Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 22:27:57 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97104: RCA's Muskegon Classis Votes to Seize Property Unless Rhem's Church Negotisates with Classis NR #1997-104: RCA's Muskegon Classis Votes to Seize Christ Community's Property Unless Rhem's Church Negotiates with Classis By a 24-14 vote in a three-hour closed session, the Muskegon Classis of the Reformed Church in America has voted to lay down the law to Christ Community Church: unless you negotiate with us or remove Rev. Richard Rhem from your pulpit, we'll seize your building. Despite the severe tenor of the motion, representatives of both sides saw it as an opportunity to return to negotiations that have been stalled for almost half a year. Rhem's church declared its independence from the RCA effective July 4, 1996, and more recently filed a civil lawsuit against the classis asking for clear title to the property and at least $10,000 in damages. For its part, the classis has not only tried Rhem in absentia and found him guilty of "gross sexual misconduct" but also administered a formal rebuke accusing Rhem of heresy for his views on the authority of Scripture and belief that salvation is possible apart from Christ. NR 1997-104: For Immediate Release RCA's Muskegon Classis Votes to Seize Christ Community's Property Unless Rhem's Church Negotiates with Classis by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service MUSKEGON, Mich. (October 8, 1997) URNS -- By a 24-14 vote in a three-hour closed session, the Muskegon Classis of the Reformed Church in America has voted to lay down the law to Christ Community Church: unless you negotiate with us or remove Rev. Richard Rhem from your pulpit, we'll seize your building. The October 7 vote followed several other motions. According to confirmed information from unnamed classis members, after classis voted "to hear the evidence and recent testimony to determine if the charges are true regarding the coverup by the consistory of Christ Community Church," classical stated clerk Rev. Steve Smallegan read several letters and other evidence to the classis supporting charges by a former organist at the church. The woman's charges -- which Rhem has consistently denied -- earlier led to classis deposing Rhem from the RCA ministry for "gross sexual misconduct;" classis' October 7 meeting sought to decide how to handle her second charge that the church board had failed to deal responsibly with her allegations. Classis minister Rev. Richard Veenstra then moved to "admonish the consistory for impropriety in handling the relationship of Richard Rhem" and specific women. In the RCA, "admonition" is the lowest of five levels of discipline which can be applied to church officers. After nearly an hour of debate, classis voted to table the motion to admonish Rhem's consistory. Classis president Rev. Mark Nieuwsma then ruled out of order a motion by Elder David Edwards of Laketon Bethel Reformed Church that "if Christ Community Church continued to allow Richard Rhem to be their pastor, the classis will seize all property and assets" of the church. However, classis later passed a similar motion to retain control of the church property unless Rhem is removed from the pulpit -- but also specifying that classis would return to the negotiating table to try once more to resolve the dispute without a bitter fight. Despite the severe tenor of the motion, representatives of both sides saw it as an opportunity to return to negotiations that have been stalled for almost half a year. Rhem's church declared its independence from the RCA effective July 4, 1996, and more recently filed a civil lawsuit against the classis asking for clear title to the property and at least $10,000 in damages. For its part, the classis has not only tried Rhem in absentia and found him guilty of "gross sexual misconduct" but also administered a formal rebuke accusing Rhem of heresy for his views on the authority of Scripture and belief that salvation is possible apart from Christ. Ron Zoet, director of operations at Christ Community Church and spokesman for the congregation, said he hadn't yet been officially informed of the motions by classis but wanted to look on their positive aspects. "We're not aware of the exact nature of the motions," said Zoet. "We are eager to receive them and are very pleased there is an opportunity to come to resolution on this and not proceed to trial on the lawsuit." Classis officials hesitated to say much before the classis had finished assembling its negotiating team to meet with Christ Community Church. "Some concrete steps were taken and we will be in a position to comment on those soon, perhaps next week," said Smallegan. "We feel an obligation to communicate directly with Christ Community before commenting on our actions directly to media parties." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-013: Special Meeting of RCA's Muskegon Classis Discusses Homosexuality, Scripture, Salvation Apart from Christ #1996-023: Muskegon RCA Classis: No Room for Pastor Questioning Salvation Apart from Christ, Authority of Scripture #1996-086: Muskegon Classis Rebukes Rhem for "Heretical" Views, Restarts Negotiations "to Reach a Mutually Acceptable Separation Agreement" with Christ Community Church #1996-091: Rhem Conflict Leads to Homosexuality Debate in Muskegon #1996-092: Back to the Drawing Board: Muskegon Classis Tables Proposed Settlement with Pastor of RCA's Fourth-Largest Church #1996-093: Dr. Jonathan Gerstner on Rhem: "Tragedy is the Only Word" #1996-094: Second RCA Minister Faces Discipline for Theological Views #1996-103: Classis Muskegon Averts Heresy Trial, Completes Separation Agreement with Richard Rhem, Christ Community Church #1996-110: Appeal Stalls Settlement Agreement on Rev. Richard Rhem; Protests Greet Upcoming Rhem Keynote Speech for RCA Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics on "The Church in Conflict... Can Non-Believers be Saved?" #1996-118: Rhem to Reformed Church in America: "The Bible is a Wax Nose" #1997-001: Muskegon Classis Suspends Separation Agreement Until Regional Synod Adjudicates Appeal on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Allegations Against Richard Rhem #1997-002: Rhem's Attorney Responds: "Classis... Has Engaged in Conspiratorial Actions Which Were Maliciously Calculated to Damage Rev. Richard Rhem and Christ Community Church" #1997-007: Appeal of Charges Against Rhem Sent Back to Committee by RCA's Regional Synod Executive Committee; Van Hoeven Appeal to Proceed with Recommendation of Dismissal #1997-019: Reformed Church in America Classes Poised to Vote on Church Order Change: Should All RCA Ministers and Churches Annually Reaffirm that Salvation is Through Christ Alone? #1997-026: SW Michigan Becomes First RCA Michigan Classis to Ratify Church Order Amendment on Salvation Through Christ Alone #1997-028: Rhem Case on Hold; Muskegon Classis Affirms Salvation Through Christ Alone #1997-031: Reformed Church in America's Second and Third Largest Classes Vote to Affirm Salvation Only Through Christ #1997-032: South Grand Rapids Classis Overtures Reformed Church in America to Reject "Full Communion" with United Church of Christ Due to UCC Approval of Gay Marriage and Ordination #1997-033: Holland Classis Rejects Church Order Amendment to Require Annual Declaration that Salvation is Through Christ Alone #1997-034: Reformed Church in America Rejects Annual Declaration that Salvation is Through Christ Alone #1997-040: Typo Leads Reformed Church in America to Recommend New Vote on Salvation Apart from Christ #1997-043: RCA Committee Asks Regional Synod of the Great Lakes to Send Rhem "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Case Back to Muskegon Classis for Investigation, Possible Trial #1997-044: Great Lakes Regional Synod Minister: Reformed Church in America not "Dead," but Needs to "Wake Up" #1997-045: Reformed Church in America Regional Synod of the Great Lakes Sends Rhem "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Case Back to Muskegon Classis for Investigation, Possible Trial #1997-046: Rhem's Attorney Responds: "The RCA in Western Michigan [is] Truly a Dysfunctional Family" #1997-057: RCA's Muskegon Classis Calls Special Meeting to Consider Trial for Richard Rhem on Sexual Misconduct Charges #1997-058: Reformed Church in America's Muskegon Classis to Investigate Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Rhem #1997-079: Muskegon Classis to Meet June 24 for More Inquiry on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Charges Against Rev. Richard Rhem; Classis Also Asked by Regional Synod to Consider Charging Rhem's Church with Leaking Documents to News Media #1997-080: Muskegon Classis Seeks to Avoid Media Expose; Votes to Try Rhem on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Charges #1997-083: Christ Community Church Sues RCA Classis; Asks Civil Court to Order Classis to Let Church Depart with its Property #1997-086: Reformed Church in America's Muskegon Classis Finds Rev. Richard Rhem Guilty of "Gross Sexual Misconduct" #1997-094: Muskegon Classis Responds to Christ Community Lawsuit Contact List: Rev. E. Wayne Antworth, Director, RCA Stewardship & Communication Services 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115 O: (212) 870-2954 * FAX: (212) 870-2499 Elder David Edwards, Laketon Bethel Reformed Church 1568 West Giles Rd., Muskegon, MI 49445 O: (616) 744-1749 Rev. Mark Nieuwsma, President, Muskegon Classis 704 South De Spelder, Grand Haven, MI 49417 O: (616) 842-4170 * H: (616) 842-2984 Rev. Richard Rhem, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Church 225 East Exchange St., Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 842-1985 * H: (616) 846-7777 * F: (616) 842-3476 * E-Mail: christcommunity@novagate.com Rev. Steve Smallegan, Stated Clerk, Muskegon Classis 3025 Glenside Blvd., Muskegon, MI 49441 O: (616) 759-3238 * H: (616) 755-8446 * E-Mail: SGLMusk@aol.com Rev. Merwin (Mike) Van Doornik, Counsel for Appellant 1985 Driftwood Dr., Holland, MI 49424 H: (616) 786-9155 * O: (616) 744-4781 Rev. Richard Veenstra, Classis Minister, Classis of Muskegon (RCA) 17432 North Shore Estates Rd., Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 538-3100 * H: (616) 842-0454 Ron Zoet, Director of Operations, Christ Community Church 225 East Exchange St., Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 842-1985 * F: (616) 842-3476 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-104.txt .