From: Darrell128 Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 17:22:10 EST Subject: NR 98005: Cl. Zeeland Rejects Ban on Women's Ordination NR #1998-005: Classis Zeeland Rejects Ban on Women's Ordination For years, Classis Zeeland has opposed ordaining women as ministers, elders, or evangelists in the Christian Reformed Church. It still doesn't have any women elders in its 18 organized churches, and last year it accepted Pine Creek CRC of Holland after Classis Holland approved women's ordination. However, Classis Zeeland's January 21 meeting rejected an overture from Lamont CRC to ban delegation of women elders to its meetings. NR #1998-005: For Immediate Release Classis Zeeland Rejects Ban on Women's Ordination by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service ZEELAND, MICH. (January 21, 1998) - For years, Classis Zeeland has opposed ordaining women as ministers, elders, or evangelists in the Christian Reformed Church. It still doesn't have any women elders in its 18 organized churches, and last year it accepted Pine Creek CRC of Holland after Classis Holland approved women's ordination. However, Classis Zeeland's January 21 meeting rejected an overture from Lamont CRC to ban delegation of women elders to its meetings. Christian Reformed classes have been allowed since 1995 to permit churches to delegate women elders to classis meetings by declaring the word "male" in one or both of two church order articles to be "inoperative." So far, sixteen of the CRC's 47 classes have declared male to be "inoperative," eleven classes have rejected efforts to do so, and three classes have taken the additional step of declaring that the word male will remain "operative" within the classis. Classis Zeeland could have become the fourth such classis, but that wasn't the way classis wanted to handle the matter. Rev. Harlan Vanden Einde of Borculo CRC - himself an outspoken opponent of women's ordination - argued that the overture was unnecessary since no churches in classis have women elders. "This overture is really not needed, except that now if we vote it down, it will be reported in the media that we have rejected it," said Vanden Einde. Rev. Robert Walter of First CRC in Zeeland concurred. "We have a lot of fine things in the church order," said Walter. "I think it would be a good thing to reaffirm our commitment to missions, but do we have to reaffirm every little thing in the church order?" However, classical stated clerk Rev. Steven Sytsma warned that rejecting the overture could have serious consequences. "In our classis there are churches that have a very low level of trust," said Sytsma. "If we vote down this overture, how do we address that low level of trust in those congregations that are really, really struggling? There is a part of me that says there are certain churches that need this to pass to restore trust in our classis and in our denomination." Elder Paul Mulder of Pine Creek CRC asked why Classis Zeeland hesitated to publicly affirm the position that led his church to join the classis. "We have a stand, and I wonder why we are so hesitant to go on record publicly saying this is our stand," said Mulder. Despite the concerns, classis rejected Lamont's overture by a 16-19 margin. According to synodical rules, Classis Zeeland churches may still elect women elders if they want, but they cannot be delegated to classis meetings. Overture author Rev. Richard Terpstra of Lamont CRC said he was disappointed that classis "had the opportunity to declare its position, to take a stand, and passed that up." Pine Creek delegates weren't happy, either. "This is why we transferred to this classis; we believe it would have been helpful for classis to clarify its position," said Mulder. However, Mulder said that Pine Creek would remain in Classis Zeeland despite the vote. "Their refusal to do so does not present a problem for us," said Mulder. "Pine Creek's position remains the same. We will abide by the clear teaching of Scripture regarding this matter." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1995-070: Christian Reformed Classes Permitted to Declare Church Order Ban on Women's Ordination "Inoperative"; Synod Decision Given Immediate Effect without Two-Year Ratification Process #1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End to Classical Option on Ordination of Women #1996-077: Churches Allowed to Switch Classes for Theological Reasons #1996-117B: Separation Without Secession: Interclassical Conference Urges Christian Reformed Synod to Create New Conservative Classes #1997-008: Classis Zeeland Votes by 72% Margin to Receive Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church Pending Synodical Approval #1997-068: Christian Reformed Synod Convenes Today in Grand Rapids; Major Issues to Include Feminine Language for God, Abortion, Interchurch Relations, Local Church Property Issues, Theologically-Defined Classes #1997-075: Calling God "Mother," Theological Classes to Headline Thursday's Christian Reformed Synod #1997-077: No Theological Classes Allowed for CRC Conservatives Contact List: Rev. Steven Sytsma, Stated Clerk, Classis Zeeland 4452 - 38th St., Hamilton, MI 49419 O: (616) 688-5290 * H: (616) 688-5603 Rev. Richard Terpstra, Pastor, Lamont Christian Reformed Church 4745 Leonard Rd., Coopersville, MI 49404 O: (616) 677-3363 * H: (616) 677-2143 Rev. Harlan Vanden Einde, Pastor, Borculo Christian Reformed Church 6464 - 96th Ave., Zeeland, MI 49464 O: (616) 875-8271 Rev. Robert Walter, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 147 East Central, Zeeland, MI 49464-1717 O: (616) 772-2866 * H: (616) 772-2656 * FAX: (616) 772-2620 * E-Mail: walterbd@i2k.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-005.txt .