From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 04:46:51 -0400 (EDT) NR #1996-107: For Immediate Release Text of Statement of Joint Meeting of the Mt. Hamilton Christian Reformed Church and Hamilton Independent CRC [Editors' Note: The following is the complete text, printed without any form of emendation or editorial comment, of the September 9 statement sent by Redeemer College president Dr. Justin Cooper.] With gratitude and praise to God we can finally announce that the longstanding disagreement between the Mt. Hamilton CRC and the Hamilton Independent CRC has been resolved. After more than four years of tension and frustration, an agreement has been reached, which culminated in a joint meeting of delegations from both congregations, made up of those members who had been involved in the dispute. The agreement, which was the fruit of a four-person negotiating team which worked since June 1995, included four aspects: a settlement of assets of the church; a withdrawal of the legal claim filed by the Mt. Hamilton CRC and the counter-claim filed by the Hamilton Independent CRC; a guarantee of no further legal action by either side; and provision for joint meetings to bring a sense of resolution. On September 9, 1996 these delegations met together in what was to have been the first of three joint meetings, the purpose of which was: to continue the process of communication; to contribute to the clarification and some mutual understandings of what happened and why; to contribute to the restoration of respect; and to begin the process of reconciliation and healing. The delegations were joined by six observers: for Mt. Hamilton CRC: Mr. Bob De Haan, Rev. John Postuma and Rev. John Zantingh; and for Hamilton Independent CRC: Rev. John Bouwers, Rev. Joghinda Gangar and Rev. Richard Stienstra. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Justin Cooper. To the credit of both delegations and their leadership, what transpired at the first joint meeting convinced those present that they had accomplished as much of these objectives as was possible under the circumstances. After a conciliatory opening statement by the speakers for the Mt. Hamilton CRC delegation, the Hamilton Independent CRC delegation, rather than proceeding with its prepared presentation, requested time to consider its response and to formulate an alternative statement. What followed were honest but respectful communications back and forth as one delegation went off to confer and then brought a response to the other, while the waiting delegation was led in prayer for its counterpart. As the evening progressed, by God's grace, there was a shared sense that one meeting would be enough. Each delegation had stated what was important in its view. But the emphasis was less on going over each side's position and more on acknowledging the brokenness and pain caused, the sinfulness involved in this protracted dispute, and the need to come to resolution and move on. In this spirit, at the end of the evening there was agreement on the part of both delegations that the purpose of the meeting had been fulfilled as well as could be expected and that it would not be fruitful to have further meetings and presentations. Suddenly, it was quiet, and it was over! In an unexpected but God-glorifying manner, resolution was accomplished. Such an outcome is an answer to prayer and will hopefully serve as a basis for further healing among acquaintances and families of both congregations, allowing them to return to a single-minded focus on ministry. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-106 $600,000 Christian Reformed Lawsuit Settled After Longstanding Dispute with Seceding Hamilton Church Contact List: Rev. John Bouwers, Pastor, Immanuel Orthodox Reformed Church PO Box 20056, Stn. B., St. Catharines, ON L2M 7W7 O: (905) 688-3546 Dr. Justin Cooper, President, Redeemer College 777 Hwy. 53 East, Ancaster, ON L9K 1J4 O: (905) 648-2131 * FAX: (905) 648-2134 Rev. Joghinda S. Gangar, Pastor, Wellandport Orthodox Reformed Church RR #1, Wellandport, ON L0R 2J0 H/O: (905) 386-6652 Rev. John Postuma, Pastor, Maranatha Christian Reformed Church of York 288 Morrison Dr., Caledonia, ON N3W 1A2 H/O: (905) 765-5623 Rev. Richard Stienstra, Pastor, Grace Reformed Church PO Box 85, Dunnville, ON N1A 2X1 H/O: (905) 774-1130 Rev. John Zantingh, Pastor, Immanuel Christian Reformed Church 3 Cambria Ct., Hamilton, ON L9C 2Z2 O: (905) 385-8351 * H: (905) 383-0483 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-107.txt .