NR #1996-024: CRC's Classis Muskegon Approves Women's Ordination The Christian Reformed debate over women in office has consumed over 25 years of the denomination's time and energy at the synodical level, but it took less than 25 minutes for Classis Muskegon's March 7 meeting to solidly decide in favor of women's ordination. At the classis meeting, Ferrysburg CRC presented a brief overture asking Classis Muskegon to exercise an option given them by Synod 1995, which allowed each classis to declare the word "male" inoperative in the church order article specifying qualifications for elders, ministers, and evangelists. The overture passed by a wide margin of 25 to 9 in a classis with a long history of support for women's ordination. NR #1996-024: For Immediate Release CRC's Classis Muskegon Approves Women's Ordination by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service FERRYSBURG, Mich. (March 7, 1996) URNS - The Christian Reformed debate over women in office has consumed over 25 years of the denomination's time and energy at the synodical level, but it took less than 25 minutes for Classis Muskegon's March 7 meeting to solidly decide in favor of women's ordination. At the classis meeting, Ferrysburg CRC presented a brief overture asking Classis Muskegon to exercise an option given them by Synod 1995, which allowed each classis to declare the word "male" inoperative in the church order article specifying qualifications for elders, ministers, and evangelists. Rev. Edward Tamminga of Second CRC in Grand Haven led off the classical debate with a concern that the motion might offend conservative opponents of women in office within the classis. "I would certainly hope that within classis we can deal with an issue like this while still maintaining a good spirit of unity, so I'm really concerned about churches that might have real conscientious objections to coming to classis with women elders," said Tamminga. Rev. Alan Hoksbergen, retired pastor of Ferrysburg CRC, noted that this was not a new issue for classis. "There are at least two congregations in our classis that have women elders, and at least one other church which has women in nomination," said Hoksbergen. "When a church council begins to elect women to this office, it becomes very difficult to arrange schedules in such a way to allow the male elders only to be delegated to classis." "Of course classis can function without women elders but it can function much better with them; we believe the spiritual health of the churches in our classis requires this," said Hoksbergen. Rev. Leonard Troast of Calvin CRC in Muskegon echoed Hoksbergen's concern. "Do we really want to say to them, because you were born a woman, you cannot serve?" asked Troast. However, at least one church in classis objected to the overture. "Our whole council voted against this overture," said Rev. Carl Bruxvoort of First CRC in Muskegon. "Our church has not objected in the past when churches have elected women elders, but this entire overture introduces a new level, not just local option but regional option, and for some of our elders this would be a barrier to serving in classis." At the request of the First CRC council, classis voted by secret ballot. First CRC's concerns didn't persuade the delegates, however - Classis Muskegon voted by a 25 to 9 margin to declare the word "male" to be inoperative. Beginning with its next meeting in September, Classis Muskegon will allow women elders to be delegated to classis and permit the ordination of women ministers if any church in classis calls a woman to its pulpit. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1995-070: Christian Reformed Classes Permitted to Declare Church Order Ban on Women's Ordination "Inoperative"; Synod Decision Given Immediate Effect without Two-Year Ratification Process #1995-071: CRC Clarifies Children's Communion Qualifications #1995-074: Synod Rejects Two Efforts to Require 1996 Ratification of Women in Office Decision #1995-075: Synod Permits Classes to Declare Second Church Order Article "Inoperative"; Women May Now "Expound" or "Exhort" #1995-087: Most Christian Reformed Classes Decline Synodical Option to End Prohibition on Women in Office #1995-088: List of Classis Decisions on Women in Office #1995-089: Classis Pacific Northwest Makes Christian Reformed History by Declaring Word "Male" Inoperative #1995-090: Grand Rapids East Becomes First Christian Reformed Classis to Seat Women Elders #1995-092: Atlantic Northeast Votes Down Women in Office, Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Overturn 1995 Decision #1995-096: Classis Illiana Reserves Right to Discipline Churches Electing Women Elders #1995-106C: Interclassical Conference Urges Christian Reformed Synod to Lead Denomination in Repentance; Calls for Formation of "Covenant Union" of CRC Conservatives #1995-112: Calvin Women Receive Thanksgiving Gift: Six Female Seminarians Licensed to Exhort by Calvin Seminary Board #1996-012B: Kalamazoo Declines to Allow Women Delegates to Classis Contact List: Rev. Carl Bruxvoort, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 1617 Moulton Ave., North Muskegon, MI 49445 * O: (616) 773-1752 * H: (616) 744-9188 Rev. Alvin Hoksbergen, Retired Pastor, Ferrysburg Christian Reformed Church 18799 Mohican, Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 842-3880 * H: (616) 846-3047 * FAX: (616) 842-2700 * E-Mail: alhoks@aol.com Rev. Edward Tamminga, Pastor, Second Christian Reformed Church 2020 Sheldon Rd., Grand Haven, MI 49417 * O: (616) 842-0710 Rev. Leonard Troast, Pastor, Calvin Christian Reformed Church 679 Brook Ridge Dr., Muskegon, MI 49441 * O: (616) 737-5207 * H: (616) 798-0155 Rev. Douglas Van Essen, Stated Clerk, Classis Muskegon 1132 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49441 * O: (616) 725-7325 * H: (616) 728-6289 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-024.txt .