Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 22:38:30 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97038: Two CRC Classes Ask Synod 1997 to Review Abortion Issue NR #1997-038: Two CRC Classes Ask Synod 1997 to Review Abortion Issue Synod 1996 largely cleared Calvin College biology professor Dr. Hessel Bouma III despite his view 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." That doesn't mean he's out of the woods, however -- at least if Classis Wisconsin and Classis of the Heartland have anything to do with it. On March 1, Classis of the Heartland adopted an overture from First CRC of Sheldon, Iowa, asking synod "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." On March 4, Classis Wisconsin unanimously approved an overture from its "Study Committee Regarding Dr. Hessel Bouma's Views" asking 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." NR #1997-038: For Immediate Release Two CRC Classes Ask Synod 1997 to Review Abortion Issue by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (April 7, 1997) URNS -- Synod 1996 largely cleared Calvin College biology professor Dr. Hessel Bouma III despite his view 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." That doesn't mean he's out of the woods, however -- at least if Classis Wisconsin and Classis of the Heartland have anything to do with it. On March 1, Classis of the Heartland adopted an overture from First CRC of Sheldon, Iowa, asking synod "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." On March 4, Classis Wisconsin unanimously approved an overture from its "Study Committee Regarding Dr. Hessel Bouma's Views" asking 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." 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." "I think that our classis is strongly pro-life, and has some concern that the decision of 1972 is lacking some authority in the sense that there is no creedal or scriptural rationale provided," said Rev. Les Kuiper, convener of the Classis Wisconsin committee, noting his surprise that the classis action had been unanimous. "There was really no negative comment about the overture," said Kuiper. "It surprised me a bit but I guess I did believe that the overture would pass classis." First Sheldon CRC pastor Rev. John Vermeer said he was particularly alarmed that Synod 1996 said the issue raised by Bouma was not of ethical significance. "It just seemed to me that when you're dealing with abortion in the context of the Christian church, it really does carry confessional and ethical weight," said Vermeer. "I didn't think they did justice to it at synod and I felt we ought to bring it up again." According to Vermeer, calling Bouma to account is a matter of integrity if synod is going to maintain its official opposition to abortion. "Why say what we said if we don't mean what we say?" asked Vermeer. "That's what they have a responsibility to do in order to be consistent with where we stand and to manifest a matter of integrity." Bouma has asked not to be contacted by Christian Renewal for comment on the abortion issue. In an official statement issued by the Calvin College media relations office, Calvin College director of media relations Phil de Haan said that "Calvin College affirms the decision of Synod 1996 that Dr. Hessel Bouma is responsibly working within the bounds provided in Church Order Article 29 as he examines the complex range of issues related to the lives of the unborn." In addition, de Haan noted that the Calvin College board of trustees "has examined both the book Christian Faith, Health, and Medical Practice and Professor Bouma's teaching and concluded that the positions and conclusions taken and reached in the book by the five authors do not violate the confessions or Scripture, standards to which all Calvin faculty members are held, and that Professor Bouma's classroom performance exhibits a healthy respect for the decisions of Synod and a deep love for Scripture and the Christian faith which serves as a foundation for all that he does." "An academic setting such as Calvin College must allow its professors room to examine various dynamics related to important issues of the day. Academic freedom is at the heart of what we do at Calvin -- always cradled in the confines of Scripture and our common confessions," concluded de Haan. 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 #1997-021: Calvin College Professor's Views on Abortion Prompt More Complaints in Classis Wisconsin and Classis of the Heartland #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. John De Haan, Director, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560-0600 O: (616) 246-0740 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: nr97-038.txt .