synod, which has been the position of the Christian Reformed Church since 1973, that sexual behavior outside of marriage - and this is defined as a faithful, covenantal relationship between a man and a woman - is not in accord with God's will for our lives," said Hugen. "I think there are some things in the parameters here which are useful and helpful for the framing of a church's ministry." However, Elder John Roels of Boston Square said that even the minority report was unacceptable because of items in the main body of the report on which there was no division among the members of the committee. "At this point I think the report is not suitable, certainly not for commending it to the churches," said Roels, citing a long list of quotations from authors referenced in the bibliography who declared that Scripture did not condemn homosexuality or viewed homosexuality as a positive gift of God. "While it's a noble effort, when you go beyond the mandate you get confused, and we need to think a bit before we extend that confusion from the committee to the classis to the churches," said Roels. Hugen took strong exception to the idea that reading books advocating gay marriages had confused the committee and resulted in a confusing report. "We recognize that these books are varied," said Hugen. "To suggest that this is not the mandate is to ignore that it is in the mandate to look at 1973 and other things that have been done since then. To suggest that we are biased and slanted is not quite fair." Hoezee reiterated his earlier support for the minority report, adding that those who disagreed should follow proper procedure and overture synod to revise the 1973 report. "The proper thing to do in that case would be to have us overture synod to appoint a study committee rather than to jump out on our own and 'ad hoc' this," said Hoezee. "For now, the only denominational expert advice we have is 1973, and I think the minority report reflects that quite well." Several delegates raised the possibility that classis might not have to choose between the minority and the majority report. "I think one thing we should note is we need not adopt one report or the other, either-or, because they are not parallel; the first report deals with ministries, the second report deals with the church," said Rev. Rolf Bouma, noting that parachurch ministries can become re-entry points to the church for disaffected members and that they need not be held to the same standards to which the church holds itself. Rev. Roger Van Harn of Grace CRC told classis that he agreed with the minority report but would be voting against it. "The church's theology has often got in the way of the gospel," said Van Harn. "People would see it as a harsh condemnation of a certain sin," continued Van Harn. "The church has to listen long before speaking carefully. The only way into the kingdom of God is by the gospel of grace, and if by adopting the minority report we are going to keep people from hearing that, I'm going to vote against it." Seeing that there was strong sentiment against both the majority and minority report, Rev. Morris Greidanus of First CRC made a surprising proposal: that classis table the minority report for the purpose of returning to the majority report, deleting all but the last sentence on the need to "work with everyone in Christian community to discern what it means to live lives faithful to Jesus Christ." Greidanus proposal passed by a wide voice vote majority after several procedural votes and the deletion of the rationale for the majority report as well. The compromise pleased Eastern Avenue, the minority committee, and the man who will be most affected by it. "We wanted to see that our discussions focus on the concrete situation," said Rev. Rolf Bouma. "I would say I'm fairly satisfied that in our discussions tonight we did that." Hugen said that the deletion of the problematic language of the majority report left the earlier 1973 report on homosexuality intact. "We begin with 1973 and it's not called into question; this should not be understood in any sense as detracting from the decision of 1973," said Hugen. However, Hugen said the real proof would not be in the paper but in what ministry results from the decision. "I don't consider a statement of the church to have nearly as great an impact as some people do," said Hugen. "If the decision helps the churches to do ministry fulfilling the 1973 mandate to persons who are homosexual, I will be pleased." "It isn't just what you say but what you do with it," said Hugen. Rev. Jim Lucas, whose future ministry in large part depended on the classis decision, said he was "very pleased" by the decision. "In many ways that's exactly what I would want said - 'these ministries should work with everyone in Christian community to discern what it means to live lives faithful to Jesus Christ' - that's exactly what we're all about," said Lucas. "I came away feeling I am welcomed in the church, I and other gay and lesbian people are welcomed in the church." However, Lucas said he had no illusions that the issue was over. "I see this meeting as simply one step in a long process in which the church, the congregations in the area, are working together to understand how to do ministry with gay and lesbian people," said Lucas. "I see it as a very encouraging step, but sill only one step." The next steps may be quite a bit more difficult. Lucas said that he had some time ago asked his consistory at Eastern Avenue CRC to call him to a specialized ministry as chaplain of As We Are. "Eastern Avenue has been waiting to see what guidance classis would provide in order to determine whether they would call me," said Lucas. "If a church should call me, a classis would have to approve that call with the approval of the synodical deputies; that's at least part of why Eastern Avenue found it important to ask classis first." According to synodical regulations, a church calling ordained persons to specialized service other than the pastorate of a local church must demonstrate "that the position will be consistent with his calling as a minister of the Word" and "also is urged to obtain the endorsement of the Chaplain Committee of the Christian Reformed Church" for institutional or military chaplaincy positions. While affirming that his consistory and classis must determine whether his position meets those requirements, Lucas said he was optimistic that the adoption of the classis report would lead to approval of his call as chaplain of As We Are. What is the position of Lucas' organization on homosexual practice? "As We Are has not made a statement about that one way or the other," said Lucas. "We welcome everybody into dialogue and encourage everyone to dialogue with each other about what it means to live lives that are faithful to Jesus Christ." Unlike some in Classis Grand Rapids East, Lucas believes that care for hurting persons must precede rather than follow theological analysis. "There have been a huge number of gay and lesbian people who have been excluded from the church," said Lucas. "We just determined that one way to be reconciled with this community was not to make any statement about the more controversial aspects of this subject." "I would like to see the Christian Reformed Church be a place where people who discover they are gay or lesbian feel fully included in the life of the church, where we can be completely honest about who we are, and where we can receive the pastoral care we need," said Lucas. Whether Lucas' vision will come true is still up in the air, but few would dispute his conclusion that it is closer to fulfillment than it was before the meeting of Classis Grand Rapids East. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-023: General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in America Calls Christian Reformed Church to "Repent of Its Sins"; Women in office, homosexuality, theistic evolution, deposition of conservative pastors cited as "departure from the Scriptures in its doctrine and practice" #1993-031: More Churches Split Following Christian Reformed Synodical Vote Allowing Women Elders and Pastors; Alberta Seceders Protest Homosexuality Report by Classis Alberta North #1994-038: Classis Grand Rapids East Votes "In Principle" to Permit Churches to Disobey CRC Synod's Ban on Women Elders #1994-048: Jim Lucas Hired as Chaplain of "As We Are" Gay Ministry; Ministerial Credentials Extended to Permit Call to Position; Classis Grand Rapids East of the Christian Reformed Denomination Expects Homosexuality Study Committee to Report to January Classis Meeting #1994-049: Top Denominational Officials Issue Advisory on "Ecclesiastical Disobedience" by Christian Reformed Employees #1994-050: Classis Grand Rapids East "Refines" July Decision to Disobey Christian Reformed Synodical Ban on Women Elders #1995-043: Committee Divides on Whether Gay Ministries Must Declare Homosexual Activity is Sin; Classis Grand Rapids East Refers Both Reformed to Churches for Study #1995-084: Classis Wisconsin Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Declare that Members who "Deny the Biblical Condemnation of All Homosexual Behavior" are Subject to Discipline #1995-101: Text of Classis Wisconsin Overture re. Homosexuality Contact List: Dr. James Bradley, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, Calvin College North Hall 298, Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-7104 Dr. Hessel Bouma III, Professor of Biology, Calvin College Science Building 233, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-6401 Rev. Rolf Bouma, Pastor, Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church 900 Benjamin SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * H: (616) 637-5180 * O: (616) 637-6575 Rev. Morris Greidanus, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 1349 Alexander SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * H: (616) 243-9549 * O: (616) 452-3590 Rev. Scott Hoezee, Pastor, Calvin Christian Reformed Church 1634 Fisk Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506-6544 * O: (616) 451-8467 * H: (616) 247-6720 Dr. David Holquist, Professor of Speech, Communication, and Theater, Calvin College 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-6000 Dr. Mel Hugen, Professor of Pastoral Care, Calvin Theological Seminary 2211 Ridgewood SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-6025 * H: (616) 942-0001 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Rev. Carl Kammeraad, Pastor, Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church 1600 Seminole Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * O: (616) 452-0501 * H: (616) 243-5100 Rev. Jim Lucas, Chaplain, As We ARE 1017 Fairmount SE, Apt. 1, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * H: (616) 456-6174 Note to Editors: This information is provided should you wish to contact Rev. Lucas for an interview. We request that it not be published to protect his privacy. Elder John Roels, Boston Square Christian Reformed Church 1875 Kalamazoo SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 * O: (616) 241-1245 Elder David Schuyler, Madison Square Christian Reformed Church 1434 Madison Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 * (616) 245-7791 Elder Betty Van Dinther, Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church 506 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Rev. Roger Van Harn, Pastor, Grace Christian Reformed Church 1717 Morningside Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * H: (616) 949-2993 * O: (616) 452-8920 Rev. Gerald Zandstra, Pastor, Seymour Christian Reformed Church 1901 Pokogon Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * O: (616) 245-8726 Ms. Betty Zylstra, Director, Booth Family Services 1215 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503 * O: (616) 459-9468 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-100.txt .