Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 15:51:51 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97047: Classis Zeeland Endorses Theological Classis Proposal NR #1997-047: Classis Zeeland Endorses Theological Classis Proposal By a 17-16 vote, Classis Zeeland of the Christian Reformed Church went on record May 7 in support of an overture from Classis California South coming to this summer's CRC synod asking the denomination to create new "theological classes" composed of churches opposed to the ordination of women. In January, Classis Zeeland agreed to accept the transfer of Pine Creek CRC from Classis Holland, which allows women's ordination, to Classis Zeeland, which does not. The Pine Creek transfer -- and that of Trinity CRC in Mt. Pleasant which wants to transfer from Classis Northern Michigan to Classis Muskegon to ordain its female pastor -- must be approved by synod. NR #1997-047: For Immediate Release Classis Zeeland Endorses Theological Classis Proposal by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service OVERISEL, Mich. (May 7, 1997) URNS -- By a 17-16 vote, Classis Zeeland of the Christian Reformed Church went on record May 7 in support of an overture from Classis California South coming to this summer's CRC synod asking the denomination to create new "theological classes" composed of churches opposed to the ordination of women. In January, Classis Zeeland agreed to accept the transfer of Pine Creek CRC from Classis Holland, which allows women's ordination, to Classis Zeeland, which does not. The Pine Creek transfer -- and that of Trinity CRC in Mt. Pleasant which wants to transfer from Classis Northern Michigan to Classis Muskegon to ordain its female pastor -- must be approved by synod. Rev. Bill Renkema, pastor of Coopersville CRC which submitted the proposal to classis, cited the Pine Creek case in defense of its proposal. "We want to remain in the Christian Reformed Church and this is one way to do it," said Renkema. "We've accepted Pine Creek. Where are they going to go if someone in our classis wants to allow women in office?" "I know others have talked about hurt and pain, but don't underestimate the hurt and pain of the conservative element in our denomination," said Renkema. Other delegates warned that the proposal before classis would lead to division in the denomination. "Our council looked at this Monday night and had some deep concerns about it," said Rev. James Cooper of Third CRC in Zeeland. "The apostles didn't see fit to say to the church, we have different ideas on this, let's all go and do our own thing," said Cooper, referring to the debate in the early church over the inclusion of non-Jews in what was until then an entirely Jewish church. That argument didn't carry the day, however. Rev. Bernard Tol of North Street CRC in Zeeland urged that the classis go on record supporting a proposal similar to one in the Netherlands that has kept a large group of conservatives in the Dutch state church as a means to avoid further splits in the CRC. "It will create division, I have no doubt about it, it's just blowing smoke if we say it won't," said Tol. "If there are 125 churches in our denomination that are uncomfortable with the women in office issue, do we want to say, 'Too bad?'" Classis also considered a proposal from Coopersville to declare Classis Zeeland a "theological classis" subsequent to approval by synod and a declaration that the classis "will not hinder any of its constituent churches from transferring to another classis if such churches desire to do so as a result of this action." After a brief debate, Coopersville withdrew the proposal on the grounds that it was premature to make such a declaration before synod considered the proposal to create theological classes. Elder Keith Vander Pol, chairman of the theological classis committee of the conservative Interclassical Conference, said he was pleased by the Zeeland decision. "I'm pleased for the support of Classis Zeeland, I realize as a classis it was a very difficult decision to make, but their support will be invaluable for synod's consideration of the issue," said Vander Pol. Vander Pol said he had so far received notification that 101 churches with approximately 45,000 members were "actively considering" joining a theological classis. "That would be a little better than 13% of the denomination," said Vander Pol. "I believe that 101 churches are actively considering but would not be able to say at this point how many will confirm their desire to join before Synod 1997 meets." According to Vander Pol, the creation of theological classes may be the last option to keep a number of conservative churches in the CRC. "The unity and harmony of the denomination is at stake in a way that was not present prior to this time," said Vander Pol. "We need to understand that the reasons for the theological classis would be a desire to bring back the denomination to its historical Reformed Christianity as it existed prior to 1995 when the synod allowed women's ordination." Vander Pol said that when Synod 1995 allowed each classis to allow women in office on the local level, it in effect allowed the creation of theological classes for those who support women in office. "What the denomination has already are theological classes as per the 1995 decision," said Vander Pol. "This would solidify unity among all classes, not just a few." In other business, classis approved a request from Overisel CRC to "release" the Rev. Donald Houseman from the CRC ministry. Houseman, a retired CRC minister in his eighties, recently transferred his membership to Bethel United Reformed Church of Jenison due to his opposition to trends in the Christian Reformed denomination. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1995-070: Christian Reformed Classes Permitted to Declare Church Order Ban on Women's Ordination "Inoperative"; Synod Decision Given Immediate Effect without Two-Year Ratification Process #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 #1996-088: Interclassical Conference of Christian Reformed Conservatives to be Asked to Create Nongeographical Classes; Minority Urges Immediate Secession from Christian Reformed Denomination #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#1997-008: Classis Zeeland Votes by 72% Margin to Receive Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church Pending Synodical Approval #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 #1997-010: Classis Holland Acquiesces in Pine Creek Request to Transfer to Classis Zeeland Due to Opposition to Women in Office #1997-011: Classis California South Endorses Classes Grouped by Theological Affinity Instead of Geography; Organizers Hope a Tenth of CRC May Join New Conservative Classes #1997-012: Classis Hudson Refuses Apology to Rev. Casey Freswick #1997-013: No Transfer for Terra Ceia to Classis Hudson#1997-020: Christian Reformed Membership Loss Speeds Up: 30,551 Members Lost in Five Year Slide #1997-025: Christian Reformed Church's Classis Muskegon to Vote March 6 on Admitting Church with Woman Minister #1997-029: Classis Muskegon Admits Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant; Vote Allows Ordination of Mary-Lee Bouma as Third Christian Reformed Woman Pastor 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 Miss Mary-Lee Bouma, Expounder, Trinity Christian Reformed Church 211 W. Broomfield, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 O: (517) 772-0664 * H: (517) 772-1029 Rev. James Cooper, Stated Clerk, Classis Zeeland 10 W. Central Ave., Zeeland, MI 49464 O: (616) 772-6682 * H: (616) 772-2440 * FAX: (616) 772-2076 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@crcna.org Rev. Donald Houseman 725 Baldwin St., Apt. 2058, Jenison, MI 49428 H: (616) 457-7763 Rev. William Renkema, Pastor, Coopersville Christian Reformed Church 207 Henry St., Coopersville, MI 49404 O: (616) 837-9858 Rev. Steven Sytsma, Stated Clerk, Classis Zeeland 4452 - 38th St., Hamilton, MI 49419 O: (616) 688-5290 * H: (616) 688-5603 Rev. Bernard Tol, Pastor, North Street Christian Reformed Church 333 Valley Dr., Zeeland, MI 49464 O: (616) 772-1545 * H: (616) 772-9356 Elder Keith Vander Pol, Theological Classis Committee Chairman, Interclassical Conference 1725 Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92027 O: (619) 480-8474 * FAX: (619) 480-0252 Rev. Douglas Van Essen, Stated Clerk, Classis Muskegon 1132 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49441 O: (616) 725-7325 * H: (616) 728-6289 Rev. Paul Veenstra, Stated Clerk, Classis Northern Michigan 11520 Atwood Rd., Ellsworth, MI 49729 H/O: (616) 599-2765 Rev. Peter Winkle, Stated Clerk, Classis Holland 533 Central Ave., Holland, MI 49423 O: (616) 396-8811 * H: (616) 394-4728 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-047.txt .