Date: Sat, 14 Jun 1997 22:58:20 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97070: Two Holland Pastors Elected CRC Synod President, Vice President NR #1997-070: For Immediate Release Two Holland Pastors Elected Christian Reformed Synod President, Vice President * Newly-Elected Synod President is 19th successor of Holland founder Albertus Van Raalte at original "mother church" of West Michigan Dutch settlement by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, MI (June 14, 1997) URNS -- In a highly unusual move, the Christian Reformed synod elected two Holland area pastors as its president and vice-president. Meeting yesterday at Calvin College, the broadest assembly of the 285,000-member Christian Reformed Church voted to elect the Rev. Michael De Vries of Pillar CRC as its president and the Rev. Wayne Brouwer of Harderwyk CRC as its vice-president. De Vries' congregation is the convening church for this year's synod, meaning that he served as temporary president until the permanent officers were elected. De Vries will also conduct today's synodical prayer and praise service at 4 pm at his congregation, founded 150 years ago by the Rev. Albertus Van Raalte as First Reformed Church of Holland, the "mother church" of the rest of the West Michigan congregations that formed the Christian Reformed Church and the Midwest wing of the Reformed Church in America. De Vries has pastored in Holland since 1980, and until 1993 served the Harderwyk church now pastored by Brouwer. Born in the Netherlands, the 61-year-old pastor immigrated to Canada in 1950 as a teenager and served congregations in British Columbia, Ontario, and California before accepting the call to Harderwyk CRC. De Vries holds undergraduate and divinity degrees from Calvin College and Seminary, a masters of theology degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and a "doctorandus" in practical theology from the Free University of Amsterdam. De Vries, who said he was "humbled and elated" to be elected synod president, attributed his election to the Holland sesquicentennial celebration. The election of a synod president often provides an early indication of the tenor of the synodical delegates. De Vries, who described himself as a theological moderate, said he would "aim for the center" in his conduct of synodical sessions. "My prayer is this will be a unifying synod, unlike some of the ones we have had," said De Vries. "I hope that it is one of harmony. I believe in openness, and hopefully that's what will happen." According to De Vries, the major issues at synod will include whether CRC members may address God as "Mother," structural issues in Canadian ministries, and possibly abortion. De Vries said he was deeply saddened by the secessions that had occurred from the CRC in recent years, partly in response to issues such as abortion and feminine language for God but mostly due to women's ordination. Since 1993, the CRC has lost over 30,000 members. "I'm saddened by it, deeply saddened," said De Vries. "The main focus should be Christians seeking and ministering to the world." Serving as synod president can be a physically and emotionally taxing responsibility, but De Vries said he is ready despite suffering from a second bout with cancer and completing radiation treatments only three weeks ago. "I was extremely fatigued, but I am now re-energized," said De Vries. Before recessing to advisory committees, synod also elected Dr. George Vandervelde of Toronto and the Rev. Norman Meyer of Grand Rapids as first and second clerks. Delegates are expected to spend all of Monday in advisory committees and will reconvene for business on Tuesday morning. Contact List: TO REACH DELEGATES DURING SYNOD 1997 (June 14-21, 1997): Synod News Office, Fine Arts Center, Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Prerecorded Synod News Message: (616) 224-0841 or (800) 277-9663 Synod Office: (616) 957-8650 News Office: (616) 957-8652 FAX: (616) 957-8659 TO REACH DELEGATES AFTER SYNOD 1997: Rev. Michael De Vries, President, Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church 2190 Lakeridge Dr., Holland, MI 49424 O: (616) 392-8686 * H: (616) 399-4067 * FAX: (616) 392-8686 Rev. Wayne Brouwer, Vice-President, Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church 1627 West Lakewood Blvd., Holland, MI 49424 O: (616) 399-9190 * H: (616) 399-4645 * FAX: (616) 399-8808 * E-Mail: Brouwer@macatawa.org Dr. George Vandervelde, First Clerk, Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church 3 Cathcart St., Willowdale, ON M2M 1N5 O: (416) 979-2331 * H: (416) 226-3975 * FAX: (416) 979-2332 Rev. Norman Meyer, Second Clerk, Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church 1741 Radcliff SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 O: (616) 452-3191 * H: (616) 285-6089 Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North America 1401 Lenox Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 O: (616) 224-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 224-5895NR #1997-070: For Immediate Release Two Holland Pastors Elected Christian Reformed Synod President, Vice President * Newly-Elected Synod President is 19th successor of Holland founder Albertus Van Raalte at original "mother church" of West Michigan Dutch settlement by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, MI (June 14, 1997) URNS -- In a highly unusual move, the Christian Reformed synod elected two Holland area pastors as its president and vice-president. Meeting yesterday at Calvin College, the broadest assembly of the 285,000-member Christian Reformed Church voted to elect the Rev. Michael De Vries of Pillar CRC as its president and the Rev. Wayne Brouwer of Harderwyk CRC as its vice-president. De Vries' congregation is the convening church for this year's synod, meaning that he served as temporary president until the permanent officers were elected. De Vries will also conduct today's synodical prayer and praise service at 4 pm at his congregation, founded 150 years ago by the Rev. Albertus Van Raalte as First Reformed Church of Holland, the "mother church" of the rest of the West Michigan congregations that formed the Christian Reformed Church and the Midwest wing of the Reformed Church in America. De Vries has pastored in Holland since 1980, and until 1993 served the Harderwyk church now pastored by Brouwer. Born in the Netherlands, the 61-year-old pastor immigrated to Canada in 1950 as a teenager and served congregations in British Columbia, Ontario, and California before accepting the call to Harderwyk CRC. De Vries holds undergraduate and divinity degrees from Calvin College and Seminary, a masters of theology degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and a "doctorandus" in practical theology from the Free University of Amsterdam. De Vries, who said he was "humbled and elated" to be elected synod president, attributed his election to the Holland sesquicentennial celebration. The election of a synod president often provides an early indication of the tenor of the synodical delegates. De Vries, who described himself as a theological moderate, said he would "aim for the center" in his conduct of synodical sessions. "My prayer is this will be a unifying synod, unlike some of the ones we have had," said De Vries. "I hope that it is one of harmony. I believe in openness, and hopefully that's what will happen." According to De Vries, the major issues at synod will include whether CRC members may address God as "Mother," structural issues in Canadian ministries, and possibly abortion. De Vries said he was deeply saddened by the secessions that had occurred from the CRC in recent years, partly in response to issues such as abortion and feminine language for God but mostly due to women's ordination. Since 1993, the CRC has lost over 30,000 members. "I'm saddened by it, deeply saddened," said De Vries. "The main focus should be Christians seeking and ministering to the world." Serving as synod president can be a physically and emotionally taxing responsibility, but De Vries said he is ready despite suffering from a second bout with cancer and completing radiation treatments only three weeks ago. "I was extremely fatigued, but I am now re-energized," said De Vries. Before recessing to advisory committees, synod also elected Dr. George Vandervelde of Toronto and the Rev. Norman Meyer of Grand Rapids as first and second clerks. Delegates are expected to spend all of Monday in advisory committees and will reconvene for business on Tuesday morning. Contact List: TO REACH DELEGATES DURING SYNOD 1997 (June 14-21, 1997): Synod News Office, Fine Arts Center, Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Prerecorded Synod News Message: (616) 224-0841 or (800) 277-9663 Synod Office: (616) 957-8650 News Office: (616) 957-8652 FAX: (616) 957-8659 TO REACH DELEGATES AFTER SYNOD 1997: Rev. Michael De Vries, President, Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church 2190 Lakeridge Dr., Holland, MI 49424 O: (616) 392-8686 * H: (616) 399-4067 * FAX: (616) 392-8686 Rev. Wayne Brouwer, Vice-President, Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church 1627 West Lakewood Blvd., Holland, MI 49424 O: (616) 399-9190 * H: (616) 399-4645 * FAX: (616) 399-8808 * E-Mail: Brouwer@macatawa.org Dr. George Vandervelde, First Clerk, Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church 3 Cathcart St., Willowdale, ON M2M 1N5 O: (416) 979-2331 * H: (416) 226-3975 * FAX: (416) 979-2332 Rev. Norman Meyer, Second Clerk, Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church 1741 Radcliff SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 O: (616) 452-3191 * H: (616) 285-6089 Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North America 1401 Lenox Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 O: (616) 224-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 224-5895 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-070.txt .