Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 11:10:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97073: Synod Modifies Local Church Property Rights NR #1997-073: Synod Modifies Local Church Property Rights Is it "congregationalist" for churches which have theological problems with the denomination of which they are a part to be able to leave that denomination with their property? That's what Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church decided yesterday by a 92 to 71 margin. Meeting yesterday at Calvin College, synod approved a new set of model articles of incorporation for CRC congregations specifying that the property of churches leaving the CRC belongs to the group or groups defined by classis as remaining "true to the purposes of this church as a member church" of the CRC. The proposed CRC policy is similar to that of the RCA that has produced a year long standoff since Rev. Richard Rhem's Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, seceded without denominational approval. According to CRC General Secretary Dr. David Engelhard, all new churches joining the CRC will be required to adopt the articles of incorporation, as well as all existing churches receiving financial aid from the denomination. Self-supporting churches will be encouraged but not required to change their articles of incorporation to follow the synodically-endorsed model. NR #1997-073: For Immediate Release Synod Modifies Local Church Property Rights by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 18, 1997) URNS -- Is it "congregationalist" for churches which have theological problems with the denomination of which they are a part to be able to leave that denomination with their property? That's what Synod 1997 of the Christian Reformed Church decided yesterday by a 92 to 71 margin. Meeting yesterday at Calvin College, synod approved a new set of model articles of incorporation for CRC congregations specifying that the property of churches leaving the CRC belongs to the group or groups defined by classis as remaining "true to the purposes of this church as a member church" of the CRC. The proposed CRC policy is similar to that of the RCA that has produced a year long standoff since Rev. Richard Rhem's Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan, seceded without denominational approval. According to CRC General Secretary Dr. David Engelhard, all new churches joining the CRC will be required to adopt the articles of incorporation, as well as all existing churches receiving financial aid from the denomination. Self-supporting churches will be encouraged but not required to change their articles of incorporation to follow the synodically-endorsed model. After at least six decades during which Christian Reformed congregations lost their property if they seceded, Synod 1970 ruled that local churches hold exclusive title to their own property and that if the church splits as a result of theological differences, "every effort shall be made to achieve a just and fair division of property." While not explicitly specified by synod, the 1970 rule has been interpreted to provide for a proportional division of the property between the portion of the congregation seceding from and remaining within the CRC according to the relative size of each group. In a 1980 set of model articles of incorporation, synod proposed that each local church in the United States adopt a set of articles stating that "this corporation shall have exclusive control over all of its temporalities, nor shall the exercise of its property rights through the lawful decisions of its council and/or corporation be subject to revision by the classis of which this church is a member or the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America." In the agenda for this year's synod, the synodical board of trustees reported that it and a study committee appointed to review the matter "became convinced that the article regarding property needed rewording." The board of trustees cites six grounds for its conviction, including that the current article "is based on a 'congregationalist' principle of church government which posits the absolute autonomy of the local congregation." The new proposed articles specify that in the event of an irreconcilable division, "the confessing members of this church who, according to the exclusive determination of the classis (or synod on appeal) remain true to the purposes of this church as a member church of the Christian Reformed Church in North America and the principles of doctrine and ecclesiastical government... shall be the lawful congregation of this church and shall have the exclusive right to hold and enjoy the real and personal property of this church." An exception clause allows classis to declare that more than one group remains true to those principles. The proposed change was staunchly advocated by delegates from classes that have experienced recent splits. "In the experience of Classis Hudson when this happened, at least in the cases of three congregations which disaffiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, the process took place in secret; when the classis asked for permission to meet with the church, the church visitors were stalled and denied access," said the Rev. Wesley Van Dyk of Faith Community CRC in Wyckoff, N.J. "It was an extremely painful, and I felt, very dishonorable process. I feel the congregation was manipulated and even may I say lied to in an effort to get them to leave the Christian Reformed Church." Others warned that the procedure might have unrealistic expectations. "I'm speaking as a member of a classical interim committee as well as a delegate to synod," said Rev. Roger Sparks, interim committee chairman of Classis Iakota. "When this says a classis on appeal shall settle disputes between factions, I'm wondering if this is workable." "Can a classis do that?" asked Sparks. "I don't want to create a problem where there isn't one, but I really see one. Are we talking about assets? What does this mean, any disputes?" Elder Keith Vander Pol, chairman of the theological classis committee of the conservative Interclassical Conference, said that establishing some procedure for secession was prudent. "By God's grace this will not have to be used anytime soon," said Vander Pol. "I think these procdures by God's grace protect those congregations that need to use them." Nevertheless Vander Pol warned that the procedure under consideration could lead to serious problems. "This grants to classis and to synod something that we need to be concerned about," said Vander Pol. "If a congregation is intent on leaving they won't give beans what we say. I am concerned about the wisdom of calling a church to wait a year, or at least 6 months, as I see it that will not help, they will not care what we say." CRC General Secretary Dr. David Engelhard noted that nothing in the proposed procedures would force a change in currently organized churches that didn't accept denominational funding. "They will be encouraged to examine their articles of incorporation in light of the new ones, but at the present time we have no mind to mandate a particular set of articles," said Engelhard. "I would think that it would be very peculiar that a regulation regarding property would lead to secession. It's possible that people would come to that conclusion but it would be a premature secession." Synod specified that the necessary changes in the church order to implement the new articles of incorporation are substantial changes requiring ratification by a subsequent synod. The new procedures will go into effect in 1998 if ratified by synod next year. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-104: New Denomination Born: Most Christian Reformed Seceders Organize as "United Reformed Churches of North America" #1996-106: $600,000 Christian Reformed Lawsuit Settled After Longstanding Dispute with Seceding Hamilton Church #1996-117B: Separation Without Secession: Interclassical Conference Urges Christian Reformed Synod to Create New Conservative Classes #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 #1997-020: Christian Reformed Membership Loss Speeds Up: 30,551 Members Lost in Five Year Slide #1997-063: Christian Reformed Synod 1997 Faces Crossroads Decision: Will Seceding Churches Keep Their Property? 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 (888) 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 _____ Rev. Roger Sparks, Calvin Christian Reformed Church 1606 - 18th St., Rock Valley, IA 51247 O: (712) 476-5782 * H: (712) 476-2468 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. Wesley Van Dyk, Pastor, Faith Community Christian Reformed Church of Wyckoff 551 Franklin Lakes Rd., Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417-3002 O: (201) 891-7662 * H: (201) 847-0530 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-073.txt .