From: Darrell128 Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 04:14:43 EST Subject: NR 97132: Rhem Fight Ends; Church, RCA Classis Agree on Settlement of Lawsuit ... NR #1997-132: Rhem Fight Ends: Christ Community Church, RCA Muskegon Classis Agree on Settlement of Lawsuit and Property Fights The Rhem controversy is over. After two years of church wrangling, a civil lawsuit, a heresy trial, defrocking of Rev. Richard Rhem on sexual misconduct charges, and massive media attention not only from local media but also the New York Times and ABC News, the Muskegon Classis of the Reformed Church in America and Christ Community Church of Spring Lake announced December 18 that they "have agreed to a settlement of all the issues in the dispute between them."According to the official announcement from the RCA’s New York City offices, "the agreement will enable the classis and Christ Community Church to proceed with their respective ministries without costly and time-consuming litigation between them in the civil courts." The agreement, which includes $400,000 in payments by the church to the classis over the next ten years, specifies that the classis releases the congregation and property of Christ Community Church from the denomination so it can continue ministry in its current location and building. NR 1997-132: For Immediate Release Rhem Fight Ends: Christ Community Church, RCA Muskegon Classis Agree on Settlement of Lawsuit and Property Fights by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (December 18, 1997) URNS — The Rhem controversy is over. After two years of church wrangling, a civil lawsuit, a heresy trial, defrocking of Rev. Richard Rhem on sexual misconduct charges, and massive media attention not only from local media but also the New York Times and ABC News, the Muskegon Classis of the Reformed Church in America and Christ Community Church of Spring Lake announced December 18 that they "have agreed to a settlement of all the issues in the dispute between them." According to the official announcement from the RCA’s New York City offices, "the agreement will enable the classis and Christ Community Church to proceed with their respective ministries without costly and time-consuming litigation between them in the civil courts." The agreement, which includes $400,000 in payments by the church to the classis over the next ten years, specifies that the classis releases the congregation and property of Christ Community Church from the denomination so it can continue ministry in its current location and building. The settlement, reached after "an intense two-day process of ‘facilitated mediation,’" involved the classis, the church, attorneys for both the classis and church, and six denominational representatives including the top RCA official, general secretary Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, all of whom met in West Michigan for negotiations this week. The Muskegon Classis even called a special meeting to approve a proposed settlement, and then gave its negotiators authority to act on a settlement when the proposal wasn’t ready in time for the special session. The Rhem controversy began when Christ Community Church allowed another church composed of practicing homosexuals to meet on its premises, but soon expanded into an investigation by the Muskegon Classis into Rhem’s belief that salvation is possible apart from Christ. Eventually classis rebuked Rhem for heresy and began to investigate charges of "gross sexual misconduct." The church unilaterally declared its independence from the RCA when the classis insisted on investigating the sex charges, and later sued the classis in civil court seeking to force the denomination to allow the church to leave with its building. Classis eventually deposed Rhem on sex charges in a trial he refused to attend and whose verdict his church does not recognize. Separate from but related to the Muskegon Classis conflict, the controversy over Rhem’s views on salvation apart from Christ led to adoption by the 1996 RCA General Synod of a proposed church order change that would require all RCA churches and ministers to annually reaffirm belief in salvation through Christ alone. After rejection by a 23-23 margin of the RCA’s 46 classes, General Synod 1997 resubmitted the proposal for a new vote after discovering a technical error in the 1996 language. Attorney Bruce Neckers, an RCA elder at Third Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, meditated the settlement. "Voluntary facilitative mediation means that the parties voluntarily participate and the parties select the mediators," said Neckers. "It is a process we use regularly in the court system, particularly in larger and more difficult cases." "This has been a long, painful process," said Neckers. "The parties are to be congratulated, they worked extremely hard in this process to reach a resolution that they believe is for the better good of the entire church and the denomination provided very significant leadership in the process as well. For all of us it’s just a relief this is behind us." Representatives of the church and classis could not immediately be reached for comment. Rev. Ken Bradsell, director of policy, planning, and administrative services at the RCA’s New York City offices and a member of the denominational team at the negotiations, said the RCA leadership had been concerned about the controversy since it flared up and was glad to be part of the solution. "We’ve always been interested in solving this problem, but we became extremely interested when the civil suit was filed," said Bradsell. "If there is any way to find a solution to this without going into the civil courts, we didn’t think it was proper for the church to settle its suits through litigation. It’s not a good way to spend mission money." Bradsell said the RCA had learned a number of things from the Rhem conflict, including the need for better communications with the media and the public and the need to provide early assistance to churches and classes in conflict situations. "Consistently the classes tell us they would value more assistance from the denomination," said Bradsell. "It’s how they are supposed to proceed early on before these situations spin out of control." Bradsell noted that the settlement included a plan to provide for ministry to the disaffected minority in Christ Community Church, estimated at about a hundred members of a 2800-member church. "These people have been deeply hurt, they need care, and we hope the classis is able to help them," said Bradsell. "We also hope and pray that Christ Community Church is able to move forward as an independent congregation and provide a deep and meaningful ministry." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1994-017: Immigrant Korean Leader Criticizes Christian Reformed, Presbyterian Church in America Influence at NAPARC #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 Exposé; 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 #1997-104: RCA’s Muskegon Classis Votes to Seize Christ Community’s Property Unless Rhem’s Church Negotiates with Classis 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 Rev. Ken Bradsell, Director of Policy, Planning, and Administration, Reformed Church in America 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115 O: (212) 870-2954 * FAX: (212) 870-2499 Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America 49 Yawpo, Oakland, NJ 07436 O: (212) 870-2845 Bruce Neckers, Esq., Attorney, Rhoades, McKee, Boer, Goodrich & Titta 161 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 600, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2793 O: (616) 235-3500 * FAX: (616) 459-5102 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. Richard Veenstra, Classis Minister, Muskegon Classis 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: nr97-132.txt .