Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 13:25:36 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97058: RCA's Muskegon Classis to Investigate Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Rhem NR #1997-058: Reformed Church in America's Muskegon Classis to Investigate Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Rhem On the same day that the US Supreme Court voted to allow Paula Jones to press her claims of sexual misconduct in a civil lawsuit against President Bill Clinton, the Muskegon Classis of the Reformed Church in America voted to accept a regional synod mandate that it investigate sexual misconduct claims against Rev. Richard Rhem filed by a former female staff member at his congregation, Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, Michigan. If successful, the woman's charges against Rhem could lead to his admonition, rebuke, suspension from the ministry, deposition from the ministry, or even possible excommunication. Rhem first came under fire in the Muskegon Classis in the fall of 1995 when he allowed a predominantly homosexual congregation, the Muskegon Metropolitan Community Church, to meet in his church building. Classis later focused on Rhem's belief that salvation is possible apart from Christ and formally rebuked him for heresy. NR #1997-058: For Immediate Release Reformed Church in America's Muskegon Classis to Investigate Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Rhem by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service MUSKEGON, Mich. (May 27, 1997) URNS -- On the same day that the US Supreme Court voted to allow Paula Jones to press her claims of sexual misconduct in a civil lawsuit against President Bill Clinton, the Muskegon Classis of the Reformed Church in America voted to accept a regional synod mandate that it investigate sexual misconduct claims against Rev. Richard Rhem filed by a former female staff member at his congregation, Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, Michigan. If successful, the woman's charges against Rhem could lead to his admonition, rebuke, suspension from the ministry, deposition from the ministry, or even possible excommunication. Rhem first came under fire in the Muskegon Classis in the fall of 1995 when he allowed a predominantly homosexual congregation, the Muskegon Metropolitan Community Church, to meet in his church building. Classis later focused on Rhem's belief that salvation is possible apart from Christ and formally rebuked him for heresy. Despite the theological conflicts, once it became clear that the large majority of the church supported Rhem, the classis moved toward allowing a peaceful separation. Since the summer of last year, however, classis has focused not so much on Rhem's theology but on his moral character. As Rhem's church was about to be dismissed from the RCA, a former organist filed charges of "gross sexual misconduct including sexual intercourse" against Rhem, thereby derailing the entire separation process. A classis committee conducted an initial investigation of the charges, including interviews with 18 alleged victims of sexual misconduct, but concluded that the available evidence was insufficient to substantiate the charges. Speaking at the time before classis, former classis president Elder Howard Connell said the finding of insufficient evidence was at least in part because Christ Community members made "threats of legal action against classis if they continued to seek out the facts of the charge." After the classis executive committee recommended a formal rebuke of Rhem on theological rather than moral grounds, the church declared its independence from the RCA on July 4, 1996 -- a decision which the denomination refuses to recognize. Classis officials have since refused to sign a negotiated separation agreement, arguing that permitting the church to leave the RCA would make it impossible for the alleged sexual misconduct victim to press her charges. Both sides concur that RCA polity gives the classis the legal right to seize the church building, but doing so would require repayment of a $1.3 million mortgage. Meeting in closed session on May 27 at Hope Reformed Church of Muskegon, classis accepted a May 5 vote by the RCA's Regional Synod of the Great Lakes sending the sexual misconduct charges back to classis with instructions "for full reconsideration as to whether the Muskegon Classis should proceed to trial on the charges." Speaking after the closed session, classis stated clerk Rev. Steve Smallegan said delegates voted to issue only a brief statement to the media that the classis had accepted the regional synod decision rather than appeal it to the general synod. "The regional synod is asking us to reconsider the charges brought; classis voted to approve that," said Smallegan, noting that releasing any further information to the media would violate the intention of classis. What does the classis vote mean? According to internal documents obtained by United Reformed News Service, the regional synod declared that "the Muskegon Classis did not properly consider [the alleged victim's] charges" in four areas: "failure to gather and consider all written evidence," "potential failure to gather and consider all testimony of witnesses," "failure to consider the second charge" against the church board "for knowing about Mr. Richard Rhem's improprieties with [the alleged victim] and alleged other women and not acting in a serious and appropriate manner," and "failure to bring [the alleged victim's] charges before the full classis." As a result of these procedural errors, the regional synod issued five "instr uctions" to the classis. According to the synod, classis "should make a formal written request to the Board of Trustees of Christ Community Church for production of all relevant written evidence" of the charges, noting that "if the Board of Trustees refuses to respond to the citation it may be grounds for a third charge -- namely, the obstruction of the Muskegon Classis' investigation" of the charges. Classis was also instructed by the regional synod to interview all witnesses named by the accuser, separately consider each charge, make specific findings of fact for presentation to the full classis for review, and in accord with the RCA Book of Church Order, to "determine whether there is sufficient merit in the charge to warrant further consideration." According to the Book of Church Order, the classis is required to conduct a trial if it determines that "there is sufficient merit." The trial must be held within 30 days of the accused person's reply to the charge, which must itself be made within ten days of receipt of the summons to trial. RCA procedures further specify that the classis "may try the charge, even though the accused is not present, if it is satisfied that proper notice was given." Rhem's church has also come under fire for releasing internal documents to the news media. The regional synod executive committee will meet June 11 to consider possible discipline of Christ Community Church for releasing over a dozen pages of internal documents pertaining to the sexual misconduct charge to the news media. Christ Community Church referred all media inquiries to its attorney, Roger Boer. Boer was out of town and unavailable for comment. Speaking prior to the classis vote, Boer took strong exception to the stated purpose for the special meeting of the classis. "On July 4, 1996 Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, Michigan, declared its independence from the Reformed Church in America," said Boer. "221 years ago, George III of England refused to recognize such a declaration to his detriment." Boer has previously advised Rhem and the church "to have nothing to do with Classis Muskegon RCA" on the grounds that "recent history shows that both the Regional Synod and the Classis are not interested in healing but wish to pursue discord and unrest." Boer also declared that the RCA in West Michigan is a "dysfunctional family" that has "brought basic disruption" to the reputation of the broader RCA. 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 #1997-028: 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 #1997-032: South Grand Rapids Classis Overtures Reformed Church in America to Reject "Full Communion" with United Church of Christ Due to UCC Approval of Gay Marriage and Ordination #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 #1997-040: Typo Leads Reformed Church in America to Recommend New Vote on Salvation Apart from Christ #1997-043: RCA Committee Asks Regional Synod of the Great Lakes to Send Rhem "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Case Back to Muskegon Classis for Investigation, Possible Trial #1997-044: Great Lakes Regional Synod Minister: Reformed Church in America not "Dead," but Needs to "Wake Up" #1997-045: Reformed Church in America Regional Synod of the Great Lakes Sends Rhem "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Case Back to Muskegon Classis for Investigation, Possible Trial #1997-046: Rhem's Attorney Responds: "The RCA in Western Michigan [is] Truly a Dysfunctional Family" #1997-057: RCA's Muskegon Classis Calls Special Meeting to Consider Trial for Richard Rhem on Sexual Misconduct Charges 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 Roger W. Boer, Esq., Partner, Rhoades, McKee, Boer, Goodrich & Titta, Attorneys at Law 161 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 600, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2793 O: (616) 235-3500 * FAX: (616) 459-5102 Elder Howard Connell, Past President, Classis Muskegon 2260 Riverwood Dr., Muskegon, MI 49445 H: (616) 744-7594 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 * E-Mail: HMoths@aol.com 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. Steve Smallegan, Stated Clerk, Muskegon Classis 3025 Glenside Blvd., Muskegon, MI 49441 O: (616) 759-3238 * H: (616) 755-8446 * E-Mail: MuskegonMI@aol.com Rev. Merwin Van Doornik, Counsel for Appellant 1985 Driftwood Dr., Holland, MI 49424 H: (616) 786-9155 * O: (616) 728-9446 Rev. Sherwin Weener, Synod Minister, Regional Synod of the Great Lakes 4500 - 60th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 O: (616) 698-7071 * H: (616) 457-3572 * E-Mail: RSGLWeener@aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-058.txt .