Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 06:51:22 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97077: No Theological Classes Allowed for CRC Conservatives NR #1997-077: No Theological Classes Allowed for CRC Conservatives Would allowing Christian Reformed opponents of women's ordination to have their own theologically-identified classes be a "terrible thing and a death blow to the church" or a way for conservatives and progressives to live with each despite their disagreements? Those two visions led to heated debate at synod June 19 on a proposal that approximately four dozen conservative churches be allowed to organize four new classes which would remain members of the CRC but adopt a set of conservative theological affirmations on such subjects as gay marriage, women's ordination, worship, and feminine language for God. Numerous delegates warned that failure to grant theological classes could lead to even more secessions from a denomination that has lost over 30,000 members in the last five years. In the end, synod rejected the proposal to create theologically-identified conservative classes on a voice vote. Others reminded synod that only one day earlier they had approved transferring three churches from one classis to another for reasons other than theology. An earlier procedural motion showed a 125 to 59 margin against considering a report favoring theological classes. NR #1997-077: For Immediate Release No Theological Classes Allowed for CRC Conservatives by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 19, 1997) URNS -- Would allowing Christian Reformed opponents of women's ordination to have their own theologically-identified classes be a "terrible thing and a death blow to the church" or a way for conservatives and progressives to live with each despite their disagreements? Those two visions led to heated debate at synod June 19 on a proposal that approximately four dozen conservative churches be allowed to organize four new classes which would remain members of the CRC but adopt a set of conservative theological affirmations on such subjects as gay marriage, women's ordination, worship, and feminine language for God. Numerous delegates warned that failure to grant theological classes could lead to even more secessions from a denomination that has lost over 30,000 members in the last five years. "I came inclined to vote against theological classes, but you have convinced me we need each other," said Rev. Larry Meyer of Faith Community CRC in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. "If we do not make room for those on the right, I am afraid we are going to lose that voice," said Meyer. "I fear that if we do not make room for those on the right we will make a hard turn to the left." Elder Marlin Van Schepen of Classis Minnesota South urged delegates to consider the consequences. "I think all of us realize we are at something of a defining moment for the Christian Reformed Church," said Van Schepen, noting that some churches believed they were not being served effectively by their current classical affiliation and looked to theological classes as an alternative to denominational realignment. That reasoning didn't appeal to Dr. Jeff Weima of Calvin Seminary, who said one delegate had told him he would be voting for the proposal to stave off a secession despite believing the proposal was a bad idea. "I am firmly convinced that theological classes are a terrible thing and the death blow for the church," said Weima. "We either are a model of the family and work through our differences or we aren't." Others reminded synod that only one day earlier they had approved transferring three churches -- including Pine Creek CRC of Holland which opposes women's ordination and Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant which wants to ordain its female pastor -- from one classis to another due to factors unrelated to geography. "The mechanism is in place; if churches want to go to a classis that is of lie mind, the mechanism is there and in place," said Elder Larry Baar of Classis Muskegon. In the end, synod rejected the proposal to create theologically-identified conservative classes on a voice vote. An earlier procedural motion showed a 125 to 59 margin against considering a report favoring theological classes. 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 #1996-117B: Separation Without Secession: Interclassical Conference Urges Christian Reformed Synod to Create New Conservative Classes #1997-008: Classis Zeeland Votes by 72% Margin to Receive Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church Pending Synodical Approval #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 #1997-029: Classis Muskegon Admits Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant; Vote Allows Ordination of Mary-Lee Bouma as Third Christian Reformed Woman Pastor #1997-047: Classis Zeeland Endorses Theological Classis Proposal #1997-059: Classis California South Adopts South Holland Affirmations #1997-063: Christian Reformed Synod 1997 Faces Crossroads Decision: Will Seceding Churches Keep their Property? #1997-065: Orthodox Presbyterian General Assembly Breaks Longstanding Christian Reformed Fraternal Relationship #1997-066: Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly Cuts Ties with Christian Reformed Church Over Women's Ordination #1997-068: Christian Reformed Synod Convenes Today in Grand Rapids; Major Issues to Include Feminine Language for God, Abortion, Interchurch Relations, Local Church Property Issues, Theologically-Defined Classes #1997-075: Calling God "Mother," Theological Classes to Headline Thursday's Christian Reformed Synod 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: 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 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. Larry Meyer, Pastor, Faith Community Christian Reformed Church 408 Stark St., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 O: (414) 887-8577 * H: (414) 887-8309 * E-Mail: LLMeyer@aol.com 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 Dr. Jeffrey A.D. Weima, Professor of New Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 O: (616) 957-6019 * H: (616) 285-5834 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 * E-Mail: WEIMJE@luther.Calvin.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-077.txt .