From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 04:56:57 -0500 (EST) NR #1996-114: Classis Wisconsin Appoints Committee to Study Calvin Professor Dr. Hessel Bouma's Views on Abortion Synod 1996 nixed Classis Wisconsin's overture asking the denomination "to declare that the book 'Christian Faith, Health, and Medical Practice' presents a position on abortion contrary to the position of the Christian Reformed Church" and "to instruct [author and Calvin College professor] Dr. Hessel Bouma to bring his position on abortion into compliance with the position of the Christian Reformed Church and to instruct the Calvin College Board of Trustees to ensure his compliance." However, the classis isn't letting the matter drop. At its September 24 meeting, Classis Wisconsin voted to appoint its own committee "to study the creedal and scriptural issues in Professor Bouma's position on abortion and recommend to classis a course of action" citing as grounds that "we have not sufficiently studied the creedal and scriptural relevance of this position" and that "we ought to make our own study before we ask synod to make such a study or bring creedal or biblical accusations against this position. NR #1996-114: For Immediate Release Classis Wisconsin Appoints Committee to Study Calvin Professor Dr. Hessel Bouma's Views on Abortion by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (October 30, 1996) URNS - Synod 1996 nixed Classis Wisconsin's overture asking the denomination "to declare that the book 'Christian Faith, Health, and Medical Practice' presents a position on abortion contrary to the position of the Christian Reformed Church" and "to instruct [author and Calvin College professor] Dr. Hessel Bouma to bring his position on abortion into compliance with the position of the Christian Reformed Church and to instruct the Calvin College Board of Trustees to ensure his compliance." However, the classis isn't letting the matter drop. At its September 24 meeting, Classis Wisconsin voted to appoint its own committee "to study the creedal and scriptural issues in Professor Bouma's position on abortion and recommend to classis a course of action" citing as grounds that "we have not sufficiently studied the creedal and scriptural relevance of this position" and that "we ought to make our own study before we ask synod to make such a study or bring creedal or biblical accusations against this position." The committee members will be Rev. Les Kuiper of First CRC in Oostburg; Rev. Cliff Bajema of Geneva Campus Chapel at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Rev. Larry Meyer of Faith Community CRC in Beaver Dam, Rev. Ed Laarman of Covenant CRC in Appleton, and Dr. Jan DeRoos, a medical doctor in the classis. "It was a significant concern of classis," said Kuiper, who will be convener of the classical study committee. "Classis is convinced that this is a matter which demands our attention. This is a creedal matter, not just a church order matter, and classis seemed to be overwhelmingly in favor of appointing this committee." The crux of the matter, according to Kuiper, is whether Bouma's position violates the Sixth Commandment's prohibition against murder. "Looking at the unborn in the first three months as potential human life and therefore opening the door to abortion seems to open that question," said Kuiper. Bouma did not return phone calls requesting comment on the Classis Wisconsin action. In previous statements cited by Classis Wisconsin in its overture to synod, Bouma has expressed "misgivings about an absolutely pro-life position," dismissed Synod 1976's position against abortion as "an emotional response to the dramatic increase in abortions in the wake of Roe v. Wade, based on minimal Scripture exegesis," and observed that the "conceptionist position as reflected in the proposed Human Life Amendment comes perilously close to making a god of human life." The overture also cited Bouma's his "personal belief" that "abortion is not the moral equivalent of murder" and "the under exceptional circumstances, abortion occasionally may be recommended, cooperated with, or tolerated." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-073: Synod Rejects Wisconsin Overture: Calvin Prof Dr. Hessel Bouma III Remains Free to Teach His Views on Abortion Contact List: Rev. Clifford Bajema, Campus Minister, Geneva Campus 5610 South Hill Dr., Madison, WI 53705 O: (608) 251-0860 * H: (608) 231-2205 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. Les Kuiper, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 215 S. 8th St., Oostburg, WI 53070-0305 O: (414) 564-3238 * H: (414) 564-2725 Ed Laarman, Pastor, Covenant Christian Reformed Church 15 Sunray Ct., Appleton, WI 54915 O: (414) 731-5731 * H: (414) 731-3333 Rev. Larry Meyer, Pastor, Faith Community Christian Reformed Church 408 Stark St., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 O: (414) 887-8577 * H: (414) 887-8309 * E-Mail: LLMeyer@aol.com To Reach United Reformed News Service Regional Office Staff, Contact: Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer [For news tips or content-related inquiries] Voice: (616) 674-8446 * FAX: (616) 674-8454 * E-Mail: Darrell128@AOL.com PO Box 691, Lawrence, MI 49064-0691 Greg Rickmar, Circulation Manager [For missing or back issues, subscription inquiries, or address changes] Voice: (616) 968-5110 * FAX: (616) 966-3659 * E-Mail: grickmar@msn.com Box 583, Battle Creek, MI 49016-0583 .c1.World Wide Web Site: "http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/reformed/reformed-home.html" ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-114.txt .