NR #1995-113: Calvin Seminary Professors Urge Classis Grand Rapids East to Affirm CRC Synod's Ruling that Homosexual Practice is Sin In an extraordinary action, all fourteen Calvin Seminary professors who are members of churches in Classis Grand Rapids East have signed a joint letter objecting to their classis' failure to clearly affirm the Christian Reformed denominational position that "homosexualism - as explicit homosexual practice - must be condemned as incompatible with obedience to the will of God as revealed in Holy Scripture." The letter responds to an October 19 decision of classis to reject both the majority and minority positions on a disputed sixth parameter for evaluating ministries to homosexuals and replace it with the allegedly ambiguous wording that "these ministries should work with everyone in Christian community to discern what it means to live lives faithful to Jesus Christ." NR #1995-113: For Immediate Release Calvin Seminary Professors Urge Classis Grand Rapids East to Affirm CRC Synod's Ruling that Homosexual Practice is Sin * Seminary letter: "The classical report is not controlled by the synodical stance, fails explicitly to affirm [Synod] 1973's theological and ethical guidelines, and in several places raises fundamental questions about the CRC position." * Bolt appeal: "Once again, more than adequate fuel has been supplied for those who stoke the fires of secession on the ordination issue with the argument that women's ordination today means practicing gays in the pulpit tomorrow." by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (December 16, 1995) URNS - In an extraordinary action, all fourteen Calvin Seminary professors who are members of churches in Classis Grand Rapids East have signed a joint letter objecting to their classis' failure to clearly affirm the Christian Reformed denominational position that "homosexualism - as explicit homosexual practice - must be condemned as incompatible with obedience to the will of God as revealed in Holy Scripture." "The classical report is not controlled by the synodical stance, fails explicitly to affirm [Synod] 1973's theological and ethical guidelines, and in several places raises fundamental questions about the CRC position," wrote the seminary faculty. "Furthermore, when in its deliberations on October 19, 1995 Classis had an opportunity to affirm the 1973 stance by adopting the minority report, it failed to do so. Instead of the clear statement in the minority report that homosexuality is a distortion of God's plan for sexuality and that sexual activity outside of marriage is disobedience, Classis chose to substitute in its place the ambiguous wording 'to discern what it means to be faithful to Jesus Christ." Warning that "media reporting and a lack of clarity in Classis' own handling of the report" had caused "widespread misunderstanding in the churches," the seminary faculty also noted that "this combination of the report's silence with respect to the 1973 framework and classical action on the minority report left a strong impression that Classis was unwilling to affirm the theological and ethical principles of the 1973 report." "Though the perception may be wrong and far from Classis' intention, this impression has been the occasion of much unrest in the church," wrote the faculty. "For the sake of truth and the well-being of the church we request that classis at its January 1996 meeting clearly affirm that all ministries to homosexual persons should follow the theological, ethical, and pastoral guidelines of the 1973 Synodical Report on Homosexuality." Calvin Seminary has twenty teaching faculty members, not counting four administrators with faculty status - meaning nearly three-quarters of the seminary professors signed the letter of concern. "This is an extraordinary kind of action on the part of such a signficant portion of the Calvin Seminary faculty; ordinarily we don't speak out addressing ecclesiastical decisions, particularly of a local classical level," said Dr. John Bolt, one of the signatories. "In our judgment the church cannot afford to be anything less than clear on this subject. We have a clear position on this issue, and we are convinced as a seminary faculty that that is biblically, theologically, morally the right position to take, and any ambiguity on that is troubling." According to Bolt, Classis Grand Rapids East's decision came as a surprise to the seminary faculty - several of whom attended the October meeting as observers. "The assumption was that clearly Recommendation 6 of the report of the majority could not and would not be adopted by classis, which meant that the classis would, by adopting the minority, fully affirm the position taken in the 1973 report," said Bolt. "That was the anticipation and expectation leading up to the special classis. When the classis took place and a sentence was substituted which was vague and general, it left the impression that classis was reluctant to affirm the moral stance and the theological reasoning behind it of the 1973 report." Calvin Seminary professor of historical theology Dr. Henry Zwaanstra, also a signer of the letter, confirmed the highly unusual nature of the seminary letter. "I'm not aware of any communication from the seminary to a classis, at least in recent times," said Zwaanstra. "Individual faculty have written communications to churches, usually upon their request for information; the seminary faculty has on some occasions sent communications to the Synod in the name of the faculty and also sent letters out to the churches or to The Banner with the signatures of all the faculty endorsing the communication," said Zwaanstra. "To my knowledge this is the first time that the seminary faculty members collectively have sent a communication to a classis." However, Bolt said that the extraordinary measure of a communication to classis was necessary in this case. "We wrote the letter because we were concerned that there be no ambiguity toward the Christian Reformed Church's stand on homosexuality; that's our real concern," said Bolt. Bolt and Zwaanstra both said that the professors who are not members of churches in Classis Grand Rapids East also endorse the letter. "We've had conversations as faculty about this and there has been no faculty member who had indicated anything to the contrary," said Bolt. According to seminary president Dr. James A. De Jong, also a signatory to the letter, the seminary faculty conversations about homosexuality have been going on for several years. "This faculty has been talking this way about homosexuality for three or four years, and it's out of that common conviction that they were reacting, not out of some sort of political motive," said De Jong. However, both Bolt and De Jong confirmed that the faculty letter was intended as a direct response to the October decision of Classis Grand Rapids East. "The idea for this was born out of a conversation by the whole faculty on the wisdom of talking further about what Grand Rapids East did," said De Jong. "The faculty, in a formal faculty meeting, said we ought to talk about that. We set aside some time to discuss just that issue one afternoon, and out of that, the fourteen professors who are associate pastors of churches in Grand Rapids East decided we wanted to address the classis of which we are a part on this issue." "We feel a special responsibility for the decisions of a classis in which so many of us are a part," said De Jong. "Many of us have talked repeatedly to our councils, that's just part of being a mature and responsible Christian. When the church group of which you most closely are a part does something that needs affirmation or clarification, you make your voice heard." At least four current and former faculty members have already taken ecclesiastical action on the matter of homosexuality. Several years ago, De Jong unsuccessfully sought to have Classis Grand Rapids East postpone action on extending the ministerial credentials of Rev. Jim Lucas, a celibate gay CRC minister who has technically been without a call since 1989 but is serving as the chaplain of the gay support group "As We Are." Dr. Melvin Hugen, Calvin Seminary's professor of pastoral care, served as the reporter for the minority recommendation defeated by the October classis which would have explicitly declared that homosexual orientation is one form of sexual distortion caused by the fall and that heterosexual marriage is the only "proper relationship for the expression of genital sexuality." In addition, when Classis Grand Rapids East meets on January 18, it will have to deal with at least two additional items objecting to its October decision on homosexuality - a personal appeal by Bolt and a personal communication by retired academic dean Rev. Wilbert Van Dyk, now chairman of the board of elders at Plymouth Heights CRC. While similar to the faculty letter, both Bolt and Van Dyk cite additional objections. Bolt's appeal notes that the Classis Grand Rapids East decision "has been almost uniformly understood in the church - both denomination-wide as well as locally - as a significant challenge to the Christian Reformed Church's official position on homosexuality as articulated in the 1973 report." While noting that this may not have been the intention of classis, Bolt wrote that "while the [classis] report correctly picks up the pastoral challenges in the 1973 report that call the church to loving, compassionate, and supportive ministry to homosexual persons, it is strikingly silent in affirming the moral and ethical judgments of the 1973 report condemning homosexual practice as sin." "In fact, by pointing to 'new developments' requiring the church to 'revisit' its position on such matters as 'committed, faithful, monogamous [homosexual] relationships,' and by the manner it cites 'different voices' and suggests aggressively pro-homosexual literature for further reading and consideration, the report at the very least implies a direct challenge to the moral stance of the 1973 report," wrote Bolt. As a result of this implication, Bolt noted that Classis Grand Rapids East had made "two ironic outcomes" more likely. One was that "if the church must choose between a ministry that condones homosexual practice or no ministry at all, there is little doubt that it will take the latter route and thus marginalize homosexual persons all the more." Second, according to Bolt, "classis cannot be indifferent to the ironic possibility that its unclear decision will jeopardize the carefully balanced and very fragile decision of Synod 1995 on the ordination of women. Once again, more than adequate fuel has been supplied for those who stoke the fires of secession on the ordination issue with the argument that women's ordination today means practicing gays in the pulpit tomorrow." The operative language of Bolt's document consists of two parts: an "appeal" of the October decision of classis and a "request that classis find an appropriate way to reassure the Christian Reformed Church and its member churches that it affirms the moral stance on homosexuality expressed by the 1973 synodical report and that ministry to homosexual persons within Classis' jurisdication should be guided by those principles." Van Dyk's document takes a somewhat different tack, noting that it is not his "intention to protest or appeal the action on October 19" but rather to request an "editorial clarification." Van Dyk cited three examples of contrasts between the 1973 synodical report and the October 19 classical action: that "the action of classis seems to allow for the possibility of the legitimacy of monogamous homosexual relationships," that it "fails to identify homosexual orientation as 'a condition of disordered sexuality which reflects the brokenness of our sinful world,'" and that "in contrast to the 1973 synodical material which concludes that homosexual practice is 'incompatible with obedience to the will of God as revealed in Holy Scripture' (Acts of Synod 1973, p. 52), the action of classis, in accenting the need for ministry to people with homosexual orientation, leaves unclear by what biblical standards such ministry will be shaped." As a result of these contrasts, Van Dyk asked that classis explicitly state that "in providing parameters for ministry to persons who are homosexual Classis Grand Rapids East adheres to the 1973 synodical decision on homosexuality." According to Van Dyk's communication, the substance of his letter is also on the agenda for a special meeting of the Plymouth Heights CRC council on January 3, 1996. "If the Plymouth Heights council chooses to endorse this letter, that action of council will be reported on the classical credentials for the January 1996 meeting," wrote Van Dyk. What effect the Calvin Seminary letter, the Bolt appeal, the Van Dyk communication, and possible Plymouth Heights council action will have on the next meeting of Classis Grand Rapids East is unclear, but the seminary president made clear that he hoped they would have some effect. "Obviously we wouldn't have gone to the trouble of writing the letter if we didn't hope it would achieve what it asks for," said De Jong. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-023: General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in America Calls Christian Reformed Church to "Repent of Its Sins"; Women in office, homosexuality, theistic evolution, deposition of conservative pastors cited as "departure from the Scriptures in its doctrine and practice" #1993-031: More Churches Split Following Christian Reformed Synodical Vote Allowing Women Elders and Pastors; Alberta Seceders Protest Homosexuality Report by Classis Alberta North # 1994-038: Classis Grand Rapids East Votes "In Principle" to Permit Churches to Disobey CRC Synod's Ban on Women Elders # 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 # 1994-049: Top Denominational Officials Issue Advisory on "Ecclesiastical Disobedience" by Christian Reformed Employees # 1994-050: Classis Grand Rapids East "Refines" July Decision to Disobey Christian Reformed Synodical Ban on Women Elders # 1995-043: Committee Divides on Whether Gay Ministries Must Declare Homosexual Activity is Sin; Classis Grand Rapids East Refers Both Reformed to Churches for Study # 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 # 1995-100: Grand Rapids East Attempts Compromise on Question of How to Minister to Christian Reformed Gays # 1995-101: Text of Classis Grand Rapids East Study Committee Report on Ministry with Persons who are Homosexual # 1995-102: Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland Sever Ties with Christian Reformed Church in North America # 1995-114: Text of Calvin Seminary Faculty Letter on Homosexuality Contact List: Dr. John Bolt, Professor of Systematic Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6010 * H: (616) 245-3046 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. Hessel Bouma III, Chairman, Classis Grand Rapids East Homosexality Study Committee Science Building 233, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-6401 Dr. John W. Cooper, Professor of Philosophical Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6038 * H: (616) 454-6821 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. James A. De Jong, President, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6086 * H: (616) 957-6087 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. Henry De Moor, Professor of Church Polity, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 H: (616) 940-0513 * O: (616) 957-7194 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 * E-Mail: DEMH@Calvin.edu Dr. Ronald J. Feenstra, Professor of Church Polity, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-7193 * H: (616) 954-1722 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. Sidney Greidanus, Professor of Preaching and Worship, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6017 * H: (616) 956-6138 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. David E. Holwerda, Professor of New Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6036 * H: (616) 243-1137 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. Melvin D. Hugen, Professor of Pastoral Care, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6025 * H: (616) 942-0001 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. Arie C. Leder, Professor of Old Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-7023 * H: (616) 241-5128 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 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. Dr. Richard A. Muller, Professor of Historical Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6036 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Professor of Systematic Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6024 * H: (616) 247-1990 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Rev. Wilbert Van Dyk, Academic Dean (emeritus), Calvin Theological Seminary 1940 Observatory Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * H: (616) 957-4634 Dr. Calvin Van Reken, Professor of Moral Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6023 * H: (616) 245-1922 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 Dr. Jeffrey A.D. Weima, Professor of New Testament, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 O: (616) 957-6019 * H: (616) 285-5834 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 * E-Mail: WEIMJE@luther.Calvin.edu Dr. Henry Zwaanstra, Professor of Historical Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6035 * H: (616) 942-8051 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-113.txt .