From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 05:44:42 -0500 (EST) Subject: NR 97021: Calvin Prof's Abortion Views Prompt More Complaints in Wisconsin, Hear NR #1997-021: Calvin College Professor's Views on Abortion Prompt More Complaints in Classis Wisconsin and Classis of the Heartland What should the official college of the Christian Reformed denomination do with a professor who states that "abortion is not the moral equivalent of murder," that "under exceptional circumstances, abortion occasionally may be recommended, cooperated with, or tolerated," and calls the Synod 1976 decision supporting the Human Life Amendment to the US Constitution "an emotional response to the dramatic increase in abortions in the wake of Roe v. Wade, based on minimal Scripture exegesis"? Synod 1996 answered that question by affirming an earlier conclusion by the college board of trustees "that the book [written by Dr. Hessel Bouma III and others] and Professor Bouma are strongly but not absolutely pro-life and that Professor Bouma maintains a healthy respect for the decisions of synod and reflects this in his teaching." That answer isn't good enough for a Classis Wisconsin committee appointed to study Bouma's views, or for First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa. NR #1997-021: For Immediate Release Calvin College Professor's Views on Abortion Prompt More Complaints in Classis Wisconsin and Classis of the Heartland by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (February 19, 1997) URNS -- What should the official college of the Christian Reformed denomination do with a professor who states that "abortion is not the moral equivalent of murder," that "under exceptional circumstances, abortion occasionally may be recommended, cooperated with, or tolerated," and calls the Synod 1976 decision supporting the Human Life Amendment to the US Constitution "an emotional response to the dramatic increase in abortions in the wake of Roe v. Wade, based on minimal Scripture exegesis"? Synod 1996 answered that question by affirming an earlier conclusion by the college board of trustees "that the book [written by Dr. Hessel Bouma III and others] and Professor Bouma are strongly but not absolutely pro-life and that Professor Bouma maintains a healthy respect for the decisions of synod and reflects this in his teaching." That answer isn't good enough for a Classis Wisconsin committee appointed to study Bouma's views, or for First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa. The Sheldon church is asking the March 1 meeting of the Classis of the Heartland to overture Synod 1997 "to revise the decision of Synod 1996 and declare the book Christian Faith, Health, and Medical Practice contrary to the official position of the CRC" and to "instruct Dr. Bouma to bring his position into compliance with the 1972 synodical decision on abortion and ensure the Board of Trustees to ensure that compliance." The following week, Classis Wisconsin's "Study Committee Regarding Dr. Hessel Bouma's Views" will ask the March 4 meeting of classis to "overture synod to appoint a committee to do a thorough study of the biblical texts, terms, and concepts relevant to the issue of abortion in order to provide the synod with biblical and creedal grounds for the decision of 1972," specifying that "members would be appointed who fully support the decision of 1972." In a related but broader point dealing with compliance with synodical decisions, the Sheldon church also noted that "Synod 1996 quoted a declaration from Synod 1995 concerning differences of nuance in the confessions and synodical pronouncements. What it did not quote was the declaration made prior to the statement that it did quote; namely, that all officebearers and members are expected to abide by synodical pronouncements made on 'doctrinal and ethical matters.'" "Surely synod's pronouncements on abortion are ethical matters," wrote the Sheldon church. While it has come under increasing challenge in recent years, the official position of the Christian Reformed synod since 1972 has explicitly declared that "an induced abortion is an allowable option only when the life of the prospective mother is genuinely threatened by the continuation of the pregnancy." According to Rev. John Vermeer -- a classical interim committee member in a classis where three conservative churches have gone though secessions over the ordination of women and other denominational issues -- sending overtures such as that on abortion are necessary if conservatives are to remain with integrity in the Christian Reformed denomination. "If we are going to stay, we need to speak," said Vermeer. "This is something our church stands for, our council stands for, our congregation stands for, and I'd like to think the larger denomination stands for." "When you're concerned about whether you should be staying or leaving, if you're going to stay your voice has to be heard," continued Vermeer. "You're just capitulating otherwise." Vermeer, who has a number of members of his congregation active in the local right-to-life movement, said the issue was a matter of serious concern to his church. "We have in the denomination been accused of being less than living up to what we should be in terms of certain confessional statements, and I think this area, this body of churches, would be very much interested in upholding our integrity on this issue," said Vermeer. "One of the reasons our church is bringing this issue is that we don't want people to write us off, saying they say one thing one time and another thing another time." The convener of the Classis Wisconsin study committee on Bouma, Rev. Les Kuiper, said he was unaware of the overture by First Sheldon CRC to Classis of the Heartland but was pleased by their efforts. This year, however, Classis Wisconsin will be asked to take a different tack. Kuiper noted that Synod 1972's decision on abortion directly contradicted the report of a study committee on abortion which asked synod to declare that "synod is unwilling to specify the other conditions under which abortion might be considered a viable alternative, since this might seem to eliminate the necessity of communal, prayerful deliberation in every individual situation." The result was that Synod 1972 adopted a statement on abortion without specifying the biblical or confessional grounds for that statement. Ironically, Kuiper said Synod 1990's decision on women in office provided a parallel situation and a precedent for the Classis Wisconsin committee proposal. "Our intent really is to provide that biblical confessional rationale and our understanding is there is precedent for asking for that kind of thing," said Kuiper. "How the women in office matter was developed was in the Synod of 1990 there was a decision made opening the offices to women and there was not biblical or confessional rationale for that. The Synod of 1991 appointed a committee to provide that rationale." According to Kuiper, synod may have to first specify the biblical and confessional grounds for its position on abortion before it can discipline Bouma or others who hold similar views. "We felt it was beyond our ability as a committee to provide a thorough biblical and creedal statement that synod would be able to accept. We felt that was more in line with the role of the denomination," said Kuiper. "We do expect that people wholly in favor of synod's position in 1972 be appointed to the committee to provide that rationale." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-073: Synod Rejects Wisconsin Overture: Calvin Prof Dr. Hessel Bouma III Remains Free to Teach His Views on Abortion #1997-003: Allegan Christian Reformed Church Asks Synod to Equate Abortion with Nazi War Crimes #1997-009: Classis Zeeland Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Reaffirm Opposition to Abortion and Send Letter to Congress; Classis Rejects Abortion-Nazi War Crimes Comparison by 18-13 Vote #1997-022: Calvin College Issues Statement of Support for Bouma Contact List: Dr. Hessel Bouma III, Professor of Biology, Calvin College Science Building 233, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 O: (616) 957-6401 Mr. Phil de Haan, Director of Media Relations, Calvin College 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 O: (616) 957-6475 * H: (616) 241-4061 * F: (616) 957-8551 * Pager: (616) 680-1958 * E-Mail: DEHP@Calvin.edu Rev. Adrian Dieleman, Stated Clerk, Classis Wisconsin 908 Visser Ave., Waupun, WI 53963 O/FAX: (414) 324-4962 * H: (414) 324-2669 * E-Mail: ADieleman@aol.com Rev. Jack Gray, Stated Clerk, Classis of the Heartland 708 - 5th St., Orange City, IA 51041-1804 O: (712) 737-2797 * H: (712) 737-2997 Rev. Les Kuiper, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 215 S. 8th St., Oostburg, WI 53070-0305 O: (414) 564-3238 * H: (414) 564-2725 Rev. John Vermeer, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 9th St. at 9th Ave., Sheldon, IA 51201 O: (712) 324-2374 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-021.txt .