Subject: NR #1995-009: Toronto Orthodox CRC Leaves OCRC Federation NR #1995-009: For Immediate Release Seceding from the Seceders: Toronto Orthodox Christian Reformed Church Leaves the OCRC Federation by John Van Dyk, Managing Editor c 1995 Christian Renewal Distributed by Reformed Believers Press Service Editor's Note: The text following is copyrighted by Christian Renewal but available for reprint in whole or in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given. TORONTO (January 6, 1994) RBPS - One of the first churches to organize after a minor secession out of the Christian Reformed Church in the early 1980's later helped to form what became known as the Federation of Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches. That church has now left the fold after 14 years as a member congregation of this 1200-member federation, torn in two after struggling for almost two years with internal problems and discontent. The consistory of this once 50-plus-family church located on the outskirts of Toronto, informed its members at a congregational meeting on October 26 that it was withdrawing from the federation of OCRC's. The reason cited in a letter to the congregation was a recent decision of Classis East on October 6 which supported an appeal from one of Toronto's church members to lift censure (a step of discipline), thereby conflicting with the consistory's decision that censure was necessary in the case. It thereby impeded its ability to function as a consistory, according to the church's pastor, Rev. Harry Bout. Unable to accept the "advice" of classis in the matter, the consistory informed the congregation, that it had "no alternative but to withdraw from the federation of the OCRC effective Oct. 26, 1994, unless the majority of the consistories repent of this decision and notify us by no later than Oct. 23." At the October 26 congregational meeting it was noted that no word of "repentance" had been received from classis, and therefore the church led by the consistory would no longer be affiliated with the federation. For those at the congregational meeting who wanted to remain with the federation, Bout expressed the desire of the consistory that the church remain united and "pleaded" with the members to "remain with the elders." According to a report in the federation's periodical, The Trumpet, written by editor G.J. Van Daalen, 20 families did resign and have since organized a new OCRC congregation located north of Toronto in the town of Nobleton, Ontario under the supervision of the Cambridge (ON) OCRC. That left the consistory with a congregation of some 20-plus families of their own to continue for the time being as an independent church. Complete membership figures were not yet available. Bout did say that approximately 120 people continue to worship in the church since the split. Prior to the division there were between 190-200, he said. The consistory has stated its intention to keep the name Orthodox Christian Reformed Church of Toronto, and is considering the possibility of affiliation with the Alliance of Reformed Churches, a fellowship of conservative CRC and independent churches. It continues to worship in the gymnasium of a Canadian Reformed school building a few miles north of Toronto. Discontent in the congregation began two years ago when three members were placed under discipline, and subsequently left the church. In the aftermath, some members in the congregation took the side of the disciplined (now) former members in opposition to the consistory. Because of the growing conflict between the consistory and some of its members, over the last year a total of ten families left the church out of frustration. The federation of Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches is comprised of 15 churches in the United States and Canada and is divided into two classes, East and West. The churches are located primarily in Ontario and in the British Columbia/Washington area. The Toronto church was organized in 1980 when nine families in two Ontario churches left the Christian Reformed denomination because of "increasing doctrinal erosion" and an undermining of the authority of God's Word which came to expression in Report 44, a synodical statement on the nature and extent of biblical authority, and the synodical study reports studying the ordination of women to ecclesiastical offices. The church called as its first pastor Rev. Harry Van Dyken, a long-time minister in the CRC. After Van Dyken's death from cancer, Bout, who previously pastored the Bowmanville OCRC in Ontario, accepted the call to Toronto. Most of the churches in the OCRC have remained small, generally under 30 families, although some have added new families during the recent secession movement in the CRC which began in 1991. The Toronto church, once considered to be the "flagship church of the federation," was down to some 40 families and a number of individual members when the consistory announced the decision to leave. Both Toronto churches now face the task of reorganizing, healing wounds, and getting on with their respective ministries. Contact List: Rev. Harry Bout, Pastor, Toronto Orthodox Christian Reformed Church RR #5, Bolton, ON L7E 5S1 * H/O: (905) 951-0052 Dr. B.R. Short, Pastor, Orthodox Christian Reformed Church of Cambridge 1540 West River Road, Cambridge, ON * H/O: (519) 658-8136 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-009.txt .