NR #1995-084: Classis Wisconsin Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Declare that Members who "Deny the Biblical Condemnation of All Homosexual Behavior" are Subject to Discipline Meeting on September 26, Classis Wisconsin voted to ask the Christian Reformed synod to "declare that confessing members who deny that the Bible's teaching without exception condemns homosexual activity have become delinquent in doctrine, and are on that account subject to the church's admonition and discipline." Defenders of the overture compared those whose statements leave room for homosexual practice to those who leave room for denials of the Trinity and made clear that they wished to remove such persons from the CRC unless they repent. NR #1995-084: For Immediate Release Classis Wisconsin Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Declare that Members who "Deny the Biblical Condemnation of All Homosexual Behavior" are Subject to Discipline by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service MADISON, Wis. (October 9, 1995) URNS - Should Christian Reformed congregations be free to discipline those who "seriously propose the possibility that when the Bible condemns homosexual activity, this condemnation does not include the homosexual activity of a couple that seeks to live in a loving monogamous relationship?" That was the question at Classis Wisconsin's September 26 meeting. While classis decided to ask the Christian Reformed synod to "declare that confessing members who deny that the Bible's teaching without exception condemns homosexual activity have become delinquent in doctrine, and are on that account subject to the church's admonition and discipline," the overture didn't pass without extended debate. The homosexuality overture originated in the council of First CRC of Waupun, whose pastor minced no words in his criticism of CRC members who question whether Scripture clearly prohibits gay marriages. "If I would preach from the pulpit things that denied the divinity of Christ, I hope that I would be called to account by my elders and brought before classis, because that's heresy," said Rev. Dan Brouwer of First CRC. "Now in Classis Grand Rapids East, we have a majority report which says this: 'Ministries with persons who are homosexual should not be contingent upon declaring homosexual activity as sin or distinctive evidence of the fall. To do so is to give an incomplete moral testimony to the issues of homosexuality with the potential harm in practice of closing ministry with many persons who are homosexual. Instead, these ministries should work with everyone in Christian community to discern what it means to live lives faithful to Jesus Christ.'" "Can any action be taken to correct these individuals who take this position, or can everyone hold their own opinion?" asked Brouwer. "The rules are unclear. Each council is now without real guidance." Part of Brouwer's concern focussed on Classis Wisconsin's earlier unsuccessful attempt to call Calvin College Dr. Hessel Bouma III to account for his published views that abortion may not be murder. "Classis Wisconsin has faced this issue with Professor Bouma in the issue of abortion. He says he is not in agreement with the position of synod but that he has the right to disagree with a decision of synod," said Brouwer. "Now he is the chairman of this majority report on homosexuality. Do the rules allow us to expect that his position be brought into conformity with synod?" Initial debate at classis focussed not on the substance of the issue but on concerns about proper procedure. "I am 100% affirming the abomination of homosexuality as sin with no exception," said Rev. Larry Van Essen of Crossroads CRC in Madison. "My question is why do we say this about homosexuality, or why this only?" Others expressed concern that Brouwer's consistory had not first approached Classis Grand Rapids East, Bouma, or other people involved before bringing its overture to Classis Wisconsin. "If a consistory or a council cannot adequately deal with a problem, they go to classis. If a classis cannot adequately deal with a problem, we go to synod," said Rev. John Bylsma of Brookfield CRC. "Have we made an effort to deal with this problem, either as a local church or as a classis?" While the ministers expressed concern about following proper procedure, several elders said the seriousness of the issue warranted immediate action. "Maybe we ought to be less concerned about church order rules and just read Romans 1," said Elder Tom Van Eck of Kenosha CRC. "Paul said, 'God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.'" "Is this unclear?" asked Van Eck. "Do we really need a lot of discussion about this?" Elder Bill Floyd of Onalaska CRC echoed Van Eck's concern. "It seems to me this is the issue of the day and I'm not too worried about setting a precedent," said Floyd. Responding to the concerns, Brouwer noted that his overture was not intended to specify greater punishments for one sin in particular. "The issue is not homosexuality, it's how we deal with heresy," said Brouwer, noting that at least one person mentioned in the overture, Dr. Hendrik Hart of the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto, had explicitly questioned the official position of the CRC in the official theological journal of the denominational seminary. "If that person had written an article in the Calvin Theological Journal denying the divinity of Christ, there would be consequences," said Brouwer. "The fact that the articles can appear and there are no consequences shows we need more guidelines." Not everyone in classis agreed that homosexuality and anti-trinitarianism are equally serious. "I don't think that denying the Trinity or the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ is on the same level as the issue we're dealing with here," said Bylsma. "A person who denies the deity of Christ cannot be saved. I don't think we want to say a person who holds a position on homosexuality different from what we hold here cannot be saved." Classis finally adopted the overture, but not before making what may become a very significant amendment. Responding to concerns that classis should not officially cite a person for holding unacceptable views before speaking with him, Classis Wisconsin deleted a reference to Hart from the overture leaving it without any specific citation of CRC members with unacceptable views. While Hart may be asking for a review of the CRC's position on homosexuality, the editor of the Calvin Theological Journal made clear that neither he nor the seminary supported Hart's views. "I think sometimes it's not inappropriate to publish something with which you totally disagree to make the clarity of a disagreement all the more plain," said Dr. John Bolt, editor of the Journal. "The response by Henk Hart was a response to a rather direct and forthright and disapproving piece by [Redeemer College professor Dr.] Al Wolters, and in this case I think as the editorial board we judged it was only fair when a person is specifically referred to in an article to give them a chance to respond." Bolt also noted that each issue of the Calvin Theological Journal contains a disclaimer that views expressed "do not necessarily represent the position of the editorial committee, the faculty, or the Board of Trustees." "On this particular issue there's no question at all that the position of Henk Hart and perhaps a few of the others in the Toronto area are clearly rejected by me as the editor, by the editorial board, and I would feel free to say the entire seminary faculty as well," said Bolt. While Hessel Bouma could not be reached for comment, the other people discussed on the floor of Classis Wisconsin doubted whether adoption of the overture in its amended form would have any effect on their work. "I don't see how it would affect me in terms of anything I may have said so far," said Hart, reached at his office in Toronto. "I have in public never, ever done anything else but say 1973 ought to be reopened; I have never attacked it, I have simply advocated that the discussion needs to be revisited," said Hart, referring to the year in which the CRC's official report on homosexuality was adopted. "For people to go around saying I attacked 1973 is false." Hart defended his right to call for a reopening of the synodical discussion on homosexuality. "The Christian Reformed Church doesn't know any such thing as documents it has adopted being beyond discussion," said Hart. Rev. Jim Lucas, a celibate gay minister whose 1992 "coming out" speech at Calvin College touched off the current debate on homosexuality, shared Hart's view that the overture would not affect his work. "I don't see that it would affect me or my ministry in any way, because as I said I've been very careful in my ministry not to deny the church's official teaching," said Lucas. "The 1973 synodical report very clearly says that the church should welcome into all aspects of the church's life and ministry those who are celibate." Lucas also wondered if Classis Wisconsin was itself challenging a synodical decision. "I happen to be the first ordained minister who has presented a living example of what the church has said, but the church has been saying this for 22 years so the church shouldn't be startled by this," said Lucas. "If people want to challenge that, then they're challenging a 22-year-old statement of synod." However, Lucas said that even if the classical decision had no effect on his work it would have a negative effect within Classis Wisconsin. "My concern is that ministry to hurting people gets overlooked and that the gay and lesbian people in Classis Wisconsin will once again feel excluded from Classis Wisconsin, and that gives me pain," said Lucas. Why do Lucas and other Christian Reformed homosexuals persist in what some would consider an impossible task? "The CRC is my family," said Lucas. "My family may give up on me, but I'm not going to give up on my family." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-026: Children at the Lord's Table, Americans with Disabilities Act, Judicial Code Matters, Homosexuality Delay Synod Schedule #1993-031: More Churches Split Following Christian Reformed Synodical Vote Allowing Women Elders and Pastors; Alberta Seceders Protest Homosexuality Report by Classis Alberta North #1994-005: Christianity Today Lists Calvin Among Christian Colleges Strained by Homosexuals Pressing for Acceptance #1994-016: Midwest Classis Asks CRC Synod to Address Homosexuality, Calling God "She," Theistic Evolution, Ordination Process #1994-031: Christian Reformed Synod: Members May Not "Practice or Advocate Homosexualism"; Dr. David Engelhard Approved as CRC's Next General Secretary; Synod Rejects Proposal to End Funding Endorsement for Westminster Seminary #1994-037: Of Garages, Houses, and Women: Synod Keeps "Expounders" and Appoints Committee to Decide What "Expounding" Means; Synod Cites Legal Concerns in Modifying Abuse Committee Report; "Reaffirmation" of Past Decisions on Inerrancy, Creation, Homosexuality Declared Unnecessary by Synod #1994-048: Jim Lucas Hired as Chaplain of "As We Are" Gay Ministry; Ministerial Credentials Extended to Permit Call to Position; Classis Grand Rapids East of the Christian Reformed Denomination Expects Homosexuality Study Committee to Report to January Classis Meeting #1995-043: Committee Divides on Whether Gay Ministries Must Declare Homosexual Activity is Sin; Classis Grand Rapids East Refers Both Reports to Churches for Study #1995-067: Christian Reformed Synod Votes to Keep Fraternal Relations with Gereformeerde Kerken Despite Advocacy of Gay Rights #1995-068: Complete Text of the GKN President's Fraternal Address #1995-085: Text of Classis Wisconsin Overture re. Homosexuality Contact List: Dr. John Bolt, Professor of Systematic Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * (616) 957-6036 Dr. Hessel Bouma III, Professor of Biology, Calvin College Science Building 233, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-6401 Rev. Dan Brouwer, Delegate, Classis Wisconsin 10 Bly St., Waupun, WI 53963 * H/O: (414) 324-2249 Rev. John Bylsma, Pastor, Brookfield Christian Reformed Church 3045 Sauk Trail, Brookfield, WI 53005 * O: (414) 784-1125 * H: (414) 797-9451 Elder Bill Floyd, Hope Christian Reformed Church 1001 Quincy St., Onalaska, WI 54650 * O: (608) 783-4591 Dr. Hendrik Hart, Professor of Philosophy, Institute for Christian Studies 229 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R4 * (416) 979-2331 Rev. Jim Lucas, Chaplain, As We ARE 1017 Fairmount SE, Apt. 1, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * H: (616) 456-6174 Note to Editors: This information is provided should you wish to contact Rev. Lucas for an interview. We request that it not be published to protect his privacy. Elder Tom Van Eck, Kenosha Christian Reformed Church 7506 - 25th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53143-1441 Rev. Larry Van Essen, Madison Christian Reformed Church 705 Tompkins, Madison, WI 53716 * O: (608) 222-1159 * H: (608) 221-4165 Dr. Al Wolters Redeemer College, Ancaster, ON L9G 3N6 * O: (905) 648-2131 * FAX: (905) 648-2134 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-084.txt .