From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 21:41:52 -0500 (EST) Subject: NR 008: Zeeland Votes by 72% Margin to Receive Pine Creek CRC NR #1997-008: For Immediate Release Classis Zeeland Votes by 72% Margin to Receive Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church Pending Synodical Approval by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service ZEELAND, Mich. (January 15, 1997) -- Meeting today at First Christian Reformed Church of Zeeland, Classis Zeeland voted by a 72% margin to declare its willingness to receive Pine Creek CRC of Holland, pending approval by Synod 1997. The 25-11 vote acts on a request by Pine Creek CRC to leave Classis Holland for Classis Zeeland due to the church's opposition to the ordination of women. Synod 1995 allowed each of the CRC's 47 regional classes to make its own decision on whether to allow the ordination of women, and Synod 1996 stated that synods could consider factors other than geography in allowing churches to transfer from one classis to another. Classis Holland is one of 16 classes to allow women's ordination; Classis Zeeland does not. In a letter to Classis Zeeland that will also be presented tomorrow to Classis Holland, Pine Creek CRC wrote that "we disagree with the decisions of Classis Holland that have opened the offices of minister and elder to women within our classis." "We believe that the decision of the CRC Synod 1994 in regards to this matter, which declared God's Word to be clear on this matter, has been violated by the action of our subsequent synods (1995 and 1996) and the action of Classis Holland on this matter," wrote Pine Creek CRC. "Classis Holland, in a letter to our pastor, has made it clear that no change be expected in the decisions of this matter." In a presentation to classis, Pine Creek CRC pastor Rev. Zack Anderson noted that his wife's aunt was a woman elder at Providence CRC in Classis Holland and that he has both friends and family on the other side of the issue. Nevertheless, Anderson said that he could not in good conscience attend a classis meeting as a delegate in which he would be required to submit to the authority of women elders. According to Christian Reformed procedure, synod makes the final decisions on all classis transfers and it only takes one classis to make the request. However, synod is unlikely to reject a request approved by both classes. Today's decision means that Synod 1997 will consider at least three classis transfers due to women's ordination when it meets in June. Terra Ceia (NC) CRC has asked to transfer from Classis Hackensack to Classis Hudson for similar reasons to Pine Creek CRC; Classis Northern Michigan has refused to allow the ordination of women but has voted to permit Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant to transfer to a classis which would be willing to ordain its female pastor, Mary-Lee Bouma. "The 72% vote speaks for itself," said Classis Zeeland stated clerk Rev. Steve Sytsma. "It expresses our desire to provide them a place where they can still be comfortable being in the Christian Reformed Church and have a clear conscience about it." Contacted for response, Pine Creek's pastor said he was pleased by the Classis Zeeland vote and hoped for a similar decision tomorrow by Classis Holland. "We hope for a congenial relationship where we can continue ministry, specifically ministry where we can reach the lost and care for those who are in the church already," said Anderson. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End to Classical Option on Ordination of Women #1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End to Classical Option on Ordination of Women #1996-077: Churches Allowed to Switch Classes for Theological Reasons #1996-078: Synod Approves Korean Classis with 15-Year Time Limit #1996-080: Record of Previous Synodical Votes on Women in Office #1996-101: Northern Michigan Nixes Ordination for Mary-Lee Bouma #1996-073: Synod Rejects Wisconsin Overture: Calvin Prof. Dr. Hessel Bouma III Remains Free to Teach His Views on Abortion #1996-114: Classis Wisconsin Appoints Committee to Study Calvin Professor Dr. Hessel Bouma's Views on Abortion #1996-117B: Separation Without Secession: Interclassical Conference Urges Christian Reformed Synod to Create New Conservative Classes #1996-123: Pine Creek CRC Petitions to Leave Classis Holland for Zeeland Contact List: Rev. Zachary (Zack) Anderson, Pastor, Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church 663 Riley St., Holland, MI 49424 O: (616) 399-1413 * H: (616) 399-2016 Rev. Mary Antonides, Pastor, Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church 2514 Normandy Dr. SE, Apt. 210-C, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 O: (616) 454-4888 * H: (616) 248-8357 Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North America 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560 O: (616) 246-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 246-0834 * E-Mail: engelhad@crcnet.mhs.CompuServe.com Elder Susan Hulst, Providence Christian Reformed Church c/o Providence CRC, 821 Ottawa Ave., Holland, MI 49423 H: (616) 335-6103 * E-Mail: Sushul@hoho.org Rev. Steven Sytsma, Stated Clerk, Classis Zeeland 4452 - 38th St., Hamilton, MI 49419 O: (616) 688-5290 * H: (616) 688-5603 Rev. Peter Winkle, Stated Clerk, Classis Holland 533 Central Ave., Holland, MI 49423 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-008.txt .