Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 10:23:15 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97040: Typo Leads RCA to Recommend New Vote on Salvation Apart from Christ NR #1997-040: Typo Leads Reformed Church in America to Recommend New Vote on Salvation Apart from Christ Based on the omission of two words, the Reformed Church in America's General Synod Council is recommending that the denomination's regional classes get a second chance to vote on a controversial church order amendment that would have required all ministers and churches to annually reaffirm that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation. The amendment, prompted by the views of Rev. Richard Rhem, pastor of Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, Michigan, required a two-thirds majority of the 46 classes in the 313,000-member denomination but was decisively defeated, having received 23 affirmative and 23 negative votes in voting that ended April 8. Thirty-one affirmative votes would have been necessary to pass the amendment. When amendment author Rev. Patrick Shetler and General Synod Operations Secretary Rev. David Schreuder compared notes, they discovered that the RCA offices had mailed out an erroneous text that would require RCA ministers and churches to agree that "divine redemption from sin is only through faith in the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, the only mediator between God and humankind" rather than "by grace through faith." The difference is that the erroneous version implies that salvation is man's work of faith rather than an act of God's grace, and was serious enough that the General Synod Council's April 8-10 meeting in New Jersey voted to recommend that General Synod 1997, meeting this June in Milwaukee, resubmit the amendment to the classes. NR #1997-040: For Immediate Release Typo Leads Reformed Church in America to Recommend New Vote on Salvation Apart from Christ by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (April 14, 1997) URNS -- Based on the omission of two words, the Reformed Church in America's General Synod Council is recommending that the denomination's regional classes get a second chance to vote on a controversial church order amendment that would have required all ministers and churches to annually reaffirm that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation. The amendment, prompted by the views of Rev. Richard Rhem, pastor of Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, Michigan, required a two-thirds majority of the 46 classes in the 313,000-member denomination but was decisively defeated, having received 23 affirmative and 23 negative votes in voting that ended April 8. Thirty-one affirmative votes would have been necessary to pass the amendment. However, overture author Rev. Patrick Shetler of First Reformed Church in Grant discovered an error in the paperwork sent to the classes. "The way it came about was talking to [Rev.] Howard Moths of the South Grand Rapids Classis; he mentioned that some of the delegates at his classis did not want to vote for it because salvation is by grace," said Shetler. "That immediately rang a bell with me because I remembered those words were in." When Shetler and General Synod Operations Secretary Rev. David Schreuder compared notes, they discovered that the RCA offices had mailed out an erroneous text that would require RCA ministers and churches to agree that "divine redemption from sin is only through faith in the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, the only mediator between God and humankind" rather than "by grace through faith." The difference is that the erroneous version implies that salvation is man's work of faith rather than an act of God's grace, and was serious enough that the General Synod Council's April 8-10 meeting in New Jersey voted to recommend that General Synod 1997, meeting this June in Milwaukee, resubmit the amendment to the classes. According to Schreuder, this was the first time in his eight years as an RCA staff member that an error of this sort had occurred. "The historical record is correct in the minutes, but since people don't generally like to flip through pages and pages of material we send out a little white booklet and there was a typographical error," said Schreuder. "We had a new typesetter who did the book; it's really hard to say what happened other than that it certainly wasn't done deliberately. The only fair thing to do is to submit it again and vote on it again." Shetler said he was glad the General Synod Council recommendation had given his amendment a second lease on life. "I think this gives us a second chance looking at this issue," said Shetler. Shetler hoped that the second vote on the amendment would focus on the question of missions rather than whether it is redundant. "Is faith in Christ alone necessary for salvation, or can you be saved through God's grace being mediated through other traditions, through natural theology, or through post-mortem salvation?" asked Shetler. "This becomes extremely important when you start doing missions, otherwise missions becomes completely and totally unnecessary." The General Synod Council proposal won't be the only one coming before this year's General Synod, however. In a separate but related action, the RCA's Classis of Central California is overturing the General Synod to adopt a slightly different form of the amendment which would require all ministers and churches to affirm that they preach in conformity with "the Word of God with its supreme emphasis on the truth that divine redemption from sin is by grace through faith in the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Chrst alone, the only mediator between God and humankind." RCA ministers and churches already must affirm that they preach in accord with the Word of God and the RCA's doctrinal standards. The difference between the Central California proposal and the original version of the amendment is that salvation through Christ alone would be declared to be part of the "supreme emphasis" of Scripture rather than a third item separate from affirmation of the Word of God and the RCA doctrinal standards. According to Rev. Don Christensen, stated clerk of the Central California Classis, his classis adopted the overture on March 8 -- a week before and unrelated to Shetler's call to Schreuder. "Anyone who knows the Word of God affirms the complete allegience to Jesus Christ, but there is evidence of alternative views of salvation being proclaimed in the Reformed Church in America," said Christensen. "There are many doctrinal points, there is a pluralism of theology in the Scripture, you will not have a mediating, unifying factor until you affirm the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures." Why go the route of linking salvation through Christ alone to affirmation of the Word of God rather than a separate subpoint? "We felt a third subpoint was sort of weakening the existing statements on preaching the Word of God and the doctrinal standards," said Christensen. We want to amplify the strength of one of the statements rather than weakin it with three of them. Again, because of the unique category that Jesus Christ deserves, he's not a doctrine, he's a living witness to the Word of God." In other business, the General Synod Council recommended that the denomination adopt a "mission and vision" statement at its upcoming General Synod and revise its standards for preparing candidates for ordination. Included in the one page statement is an affirmation that the RCA "will not do business as usual, nor our usual business." The new RCA vision, if adopted, would urge congregations, classes, regional synods, and the denomination as a whole to focus on ministry rather than management and to live out this vision through being "transformed by a pervasive climate of worship, discernment, and biblical reflection." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-013: Special Meeting of RCA's Muskegon Classis Discusses Homosexuality, Scripture, Salvation Apart from Christ #1996-023: Muskegon RCA Classis: No Room for Pastor Questioning Salvation Apart from Christ, Authority of Scripture #1996-086: Muskegon Classis Rebukes Rhem for "Heretical" Views, Restarts Negotiations "to Reach a Mutually Acceptable Separation Agreement" with Christ Community Church #1996-091: Rhem Conflict Leads to Homosexuality Debate in Muskegon #1996-092: Back to the Drawing Board: Muskegon Classis Tables Proposed Settlement with Pastor of RCA's Fourth-Largest Church #1996-093: Dr. Jonathan Gerstner on Rhem: "Tragedy is the Only Word" #1996-094: Second RCA Minister Faces Discipline for Theological Views #1996-103: Classis Muskegon Averts Heresy Trial, Completes Separation Agreement with Richard Rhem, Christ Community Church #1996-110: Appeal Stalls Settlement Agreement on Rev. Richard Rhem; Protests Greet Upcoming Rhem Keynote Speech for RCA Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics on "The Church in Conflict... Can Non-Believers be Saved?" #1996-118: Rhem to Reformed Church in America: "The Bible is a Wax Nose" #1997-001: Muskegon Classis Suspends Separation Agreement Until Regional Synod Adjudicates Appeal on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Allegations Against Richard Rhem #1997-002: Rhem's Attorney Responds: "Classis... Has Engaged in Conspiratorial Actions Which Were Maliciously Calculated to Damage Rev. Richard Rhem and Christ Community Church" #1997-007: Appeal of Charges Against Rhem Sent Back to Committee by RCA's Regional Synod Executive Committee; Van Hoeven Appeal to Proceed with Recommendation of Dismissal #1997-019: Reformed Church in America Classes Poised to Vote on Church Order Change: Should All RCA Ministers and Churches Annually Reaffirm that Salvation is Through Christ Alone? #1997-026: SW Michigan Becomes First RCA Michigan Classis to Ratify Church Order Amendment on Salvation Through Christ Alone #1997-027: "Kindred Spirits Gathering" of RCA Progressives Meet in Holland to Discuss Direction of Reformed Church in America #1997-028: Rhem Case on Hold; Muskegon Classis Affirms Salvation Through Christ Alone #1997-031: Reformed Church in America's Second and Third Largest Classes Vote to Affirm Salvation Only Through Christ #1997-033: Holland Classis Rejects Church Order Amendment to Require Annual Declaration that Salvation is Through Christ Alone #1997-034: Reformed Church in America Rejects Annual Declaration that Salvation is Through Christ Alone Contact List: Rev. E. Wayne Antworth, Director, RCA Stewardship & Communication Services 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115 O: (212) 870-2954 * FAX: (212) 870-2499 Rev. Don Christensen, Stated Clerk, Classis of Central California 3936 Dale Rd., Modesto, CA 95356 O: (209) 545-1992 * FAX: (209) 545-5862 Dr. I. John Hesselink, Moderator, RCA General Synod Council c/o Western Theological Seminary, 101 E. 13th St., Holland, MI 49423 O: (616) 392-8555 * H: (616) 396-2942 Rev. Howard Moths, Stated Clerk, Regional Synod of the Great Lakes 2795 Rosewood St., Jenison, MI 49428 O: (616) 669-6690 * H: (616) 669-1983 Rev. Richard Rhem, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Church 225 East Exchange St., Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 842-1985 * H: (616) 846-7777 * F: (616) 842-3476 * E-Mail: christcommunity@novagate.com Rev. Patrick Shetler, Pastor, First Reformed Church 271 E. State Rd., PO Box 365, Grant, MI 49327 O: (616) 834-8668 * H: (616) 834-7246 * E-Mail: grantreformedchurch@worldnet.att.net ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-040.txt .