Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 23:56:55 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97079: Muskegon Classis Meets for More Inquiry on Rhem "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Charges Against Rev. Richard Rhem; ... NR #1997-079: Muskegon Classis to Meet June 24 for More Inquiry on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Charges Against Rev. Richard Rhem; Classis Also Asked by Regional Synod to Consider Charging Rhem's Church with Leaking Documents to News Media June 24 won't be "judgment day" for the Rev. Richard Rhem of Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, but it could be getting close. Last month, the Muskegon Classis of the 312,000-member Reformed Church in America voted to accept the Great Lakes Regional Synod's directive that the classis investigate charges of "gross sexual misconduct" filed against Rhem by a former church organist. The May 27 meeting also asked the classis' attorney to request an interview with Rhem and his church board, as well as "all relevant files and other information pertaining to the internal handling of the content of this charge." When classis meets at 7 pm at Westwood Reformed Church of Muskegon, it will hear the results of both of those requests. An earlier 11 am executive committee meeting at Hope Reformed Church and a confidential conference between classis officials at 9 am at Hope Reformed are expected to provide additional information to the classis. The charges arose last summer in the context of a long-running dispute between Rhem and the RCA over homosexuality, the authority of Scripture, and whether people can be saved apart from Jesus Christ. The classis eventually focused on the issue of salvation apart from Christ and voted to formally rebuke Rhem for his theological views. Classis then faced a dilemma when Christ Community voted to declare its independence of the RCA on July 4 of last year, shortly after the classis backed out of an agreement to allow the church to leave because the classis wanted time to investigate the sexual misconduct charges. RCA churches do not have the right to secede without denominational approval, but a move to seize Christ Community's property would require the classis to assume the payments on a $1.3 million mortgage for the church, which has an average attendance of 750 and a total reported membership of 2800. NR #1997-079: For Immediate Release Muskegon Classis to Meet June 24 for More Inquiry on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Charges Against Rev. Richard Rhem * Classis also asked by Regional Synod to consider charging Rhem's church with leaking documents to news media by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (June 23, 1997) URNS -- June 24 won't be "judgment day" for the Rev. Richard Rhem of Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, but it could be getting close. Last month, the Muskegon Classis of the 312,000-member Reformed Church in America voted to accept the Great Lakes Regional Synod's directive that classis investigate charges of "gross sexual misconduct" filed against Rhem by a former church organist. The May 27 meeting also asked the classis attorney to request an interview with Rhem and his church board, as well as "all relevant files and other information pertaining to the internal handling of the content of this charge." When classis meets at 7 pm at Westwood Reformed Church of Muskegon, it will hear the results of both of those requests. An earlier 11 am executive committee meeting at Hope Reformed Church and a confidential conference between classis officials at 9 am at Hope Reformed are expected to provide additional information to the classis. The charges arose last summer in the context of a long-running dispute between Rhem and the RCA over homosexuality, the authority of Scripture, and whether people can be saved apart from Jesus Christ. The classis eventually focused on the issue of salvation apart from Christ and voted to formally rebuke Rhem for his theological views. Classis then faced a dilemma when Christ Community voted to declare its independence of the RCA on July 4 of last year, shortly after the classis backed out of an agreement to allow the church to leave because the classis wanted time to investigate the sexual misconduct charges. RCA churches do not have the right to secede without denominational approval, but a move to seize Christ Community's property would require the classis to assume the payments on a $1.3 million mortgage for the church, which has an average attendance of 750 and a total reported membership of 2800. According to internal documents obtained by United Reformed News Service, the regional synod vote required the classis to investigate the charges because of "failure to gather and consider all written evidence," "potential failure to gather and consider all testimony of witnesses," "failure to consider the second charge" brought by the alleged victim against the Board of Trustees of Rhem's church "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" for investigation. The regional synod further instructed the Muskegon Classis to "make a formal written request to the Board of Trustees of Christ Community Church for production of all relevant written evidence described above in order to consider both of [the alleged victim's] charges," to interview all witnesses cited by the alleged victim, as well as Rhem and the church board, separately consider each of the charges, to produce "specific findings of fact regarding [the alleged victim's] charges" to "prepare a report for presentation before the full classis for review in making a determination whether the Muskegon Classis should proceed to trial on either or both of [the alleged victim's] charges," and to "determine whether there is sufficient merit in either or both of the charges to warrant further consideration." The last determination may prove to be the key. In line with a Scriptural requirement that no charge be accepted against an elder or minister unless supported by the testimony of two or three witnesses, the RCA book of church order requires that "the testimony of more than one witness shall be required in admitting accusations," but specifies that "if two or more witnesses bear testimony each to different acts of the same general nature, this shall be considered sufficient to support the accusation." According to the regional synod report, the Muskegon Classis reported that the alleged victim's charges against Rhem "involved gross sexual misconduct including sexual intercourse," but that "the other witnesses interviewed by the Muskegon Classis indicated some sexual 'indiscretions' by Mr. Richard Rhem but did not reveal sexual misconduct of the same magnitude (i.e., sexual intercourse) with [the alleged victim] or other women." Rhem has consistently denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. Christ Community Church referred inquiries concerning the upcoming classis meeting to the church attorney who could not be reached for comment. Classis officials declined on-the-record comment until after the close of the classis meeting. After the regional synod vote on May 5, Rhem's attorney Roger Boer issued a public statement to the media accusing the RCA of being a "dysfunctional family" and indicating that Boer had advised his clients "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 want to pursue discord and unrest." Even if Rhem and his church refuse to comply, that doesn't mean the case can't be tried in absentia. RCA procedures specify that a trial can proceed without the presence of the accused party and the regional synod's May 5 decision specified that if Rhem or the church "refuse to respond to the citation, it may also be grounds for a charge of obstruction of the Muskegon Classis' investigation." According to regional synod minister Rev. Sherwin Weener, Rhem may also face sanctions for releasing documents to the news media. "In effect the synod executive committee decided that churches are amenable to their classes and decided to send a report of the things we found objectionable to the classes involved, both Southwest Michigan and Muskegon, and let them decide whether to proceed further with it," said Weener. The Southwest Michigan reference is to the case of retired campus chaplain Dr. Donald Van Hoeven who has been rebuked by his classis for views similar to those of Rhem on salvation apart from Christ. The June 11 decision to refer the matter of leaking documents to the news media to the respective classes follows a confidential May 6 warning to the Christ Community Board of Trustees by regional synod stated clerk Rev. Howard Moths warning that "the executive committee of the synod of the Great Lakes and the Classis of Muskegon may consider disciplinary action in response to this violation." In the same letter obtained by United Reformed News Service, Moths urged the church "to keep the details of this case confidential." 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 #1997-058: Reformed Church in America's Muskegon Classis to Investigate Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Rhem 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 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. Donald Van Hoeven 1024 Westfall, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 H: (616) 381-8586 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: SGLSherwin@aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-079.txt .