file: pub/resources/text/reformed: nr94-058.txt ----------------------------------------------- From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Tue, 15 Nov 1994 00:59:00 -0500 Subject: NR #58 - NAPARC meeting NAPARC Admits New Denomination, Thanks God for Christian Reformed Decision Against Ordaining Women * Rev. Myung Doh Kim becomes first Korean chairman of North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council * Reformed Church in the United States admitted amidst strong criticism of Alliance of Reformed Churches by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service Philadelphia (November 7, 1994) RBPS - An otherwise routine chairmanship transfer became a landmark event as Rev. Myung Doh Kim, General Secretary of the 22,000-member Korean-American Presbyterian Church (KAPC), became the first Korean chairman of the umbrella organization for conservative Presbyterian and Reformed denominations during its annual meeting on November 1 and 2 in the historic Presbyterian city of Philadelphia. Kim serves what is both the youngest and fastest-growing denomination in the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. Admitted to NAPARC only a dozen years ago, almost all of the Korean-American Presbyterian Church's 22,000 communicant members joined the denomination within the last decade. Although the NAPARC chairmanship normally rotates between the six member denominations, until this year NAPARC's Korean representatives have declined to chair meetings of the sometimes fractious organization. Kim's accession to the NAPARC chairmanship is only one sign of the growing influence of Koreans in conservative Reformed circles. Korean influence is not likely to decline anytime soon; the four largest conservative Presbyterian denominations in South Korea total 3.75 million members and continue rapid growth in a country with only 43 million inhabitants. Heavy immigration is bringing many of those members to the United States, where despite a much larger population the total membership of all Presbyterian and Reformed denominations combined is less than 4 million. NAPARC may see another Korean denomination next year: Kim successfully proposed that NAPARC invite another rapidly growing denomination, the Korean Presbyterian Church (Hapdong), to send nonvoting observers to the 1995 meeting. While the young Korean denominations may represent the future of conservative Reformed Christianity, NAPARC's most controversial debates focussed on two of the oldest Calvinist denominations in North America: the 137-year-old Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC) and the Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS), a denomination which traces its lineage to colonial days and held its 248th General Synod this year. Although the two denominations are both dominated by a single ethnic group - Germans in the RCUS and Dutch in the CRC - the contrast between the two could hardly have been more striking. NAPARC delegates praised the CRC for not yet allowing women's ordination while voicing continued concerns about alleged liberal trends in the denomination, while the CRC and Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) delegates joined forces against certain strongly conservative positions of the RCUS. A particular focus of objections was the decision of the RCUS to delegate nonvoting observers to meetings of churches which have seceded from the Christian Reformed denomination. RCUS Ties With Alliance of Reformed Churches Questioned This was the third year in which admission of the RCUS has been debated, and as in prior years much of the discussion focussed on whether meeting the stated constitutional requirements was sufficient to admit the denomination to full NAPARC membership. While the plenary session discussion on admitting the RCUS was closed to the media, the normal practice of the NAPARC interim committee is to meet on the day before the full NAPARC meeting and make recommendations on items which will be discussed in plenary session. The interim committee meeting was open to the public and the RCUS question was discussed in considerable detail. "The constitution says that 'those churches shall be eligible for membership which profess and maintain the basis for fellowship expressed in section 2 and that maintain the marks of the true church,'" noted Rev. Donald Duff, secretary of NAPARC and stated clerk of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. "Nobody has ever brought any evidence that the RCUS does not meet these standards," said Duff. "Unless someone can show that they do not meet those qualifications in the constitution, I think they should be approved." RCUS delegate Rev. Norman Hoefflinger said the NAPARC debate over admitting the RCUS was ironic since he had introduced the motion to constitute NAPARC at its organizational meeting. According to Hoefflinger, the RCUS General Synod initially decided not to join the organization which some of its leading members helped to begin twenty years ago, but in more recent years the General Synod has decided to become more open to interdenominational contacts. One particular interdenominational contact, however, raised more than a few eyebrows at the NAPARC meeting. Since 1991, the RCUS has sent observers to meetings of the Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC), the largest of three groups of churches which have seceded from the CRC. "Some of you know that these churches are not exactly in a blessed relationship with the Christian Reformed Church at this point," said Dr. David Engelhard, attending his first NAPARC meeting as the new CRC General Secretary. "The constitution gives what is essential, but not all that is important," said Engelhard. "In the absence of disavowal of this kind of activity I'm afraid we have to either abstain or vote against this [admitting the RCUS]." The chairman of the PCA's interchurch relations committee picked up and amplified the CRC concerns. "It is not just the Christian Reformed Church that has problems with the Alliance," said Rev. Ric Perrin. "The Alliance has sent out a letter to a number of churches, if not all PCA churches, inviting them to withdraw from the PCA and join the Alliance." Even supporters of the RCUS criticized its connections with the Alliance of Reformed Churches. "I for one wish the RCUS were not so involved with ARC; I try to keep the OPC away from them," said Duff. "I'm also opposed to involvement in the National Association of Evangelicals but several of us around this table are involved with them." The CRC delegation objected to comparison of the ARC with the National Association of Evangelicals. "Not all organizations are the same," said Engelhard. "Some organizations are working at division of member denominations. That seems to me to be quite a different action from whether someone is involved with the NAE." The RCUS delegation appeared surprised at the criticism of their involvement with ARC. "We are by no means hand in glove with the ARC," said Hoefflinger. "For one thing I strongly disagree with the congregationalism which many of those churches hold to. Our influence is nil." RCUS stated clerk Rev. Frank Walker was even stronger in his disassociation from ARC. "Our denomination sends observers; other than that we have no connection," said Walker. "In fact our synod in 1993 passed a resolution strongly discouraging our churches from joining the Alliance." In light of the RCUS statements, Perrin introduced a motion to require the RCUS to disassociate itself from the Alliance of Reformed Churches as a condition of admission. "We have no great desire to keep the RCUS out of NAPARC, but the Alliance of Reformed Churches is a concern, especially to one of our member churches," said Perrin, noting that all NAPARC denominations subscribe to a "comity agreement" pledging not to recruit churches or members from other NAPARC denominations. Rev. Gordon Keddie of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (RPCNA) objected that Perrin's substitute motion was improper. "We are being asked to make a judgment without any evidence that this organization [ARC] is schismatic," said Keddie. "I do not see how sensitivity toward members of NAPARC is disrupted by observing a meeting." Perrin's substitute lost on a voice vote, the CRC and PCA voting for it and the others against. Following the defeat of the substitute, the main motion to recommend the admission of the RCUS to NAPARC passed; the CRC voted against admission of the RCUS and the PCA recorded their abstention from the vote. On the next day, the plenary session of NAPARC again voted to admit the RCUS. If two-thirds of the synods or general assemblies of the NAPARC denominations agree, the RCUS will join NAPARC as a full member in 1995. Following the interim committee vote, discussion moved to a communication from the OPC General Assembly urging NAPARC to admit the RCUS based on the stated membership requirements in the NAPARC constitution. "An organization that willfully acts contrary to its constitution vitiates the very purpose of its existence and does gross injustice to its members," wrote the OPC General Assembly. "If such an action is again repeated at the 1994 NAPARC meeting the body should give serious consideration to dissolving itself." Debate on the OPC letter rapidly became heated. "Boy, maybe you fellows from the OPC can help me, but this letter troubles me, it really does," said Perrin. "You do us a grave injustice when you say we are somehow acting contrary to the constitution of NAPARC. Your language is offensive to me and to us." Rev. Tom Tyson, Christian Education head for the OPC and outgoing chairman of NAPARC, surrendered the gavel to voice strong criticism of the Presbyterian Church in America. "Brothers, I don't like to use this kind of language, but I stand behind it," said Tyson. "Time and time again the meeting was challenged to show what are the disqualifications. Time and time again the council members present and voting were challenged to demonstrate that the RCUS cannot qualify for membership." "Two years ago we heard that the RCUS is too small. Last year we heard that the RCUS is too abrasive. Now this year we hear, not too small, not too abrasive, but because they send observers to a certain fellowship that does things we find inappropriate," continued Tyson. "We hear it said that the constitutional requirements allow churches to enter into the vestibule and then we decide by two thirds vote which churches that entered into the vestibule by meeting the constitutional requirements we want to admit to membership." "I think that is twisting of the meaningful purpose and nature and function of a constitution," closed Tyson. "I'm sorry to have to speak with some vigor." Perrin, however, disputed Tyson's account of the OPC's reasons for opposing admission of the RCUS. "We have never opposed them because they are too small, that was a prelude to the discussion of weighted voting," said Perrin. While few would dispute Perrin's charge that the Alliance of Reformed Churches is critical of the Christian Reformed denomination, the Alliance stated clerk also protested the accuracy of some statements made about the Alliance at the NAPARC meeting. "I didn't do it!" exclaimed ARC stated clerk Rev. Jerome Julien upon learning of the allegation that the Alliance had invited churches to secede from the Presbyterian Church in America. "[ARC pastors] Paul Murphy and Steve Schlissel sent a letter and indicated that these churches could contact me," said Julien, noting that he first saw the letter when it was sent to him by another pastor. "It was not sent by the clerk and it was not sent by a committee of the Alliance, and so it is purely a letter that was sent by these two men." "The Alliance has taken no position on asking people to leave the PCA," said Julien. "Even on this letter, I don't see it as a call to leave the PCA." "To become part of the ARC is to become part of an alliance, not a denomination or federation, and consequently we have either official delegates or observers coming from a large number of independent churches, 18 Christian Reformed churches which are going to have official delegates or observers, as well as PCA, OPC, Orthodox Christian Reformed, Reformed Church in America, independent Presbyterian, and Canadian Reformed churches," said Julien. "These people all come for an alliance, not to a denomination or federative structure, and they don't have to leave their denominations to join the Alliance." NAPARC Thanks God for Continued CRC Ban on Women's Ordination Following the RCUS discussion, the NAPARC interim committee took up a proposal by the OPC ecumenicity and interchurch relations committee "that this meeting of NAPARC express to the Christian Reformed Church in North America its deep thanks to God for the decision in which He led the CRC Synod 1994 to disapprove the ordination of women to ruling and teaching office in the Church and to express the devout hope that that position will not change and that the Church will apply the disciplinary work of the Church to those who are in violation of this principle as stated in the Church Order of the CRC." Perrin moved that the interim committee strike the reference to discipline of those who violate the CRC's synodical decision on women in office. "I want to make it clear that the PCA would give thanks to God for the decision that was made," said Perrin. "I really question whether it's appropriate for NAPARC itself to give advice as far as the inner workings of a denomination go." Perrin received some support from other denominations on his proposal. Most of the support focussed on a NAPARC study committee report concluding that "the decision of the 1991 and 1993 Synods of the Christian Reformed Church to move toward permitting women to be ordained as elders is contrary to the teaching of God's Word and contradicts the predominant practice of the Christian Church from Apostolic times until now" and that "the attempt to support the decision from Scripture is unpersuasive, resting as it does on faulty exegesis." In light of the fact that NAPARC had already received a strongly worded study committee report on the CRC, some delegates described the OPC motion as "gratuitous," "unnecessary," and "intrusive," and Perrin's motion to strike the reference to discipline of churches with women in office passed. After extended debate, Engelhard moved to receive the OPC communication as information, which would have had the effect of withholding action on its contents without forcing a vote on its merits. Engelhard's motion lost on a tie vote, the CRC, PCA, and RPCNA voting in favor and the KAPC, OPC, and Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church voting against. After Engelhard's substitute motion failed, the motion to thank God that the CRC did not open its offices to women passed. In the plenary session the next day, NAPARC revisited much of the discussion which had occurred in the interim committee. Perrin again argued that the OPC proposal was unnecessary and that its specific reference to "teaching and ruling office" would "talk past" the CRC since Dutch Reformed polity uses somewhat different language to refer to its ministers and elders. "Sometimes the less said is the better," said Perrin. "I'm saying it's not needed on the one hand and not applicable on the other." CRC delegate and former General Secretary Rev. Leonard Hofman argued that the very language of the communication was problematic. "The thing that strikes me is that the letter gives deep thanks to God, not to the Christian Reformed Church, for His leading in Synod 1994," said Hofman. "I wonder whether there were thanks for our synod decisions from 1990 to 1994 as we wrestled with this. It strikes me as interesting that we thank the Lord for a decision we agree with; when we thank the Lord for this decision, does that imply that we do not thank the Lord for the other decisions?" The OPC delegation, however, rose to a spirited defense of their overture. "NAPARC more than once has expressed the desire that the CRC do this thing, and I think it's just the courteous thing to say 'thank you for hearing us," said OPC delegate Rev. Jack Peterson. Duff strongly opposed the idea that the NAPARC study committee report was a sufficient response to the CRC decision not to ordain women. "This is mixing apples and oranges, it's not the same thing at all," said Duff. "I don't think the study committee does anything about thanking the CRC for what they've done or even responding to it." When the final vote came, the CRC and PCA stood alone in voting against sending the letter to the CRC. Even the PCA support of the CRC was qualified. "The PCA hopes passionately that you stay on the course you have set, but we vote no on sending the letter," Perrin told the CRC delegates as he cast his denomination's vote against the letter. Weighted Voting Rejected, Equal Dues Affirmed In other business, the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council took two actions which may eventually have far-reaching consequences for the body. For several years, the Presbyterian Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church, which between the two account for over 85% of the total membership of NAPARC denominations, have pushed for a system of weighted voting whereby the larger denominations would receive more votes. Last year NAPARC charged its interim committee with studying the matter, and the committee reported back with a negative recommendation this year. "We can read the handwriting on the wall as well as anyone, but in the PCA we feel very strongly that for the future health of NAPARC we need to move toward some form of proportional voting," said Perrin. After brief discussion, the plenary session of voted to affirm the report of its interim committee against weighted voting. In response to a communication from the OPC recommending a change in the the current system in which the larger denominations pay more money to support NAPARC, the body voted to divide dues equally among all member denominations rather than requiring the CRC and PCA to pay a much higher fee as had been the case in previous years. List of NAPARC member denominations Christian Reformed Church in North America 300,320 members Presbyterian Church in America 242,000 Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 38,802 Korean American Presbyterian Church 22,000* Orthodox Presbyterian Church 19,198 Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (Covenanters) 5,658 * NOTE: statistics for KAPC include only members over 15 who have been confirmed. All other figures are "inclusive membership" totals including baptized non-communicant members, who in most cases are young children. Contact List: Rev. Donald Duff, Stated Clerk, Orthodox Presbyterian Church 614 Roberts Ave., Glenside PA 19038-3711 * O: (215) 956-0123 * H: (215) 887-4901 * FAX: (215) 957-6286 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 Dr. Paul Gilchrist, Stated Clerk * Presbyterian Church in America 4596 Canda Dr., Lilburn, GA 30247 * O: (404) 320-3366 Rev. Leonard Hofman, General Secretary Emeritus, Christian Reformed Church in North America 2237 Radcliffe Circle Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * H: (616) 942-0205 Rev. Jerome Julien, Stated Clerk, Alliance of Reformed Churches 34 Azores Crescent, Cambridge, ON N1R 7Z4 * (519) 622-1033 Rev. Gordon Keddie, Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church (RPCNA) 2440 Lexington Ct., State College, PA 15801 * O: (814) 237-2637 * H: (814) 234-2653 Rev. Myung Doh Kim, Chairman, North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council 1901 W. 166th St., Gardena, CA 90247 * H: (310) 532-0328 * FAX: (310) 515-2747 Rev. K. Eric (Ric) Perrin, Chairman, PCA Interchurch Relations Committee 703 Woodcreek Ct., Columbia, SC 29212 * O: (803) 772-1000 * H: (803) 781-7520 * FAX: (803) 772-1003 Rev. Jack Peterson, Pastor, Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church 1315 White Rock Drive, San Antonio, TX 78245 * O: (210) 690-6360 * H: (210) 675-9097 Rev. Tom Tyson, Past Chairman, North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council 908 Fernhill Rd., Glenside, PA 19038 * O: (215) 956-0123 * H: (215) 886-8315 * FAX: (215) 957-6286 Rev. Frank Walker, Stated Clerk, Reformed Church in the United States 927 East Graceway Dr., Napoleon, OH 43545 * (419) 475-6738 --