From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1997 21:33:35 -0500 (EST) Subject: NR 97018: Vanden Heuvel granted honorable release by Classis Grandville NR #1997-018: Outlook Editor Vanden Heuvel Granted Honorable Release by CRC's Classis Grandville to Presbyterian Church in America; Vanden Heuvel's New Church in Holland Over 100 Attenders on First Sunday In what the classical interim committee secretary termed a "highly unusual action," Classis Grandville of the Christian Reformed Church approved the work of its interim committee in granting Rev. Tom Vanden Heuvel "honorable release" to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America. The Classis Grandville action is the most favorable step the classis could have taken with regard to Vanden Heuvel, who serves as editor of the conservative Outlook magazine and following Synod 1996's decision to allow the ordination of women accepted a call to do church planting in Holland, Mich., for the Presbyterian Church in America. NR #1997-018: For Immediate Release Outlook Editor Vanden Heuvel Granted Honorable Release by CRC's Classis Grandville to Presbyterian Church in America * Vanden Heuvel's New Church in Holland Over 100 Attenders on First Sunday by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service BYRON CENTER, Mich. (February 6, 1997) URNS -- In what the classical interim committee secretary termed a "highly unusual action," Classis Grandville of the Christian Reformed Church approved the work of its interim committee in granting Rev. Tom Vanden Heuvel "honorable release" to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America. In an earlier interview Vanden Heuvel said his decision to join the 271,263-member PCA, one of the fastest-growing denominations in America, centered on the PCA's commitment both to evangelism and Calvinist theology. "There is virtually no difference between the continental Reformed faith expressed in the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort, and the Scottish and English Reformation creed of the Westminster Standards," said Vanden Heuvel. "Our five-year goal is to have a well-organized Reformed congregation, strong in outreach, solid in doctrine, exciting in worship, and two missions, one to the Hispanic and one to the college community." The Classis Grandville action is the most favorable step the classis could have taken with regard to Vanden Heuvel, who serves as editor of the conservative Outlook magazine and following Synod 1996's decision to allow the ordination of women accepted a call to do church planting in Holland, Mich., for the Presbyterian Church in America . When ministers leave the CRC, classes have the option of declaring them to be "honorably released," "released," "dismissed," or "declared to have the status of one deposed from office." The action is normally taken by classis in full session with the presence of three synodical deputies from neighboring classes. In this case, the synodical deputies concurred by telephone with the decision made by the interim committee in advance of the classis meeting. "We thought being that he was already starting ministry in the Holland area, we wanted to take care of this as soon as possible," interim committee secretary Rev. John Gorter told the classis. "It's highly unusual, and it's highly unusual for the synodical deputies to concur in advance, but because he had already entered the ministry of the PCA we wanted to act on this as soon as possible." Classis president Rev. Art Schoonveld concurred that the interim committee action was unusual and questioned its propriety. "I have never heard of this in 30 years, this is highly unusual and I'm not sure it's proper," said Schoonveld. "Not that I have any problem with this request, I would have voted for it, but I wonder whether this is proper in light of our classical and synodical rules." Schoonveld's concerns raised the concerns of other delegates. "We do have a visitor here, a reporter, and I want to present a positive picture here that we weren't irregular or unfair, we are simply acting on classical business," said classical interim committee chairman Rev. Ken Havert -- who was instrumental in the 1992 classical action declaring Rev. Art Besteman of Beverly CRC in Wyoming to have the status of one deposed from office after his church seceded from the CRC. The Besteman deposition received widespread negative publicity after Vanden Heuvel led an effort to stop the initial action and a later unsuccessful effort to reverse the 1992 decision. Rev. Calvin Compagner of Friendship CRC in Grandville asked that classis take even stronger action to present a positive image. "This is not a transfer to another classis, this is a completion of his ministry in the Christian Reformed Church," noted Compagner. "If it would be appropriate I'm wondering if we could send a letter of appreciation for his 30-plus years of ministry in the Christian Reformed denomination and his 12 years of ministry, I believe it is, in Classis Grandville." Compagner's motion to send a letter of appreciation for Vanden Heuvel's ministry passed by voice vote without audible dissent. Gorter said much of the difference between the way classis treated Vanden Heuvel and Besteman was rooted in the way Vanden Heuvel left and that he did not lead a split in his church, the 692-member First CRC of Byron Center. According to Gorter, the classical interim committee hadn't contacted Classis Holland of the CRC for its reaction to the new church being planted by Vanden Heuvel but also hadn't placed a strong emphasis on the CRC's fraternal relations with the Presbyterian Church in America in its decision in making its decision. "The primary thing is Tom Vanden Heuvel left our denomination but did not take the church with him," said Gorter. "Most elder delegates and many minister delegates aren't all that interested in what the official ecclesiastical fellowship is, they care about the effect on the local church." Reached at his new home in Holland, Vanden Heuvel said he was pleased by the classical decision. "I'm very thankful that I was given an honorable release," said Vanden Heuvel. "I know that the synodical deputies didn't even appear, they just sent in a letter, so I knew what would happen." Why did Vanden Heuvel think he received better treatment than his longtime friend Besteman? "I think that probably I maintained a very close contact with all the brothers in Classis Grandville and I always tried to keep open communication with them," said Vanden Heuvel. "I've been warmly received by the Presbyterian Church in America and honorably released by Classis Grandville. What more could I ask?" Vanden Heuvel's new church, Covenant Presbyterian Church of Holland, held its first worship service on February 2 at Southside Christian School with over a hundred people in attendance. Currently meeting only for evening services at 6 pm, the new church plans to begin morning services on Easter Sunday, March 30. Cross-References to Related Articles: [Fall 1992 article on Besteman deposition status predates current numbering system] #1995-041: Beverly Christian Reformed Disbands After Receiving $125,000 Settlement from Beverly CRC (Independent) #1995-098: Classis Grandville Refuses to Lift Deposition Status for Beverly Christian Reformed (Independent) Pastor Rev. Art Besteman #1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End to Classical Option on Ordination of Women #1996-115: Outlook Editor Vanden Heuvel Leaves CRC to Plant Presbyterian Church in America Congregation in Holland Contact List: Rev. Larry Allen, Chairman, Great Lakes Presbytery Mission to North America Committee PO Box 659, Dublin, OH 43017 O: (614) 766-4151 * H: (614) 847-3813 Rev. Art Besteman, Pastor, Beverly United Reformed Church 2420 Avon Ave. SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 H/O: (616) 532-1708 Rev. Calvin Compagner, Pastor, Friendship Christian Reformed Church 348 Sorrento Dr. SE, Byron Center, MI 49315 O: (616) 281-9651 * H: (616) 281-9535 Dr. Paul Gilchrist, Stated Clerk, Presbyterian Church in America 1852 Century Place, Suite 190, Atlanta GA 30345 O: (404) 320-3366 Rev. John Gorter, Secretary, Classis Grandville Interim Committee 7588 Byron Center Ave., Byron Center, MI 49315 O: (616) 878-1221 * H: (616) 878-1097 Rev. Ken Havert, Chairman, Classis Grandville Interim Committee 4036 Grandview Terrace, Grandville, MI 49418 H: (616) 532-6824 * O: (616) 531-6483 Rev. Arthur Schoonveld, Pastor, Ivanrest Christian Reformed Church 3350 Rocky Point Ct., Grandville, MI 49418 O: (616) 534-3114 * H: (616) 538-7886 Rev. Thomas and Mrs. Laurie Vanden Heuvel, Co-Editors, The Outlook [Temporary Address] 155 E. 48th St., Lot 16, Holland, MI 49423 H/O: (616) 392-4578 * E-Mail: TomLaur@aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-018.txt .