From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 06:54:21 -0500 (EST) November 7, 1996 * Contents: NR #1996-117: Interclassical Conference of Christian Reformed Conservatives to Consider Separation from Christian Reformed Denomination Meeting at First Christian Reformed Church in the Chicago suburb of South Holland, over two hundred conservative ministers, elders, and deacons opposed to the ordination of women convened today to consider a proposal made last November to consider seceding from the denomination if Synod 1996 did not overturn the decision by Synod 1995 to allow the ordination of women. Since Synod 1996 not only did not overturn its decision but declared three women eligible for call as ordained ministers, the Interclassical Conference reconvened today and will continue its sessions on Friday, with a projected adjournment no later than 5 pm. NR #1996-117: For Immediate Release Interclassical Conference of Christian Reformed Conservatives to Consider Separation from Christian Reformed Denomination * Women in Office, Calling God "Mother," Theistic Evolution, Abortion, Homosexuality Headline Protests by Conservatives by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (November 7, 1996) URNS - Since 1993, the Christian Reformed denomination has lost nearly eight percent of its members, largely due to the secession of nearly seventy churches or parts of churches since 1991. Now the 292,000-member denomination faces the possibility of an even larger secession - or a declaration by dozens of churches that they will not abide by the denomination's decision to allow the ordination of women. Meeting at First Christian Reformed Church in the Chicago suburb of South Holland, over two hundred conservative ministers, elders, and deacons opposed to the ordination of women convened today to consider a proposal made last November to consider seceding from the denomination if Synod 1996 did not overturn the decision by Synod 1995 to allow the ordination of women. Since Synod 1996 not only did not overturn its decision but declared three women eligible for call as ordained ministers, the Interclassical Conference reconvened today and will continue its sessions on Friday, with a projected adjournment no later than 5 pm. Last year's Interclassical Conference drew significant interest from the highest levels of the Christian Reformed leadership, including a number of professors from Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids and CRC General Secretary Dr. David Engelhard who attended as observers. Engelhard is present again this year as an observer. In its Thursday afternoon opening session, the conference heard an address by Rev. Ron Scheuers of First CRC in Chino, California, and elected the officers who will lead the remainder of its meetings. The Interclassical Conference reelected Rev. Andrew Cammenga of Escondido (CA) CRC as its chairman, but the rest of the officers are new. Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel of First CRC in Oak Lawn, Ill., will serve as vice-chairman; Elder Jake Klassen of West Sayville (NY) CRC as reporter, and Elder Robert Den Dulk of Hanford (CA) CRC as vice-reporter. After some initial business and appointment of committee chairman, the meeting adjourned to advisory committees which will consider twelve overtures and communications from churches and ministers. The twelve overtures and communications represent significantly different visions for the future of the conservative movement in the Christian Reformed denomination. Heading up the overtures is the official proposal from the Interclassical Conference interim committee, calling for the formation of "at least four theologically identified classes" within the denomination. Currently the CRC has 47 groups of churches known as "classes" (singular: "classis"), 45 of which are grouped by geographical location and two of which are grouped by ethnicity: Classis Red Mesa for Native Americans in the southwest and Classis Pacific Hanmi for Koreans in California and Nevada. If adopted by the Interclassical Conference, the official proposal would ask Synod 1997 to approve the formation of the new groups of churches with the understanding that each would "accept the absolute authority of the Bible as well as the subordinate authority of the Three Forms of Unity as our confessions," "agree in faith and practice to the 'statement of faith' presented by the 1995 Interclassical Conference," "agree to be governed by the Church Order of the CRCNA as it existed prior to Synod 1995 with the exception of recognizing fraternal relations with the GKN" and "agree to remain members of their theologically identified classis (and thus the CRCNA) until at least the conclusion of Synod 2000." The GKN reference is to the CRC's "mother church," the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland, which allows the ordination of practicing homosexuals and which has become a focus of conservative criticism in recent years. According to the grounds for the proposal, "the theologically identified classis approach would appeal to the many congregations present at this conference and those not present who are concerned about the issues but are not ready to sever ties with the CRCNA at this point." The grounds also note that Synod 1996 allowed churches to transfer between classes for theological reasons, including support for or opposition to the ordination of women. So far, Classis Northern Michigan has approved the transfer of Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant to a classis willing to ordain its female pastor and Classis Hackensack has approved the transfer of Terra Ceia (NC) CRC to a classis opposed to the ordination of women; both decisions await approval by Synod 1997. If adopted, the official proposal will make clear to Synod 1997 that it will be the last compromise offered to the denomination in an attempt to avoid a further secession. "This motion will allow us to stay together as we seek to honor God while bringing our witness to bear within the denomination," noted the proposal. "Our biblically directed consciences will likely not allow us any other option to remain within the CRC." The official proposal carries with it significant weight: it was forwarded to the Interclassical Conference by Escondido CRC, pastored by Cammenga, chairman of the conference. Two similar overtures were also submitted by Rev. LeRoy Christoffels of Preakness CRC in Wayne, NJ, and Rev. Lawrence Spalink, a CRC missionary to Japan. Other conferees, however, made clear that they believe the time for compromise is over. Newton (NJ) CRC and Rev. Bradd Nymeyer of Phoenix (AZ) CRC submitted calls for secession from the denomination. "Because the Christian Reformed Church continues to practice sin by violating God's Word and its summary in the Three Forms of Unity, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dordt, we declare our intent to secede from the Christian Reformed Church and call all like-minded individuals and congregations to join us in a denomination united by God in Christ in spirit and truth," declared Newton CRC in a four-page document citing detailed objections to Christian Reformed synodical decisions on women in office, feminization of God, creation, abortion, and homosexuality. While the Christian Reformed synod has officially allowed the ordination of women since 1995 and refused to discipline advocates of theistic evolution since 1991, the CRC maintains official objections to abortion, addressing God with feminine language, and homosexual practice. Newton CRC cited a variety of cases in which the CRC has not successfully disciplined prominent members who disagree with the synodical positions on such matters. "These practices destroy our Biblical understanding of the nature of the unity of the church," objected Newton CRC. "They break down the distinction between word and deed. They tend toward denominational idolatry and a hierarchical view of the church. They elevate loyalty to the church to a higher degree than loyalty to God's Word and thereby compromise the Reformation's emphasis on 'sola scriptura' by adding 'et ecclesia.'" "The Christian Reformed Church has tolerated false teachers and at the same time she has disciplined true teachers," concluded Newton CRC - whose pastor, Rev. Casey Freswick, was ejected from the most recent meeting of Classis Hudson because of statements advocating secession made to United Reformed News Service. Both Newton CRC and Nymeyer urged the Interclassical Conference to call for the formation of a new denomination, but both also urged that the new denomination seek to merge with an existing denomination as soon as possible. Nymeyer attached a summary of the positions of four denominations, the United Reformed Churches in North America, the Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches, the Reformed Church in the United States, and the Canadian Reformed Churches, as possible candidates for affiliation. A third set of overtures from First CRC of Chino takes a middle road which is not necessarily incompatible with either approach. If First Chino's overtures are adopted, the Interclassical Conference would issue a set of joint theological affirmations, declare that the CRC "has placed itself in a position which is disobedient to the teachings of the Word of God as historically stated in our confessions," declare that "the sin of schism in the body of Christ is not necessarily committed by the act of leaving the Christian Reformed Church for the purpose of joining a biblically Reformed denomination," and appoint a study committee to "investigate the existing Reformed denominations which may be receptive to accepting potentially separating Christian Reformed congregations." The study committee would report back to a reconvened Interclassical Conference in May of 1997. In the meantime, First Chino's overtures would "urge churches not to separate from the Christian Reformed Church before the study committee has a chance to report" and adopt a statement respecting the consciences of those conservatives who wish to remain in the CRC, pledging to pray for those who stay, and requesting the prayers of those who remain in the CRC for those who believe they must leave. The Interclassical Conference is scheduled to resume committee meetings at 8 am on Friday, November 8, and should return to open session by 10:30 am to hear the reports of the advisory committees on which overtures should be adopted by the conference. Most of the advisory committee reports are not yet in, but the committee studying the creation of theological classes is expected to issue a report supportive of the concept. The committee studying possible secession from the denomination has adopted two crucial items for its report: a declaration calling "upon the churches represented at this conference to repent of their sin in allowing human innovations and laws contrary to the Word of God to bind us and our consciences" and "that is the judgment of this body that it is now time to separate from the Christian Reformed Church in North America" while noting "that some will see that separation coming in terms of a theological classis, that some will see it in terms of forming a new denomination, and others will see it in terms of affiliating with an existing denomination." The advisory committee voted down several attempts to specify that one or more of the three possible forms of separation were preferable to the others. The advisory committee recommendations are only that - advice - and do not bind the full session which may adopt, amend, reject, or recommit the recommendations of its committees. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1995-082: California South Calls Conference of Christian Reformed Classes, Councils, to Address Women in Office Decision #1995-093: California South Announces Date and Location for Interclassical Conference of Christian Reformed Conservatives #1995-106C: Interclassical Conference Urges Christian Reformed Synod to Lead Denomination in Repentance; Calls for Formation of "Covenant Union" of CRC Conservatives #1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End to Classical Option on Ordination of Women #1996-088: Interclassical Conference of Christian Reformed Conservatives to be Asked to Create Nongeographical Classes; Minority Urges Immediate Secession from Christian Reformed Denomination #1996-095: Vander Weit Takes on Interclassical Conference Contact List: Rev. Andrew Cammenga, Pastor, Escondido Christian Reformed Church 1850 N. Broadway, Escondido, CA 92026 H/O/FAX: (619) 745-2324 * E-Mail: ACAMMENGA@aol.com Rev. LeRoy Christoffels, Pastor, Preakness (NJ) Christian Reformed Church 490 Valley Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470 O: (201) 628-1313 * H: (201) 694-1516 Elder Robert den Dulk, Past President, Westminster Theological Seminary in California c/o First CRC, 2175 Leoni Dr., Hanford, CA 93230 O: (209) 584-2235 Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North America 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560 O: (616) 246-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 246-0834 * E-Mail: engelhad@crcnet.mhs.compuserve.com Rev. Casey Freswick, Pastor, Newton Christian Reformed Church 47 Condit St., Newton, NJ 07860 O: (201) 383-9635 * H: (201) 383-2263 * E-Mail: cfres@nac.net Elder Jake Klassen, West Sayville Christian Reformed Church c/o West Sayville CRC, 31 Rollstone Ave., West Sayville, NY 11796 O: (516) 589-4688 Rev. Ron Scheuers, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 12943 Magnolia Ave., Chino, CA 91710 O: (909) 591-9111 * H: (909) 590-2324 * FAX: (909) 464-9636 * E-Mail: MRenk@aol.com Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 9401 S. 54th Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453 O: (708) 422-1428 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-117.txt .