Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 11:20:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: Darrell128@aol.com
Subject: Synod Schedule 970618

What's Coming Up At Synod

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 18, 1997) URNS -- Synod's Wednesday morning session
convenes at 8 am. According to synod vice president Rev. Wayne Brouwer, the
morning session will conclude the missions committee report and debate on a
proposal for restructuring of Canadian ministries begun Monday afternoon.
        From 11 am to 11:45 am, synod will hear fraternal greetings from the
delegates of other denominations. Synod's morning session will also address
interchurch relations matters -- including last week's decision by the
Presbyterian Church in America and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to cut
ties with the CRC.
        The afternoon will feature a presentation by Christian Reformed World
Missions from 1:15 to 1:40 pm and a discussion of the pastoral ministries
committee report. The evening will focus on a 7 pm report on worship and then
move to debate on a hotly-contested report on creation of
theologically-identified classes. The theological classis advisory committee
has split by a 7-7 margin, half recommending the creation of theological
classes and half opposing the concept. Synod is scheduled to adjourn at 10 pm
on Wednesday and will reconvene again in full session on Thursday morning.
        The synodical services advisory committee report has not yet been
distributed, but could include a hot-button issue -- whether to affirm
Classis Grandville's decision to grant "honorable release" to the Rev. Tom
Vanden Heuvel, who left First CRC of Byron Center to accept a call as
organizing pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church of Holland. Covenant Church
is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America, which just this past week
broke fraternal relations with the CRC due to the CRC's decision to allow the
ordination of women. Several prominent CRC progressive leaders have urged
synod to review irregularities in the process used by Classis Grandville to
grant honorable release to Vanden Heuvel, noting that his new church includes
a number of former CRC members and that the synodical deputies were not
present at the meeting where Vanden Heuvel was granted honorable release.
        Other scheduled agenda matters are as follows:

        Wednesday, June 18:
        11:00 am: Fraternal Greetings
        11:40 am: Farewell remarks by Rev. Bill Van Tol, executive director, 
                  CRC World Missions
        1:15 pm: Presentation by CRC World Missions
        7:00 pm: Discussion of worship report
        Thursday, June 19:
        7:00 pm: Inclusive language for God
        Friday, June 20:
        1:15 pm: Presentation by CRC World Relief Committee




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