NR #1996-011: CRC's Largest Congregation Joins Protest Against Fraternal Relations with Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland Many Christian Reformed people wouldn't think to include Sunshine Community Church on a list of congregations fighting against perceived liberal stands by the Christian Reformed synod. That thinking may change after the January 16 meeting of Classis Grand Rapids North, at which an overture asking synod to terminate ecclesiastical fellowship with the CRC's mother church, the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (GKN), due to its toleration of gay marriages. The GKN overture passed by more than a two-to-one margin, at least in part due to strong support by the delegates from Sunshine - at 2400 members, by far the largest congregation in the Christian Reformed denomination. NR #1996-011: For Immediate Release CRC's Largest Congregation Joins Protest Against Fraternal Relations with Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRANT, Mich. (January 24, 1996) URNS - Many Christian Reformed people wouldn't think to include Sunshine Community Church on a list of congregations fighting against perceived liberal stands by the Christian Reformed synod. That thinking may change after the January 16 meeting of Classis Grand Rapids North. Meeting at Grant CRC, Classis Grand Rapids North dealt with three overtures by Walker CRC. The first asked Synod 1996 to overturn Synod 1995's decision to allow classes to permit women in office by declaring parts of two church order articles inoperative. A second asked synod to terminate ecclesiastical fellowship with the CRC's mother church, the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (GKN), due to its toleration of gay marriages. A third asked synod to declare that "revisions to the church order, its supplements, form of subscription, doctrinal standards, and/or other proposals which effect changes to our standards and practices" proposed by a synod become operative only if approved by a majority of all CRC consistories. The first and third overtures failed, but the GKN overture passed by more than a two-to-one margin, at least in part due to strong support by the delegates from Sunshine - at 2400 members, by far the largest congregation in the Christian Reformed denomination. Rev. Matthew Heard, senior pastor of Sunshine Community Church, led off the debate on the GKN overture with a criticism of Synod 1995's refusal to break ties with the GKN. "This act of Synod 1995 is indicative of a deeper and even more critical issue for our denomination," said Heard. "We believe this is a critical issue for our church at this time." Rev. C.J. Den Dulk, pastor of Sparta CRC, seconded Heard's concern by recounting his own experience listening to the fraternal delegates from the GKN at Synod 1995. "They are beyond talking," Den Dulk said. "What they are doing is talking another gospel. When you start calling homosexuality good, you are doing what Paul calls being given over to a reprobate mind." Elder Tom de Vries of Sunshine noted that the GKN's problems were not limited to homosexuality. "I just want to remind those who read the GKN speech by [synod president Rev. Richard S.E.] Vissinga, that the GKN synod also accepted a report on medical treatment of the seriously handicapped newly born that said in exceptional cases it may not be irresponsible to terminate life," said de Vries. "That is life of the already born." A few delegates made clear that they did not support gay marriages but tried to convince classis that the GKN, despite its serious problems, should not be disciplined through a complete severance of fraternal relations. "Do we cut off completely or do we keep the discussion going?" asked Rev. Gerald Vander Hoek of Pine Grove CRC in Howard City. "I wonder, since it will be in the hands of the interchurch relations committee and will be coming anyway, why do we need this overture?" Rev. Donald Van Beek of Creston CRC in Grand Rapids shared Vander Hoek's concern. "I think to cut the bond now would be slightly premature," said Van Beek, noting that the GKN relationship was already qualified by not allowing automatic pulpit and table fellowship and that prior patient efforts with the Reformed Churches in South Africa had successfully brought that denomination to change its stance on apartheid. "God blessed that patient approach with the church in South Africa," said Van Beek. "I would hope and pray with God's help that we would exercise a little more patience." The defenses of the GKN were not persuasive, however. Classis voted by a margin of 23 to 10 to overture Synod 1996 to sever the fraternal relationship with the GKN dating back over a hundred years. Cross-References to Related Articles: #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 Contact List: Rev. C.J. den Dulk, Pastor, Trinity Christian Reformed Church 313 S. State Street, Sparta, MI 49345 * H: (616) 887-7807 * O: (616) 887-7421 Elder Tom de Vries, Sunshine Comununity Church 3215 Valley View Dr. NE, Rockford, MI 49315 * O: (616) 784-8000 * H: (616) 866-1186 * F: (616) 784-0650 Rev. Rev. Matthew Heard, Senior Pastor, Sunshine Comununity Church 2671 Holtman Dr., Grand Rapids, MI 49505 * O: (616) 364-4242 * H: (616) 363-6550 Rev. Donald Van Beek, Pastor, Creston Christian Reformed Church 1744 Country Club Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 * H: (616) 363-4279 Rev. Gerald Vander Hoek, Pastor, Pine Grove Christian Reformed Church 8750 Beach St., Howard City, MI 49329 * O: (616) 937-5250 * H: (616) 937-5764 Rev. Joel Vander Kooi, Pastor, Walker Christian Reformed Church 1985 Randall Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504-2136 * O: (616) 453-8101 * H: (616) 453-5767 Rev. Richard S. E. Vissinga, President, Synod of the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland Watermunt 11, 8265 EL Kampen, NETHERLANDS ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-011.txt .