Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 07:02:49 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97071: CRC Synod Scheduled to Debate Abortion Issue Tuesday Morning NR #1997-071: Christian Reformed Synod Scheduled to Debate Abortion Issue Tuesday Morning; Committee Recommends Rejection of Iowa Overture to Require Calvin College Professor to Comply with Synodical Opposition to Abortion; Synod Pays Tribute to Six-Time Synod President; What's Coming Up at Synod What should the Christian Reformed synod do with a professor at its official denominational college who says "abortion is not the moral equivalent of murder," that "under exceptional circumstances, abortion occasionally may be recommended, cooperated with, or tolerated," and calls the Synod 1976 decision supporting the Human Life Amendment to the US Constitution "an emotional response to the dramatic increase in abortions in the wake of Roe v. Wade, based on minimal Scripture exegesis"? That question is expected to be addressed Tuesday morning as part of the advisory committee report on educational matters when synod considers an overture from Classis of the Heartland asking synod to declare Calvin professor Dr. Hessel Bouma's position on abortion contrary to that of the CRC, instruct Bouma to comply, and instruct the Calvin board to ensure his compliance. The committee recommends rejecting the overture, arguing there are not "sufficient new grounds" to reconsider synod's rejection of similar complaints against Bouma in previous years. While it has come under increasing challenge, the official position of the Christian Reformed synod since 1972 has explicitly declared that "an induced abortion is an allowable option only when the life of the prospective mother is genuinely threatened by the continuation of the pregnancy." Synod has the right to amend its schedule and the overture could be postponed until other abortion overtures addressed by two different advisory committees come before synod. Both committees have completed their work but are not scheduled to have their reports heard on Tuesday. NR #1997-071: For Immediate Release Christian Reformed Synod Scheduled to Debate Abortion Issue on Tuesday Morning * Committee recommends rejection of Iowa overture to require Calvin College professor to comply with synodical opposition to abortion by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 15, 1997) URNS -- What should the Christian Reformed synod do with a professor at its official denominational college who says "abortion is not the moral equivalent of murder," that "under exceptional circumstances, abortion occasionally may be recommended, cooperated with, or tolerated," and calls the Synod 1976 decision supporting the Human Life Amendment to the US Constitution "an emotional response to the dramatic increase in abortions in the wake of Roe v. Wade, based on minimal Scripture exegesis"? That question is expected to be addressed Tuesday morning as part of the advisory committee report on educational matters when the CRC synod considers an overture from Classis of the Heartland in Iowa asking synod to declare Calvin professor Dr. Hessel Bouma's position on abortion contrary to that of the CRC, instruct Bouma to comply, and instruct the Calvin board to ensure his compliance. The synodical advisory committee recommends rejecting the overture, arguing there are not "sufficient new grounds" to reconsider synod's rejection of similar complaints against Bouma in previous years. While it has come under increasing challenge in recent years, the official position of the Christian Reformed synod since 1972 has explicitly declared that "an induced abortion is an allowable option only when the life of the prospective mother is genuinely threatened by the continuation of the pregnancy." Synod may amend its schedule and the overture could be postponed until two different abortion overtures referred to another advisory committee come before synod. The committee has completed its work on the two overtures but its report is not scheduled to be heard on Tuesday. Bouma has asked not to be contacted by United Reformed News Service for comment on the abortion issue. In an official statement issued this spring by the Calvin College media relations office when the overture was first proposed to Classis of the Heartland, Calvin College director of media relations Phil de Haan said that "Calvin College affirms the decision of Synod 1996 that Dr. Hessel Bouma is responsibly working within the bounds provided in Church Order Article 29 as he examines the complex range of issues related to the lives of the unborn." In addition, de Haan noted that the college board "has examined both the book Christian Faith, Health, and Medical Practice and Professor Bouma's teaching and concluded that the positions and conclusions taken and reached in the book by the five authors do not violate the confessions or Scripture, standards to which all Calvin faculty members are held, and that Professor Bouma's classroom performance exhibits a healthy respect for the decisions of Synod and a deep love for Scripture and the Christian faith which serves as a foundation for all that he does." "An academic setting such as Calvin College must allow its professors room to examine various dynamics related to important issues of the day. Academic freedom is at the heart of what we do at Calvin -- always cradled in the confines of Scripture and our common confessions," concluded de Haan. Synod has two other overtures on the subject of abortion. Synod's advisory committee on appeals recommends adopting a Classis Zeeland overture to ask the United States government to ban partial birth abortion and rejecting a Classis Wisconsin overture to appoint a study committee to specify biblical and confessional grounds for the synodical position of opposition to abortion. Synod Pays Tribute to Six-Time Synod President Synod 1996 spent most of its Monday sessions in advisory committees, but re-entered full session to greet the 26 men and three women who have been proposed by Calvin Seminary as candidates for the ordained ministry and to pass a "resolution of appreciation and encouragement" for Rev. Cal Bolt, pastor of Twelfth Avenue CRC in the Grand Rapids suburb of Jenison. Bolt has previously served six times as president of synod, including Synod 1995 when the denomination voted to allow each classis to decide whether to allow the ordination of women within its borders. Bolt is currently critically ill with prostate cancer. In the resolution approved by synod, delegates commended Bolt for his "exemplary leadership at congregational, classical, and synodical levels over the many years of [his] ministry." "We trust that the One who has guided you throughout your ministry will hold you securely through the dark valley you now walk," declared the synodical resolution. "May the God of all comforts surround you and your family with the grace you need in this difficult time." Synod president Rev. Michael De Vries -- himself suffering with a recurring cancer -- paid a pastoral visit to Bolt shortly after synod's evening session recessed to advisory committees. "The synod is very aware of the critical condition in which Rev. Bolt finds himself," said De Vries. "This is synod's way of saying thank you, thank you brother, for all the work you have done." Bolt's family includes a wife and several adult children. Ordained in 1958, he has served five Michigan churches and one suburban Chicago church before his present pastorate, to which he was called in 1982. What's Coming Up At Synod Synod's Tuesday morning session convenes at 8 am and will also address other educational matters and synodical services questions. The morning session will also include balloting for synodical committee memberships and the usually tame report by the synodical services advisory committee. 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. The afternoon will feature a presentation by Calvin Seminary at 1:15 pm and a discussion on restructuring the CRC's Canadian ministries, scheduled to begin at 1:45 pm and take the rest of the afternoon session. The evening will focus on a 7 pm interview with a prospective Calvin Seminary professor of Hebrew, Michael J. Williams, and continued discussion of Canadian ministries following the interview. Synod is scheduled to adjourn at 10 pm on Tuesday and will reconvene again in full session on Wednesday morning. 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 Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-115: Outlook Editor Vanden Heuvel Leaves CRC to Plant Presbyterian Church in America Congregation in Holland #1996-073: Synod Rejects Wisconsin Overture: Calvin Prof. Dr. Hessel Bouma III Remains Free to Teach His Views on Abortion #1997-003: Allegan Christian Reformed Church Asks Synod to Equate Abortion with Nazi War Crimes #1997-009: Classis Zeeland Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Reaffirm Opposition to Abortion and Send Letter to Congress; Classis Rejects Abortion-Nazi War Crimes Comparison by 18-13 Vote #1997-018: Outlook Editor Vanden Heuvel Granted Honorable Release by CRC's Classis Grandville to Presbyterian Church in America; Vanden Heuvel's New Church in Holland Over 100 Attenders on First Sunday #1997-021: Calvin College Professor's Views on Abortion Prompt More Complaints in Classis Wisconsin and Classis of the Heartland #1997-022: Calvin College Issues Statement of Support for Bouma #1997-038: Two CRC Classes Ask Synod 1997 to Review Abortion Issue 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. Calvin Bolt, Pastor, Twelfth Avenue Christian Reformed Church 7511 - 12th Ave., Jenison, MI 49428 O: (616) 457-5514 Dr. Hessel Bouma III, Professor of Biology, Calvin College Science Building 233, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 O: (616) 957-6401 Mr. Phil de Haan, Director of Media Relations, Calvin College 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 O: (616) 957-6475 * H: (616) 241-4061 * F: (616) 957-8551 * Pager: (616) 680-1958 * E-Mail: DEHP@Calvin.edu Rev. Adrian Dieleman, Stated Clerk, Classis Wisconsin 908 Visser Ave., Waupun, WI 53963 O/FAX: (414) 324-4962 * H: (414) 324-2669 * E-Mail: ADieleman@aol.com Rev. John Gorter, Secretary, Classis Grandville Interim Committee 7588 Byron Center Ave., Byron Center, MI 49315 O: (616) 878-1221 * H: (616) 878-1097 Rev. Jack Gray, Stated Clerk, Classis of the Heartland 708 - 5th St., Orange City, IA 51041-1804 O: (712) 737-2797 * H: (712) 737-2997 Rev. Les Kuiper, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church [Convener, Classis Study Committee] 215 S. 8th St., Oostburg, WI 53070-0305 O: (414) 564-3238 * H: (414) 564-2725 Rev. Tom Vanden Heuvel, Organizing Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church of Holland 2242 Tony Ave., Fennville, MI 49408 H/O: (616) 561-5165 Rev. John Vermeer, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church [Overture author] 9th St. at 9th Ave., Sheldon, IA 51201 O: (712) 324-2374 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-071.txt .