From: Darrell128 Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 09:10:34 EDT April 28, 1998 * Contents: NR #1998-023: Gay Christian Reformed Minister's Luck May Be Almost Out As the first openly gay minister in the Christian Reformed Church, Rev. Jim Lucas' name has become widely-known in both the denomination and in the local homosexual community. While high-profile publicity has made it easier for potential clients to find Lucas' counseling ministry as chaplain of As We Are, Inc., it has also made him something of a "hot potato" and subjected him to a series of efforts to revoke his ordination since coming out as a homosexual in a 1992 speech at Calvin College. At a Chicago-area conference for Christian Reformed homosexuals and others interested in learning from the experience of gays, Lucas said those efforts may be on the verge of success. "There is a very high possibility that in May, Classis Grand Rapids East will release me from the ministry because no one will call me," said Lucas at the April 25 conference at Hope CRC of Oak Forest, Illinois. NR 1998-023: For Immediate Release Gay Christian Reformed Minister's Luck May Be Almost Out by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (April 28, 1998) - As the first openly gay minister in the Christian Reformed Church, Rev. Jim Lucas' name has become widely-known in both the denomination and in the local homosexual community. While high-profile publicity has made it easier for potential clients to find Lucas' counseling ministry as chaplain of As We Are, Inc., it has also made him something of a "hot potato" and subjected him to a series of efforts to revoke his ordination since coming out as a homosexual in a 1992 speech at Calvin College. At a Chicago-area conference for Christian Reformed homosexuals and others interested in learning from the experience of gays, Lucas said those efforts may be on the verge of success. "There is a very high possibility that in May, Classis Grand Rapids East will release me from the ministry because no one will call me," said Lucas at the April 25 conference at Hope CRC of Oak Forest, Illinois. Lucas is a member of Eastern Avenue CRC in Grand Rapids, but since his former church closed in 1989, has not been formally called by Eastern Avenue to As We Are or any other officially-endorsed ministerial position. According to Christian Reformed rules, ministers without call are entitled to maintain their ordained status for two years, after which they are to be released from the ministry unless classis votes each year to extend their eligibility for call. Classis Grand Rapids East and Eastern Avenue CRC defended him for years, noting that he is personally celibate and had not publicly contradicted his denomination's stance against homosexual practice. Last year, however, Lucas announced that he believes "faithful, committed, permanent, same-sex unions can be an experience of God's grace and within God's will for those who find they are not able to maintain a life of celibacy." As We Are subsequently issued a similar statement. As a result, Lucas' church decided four days before last September's classis meeting that it could no longer endorse his ordination. Rather than immediately terminating Lucas' ordination, classis postponed the decision until January, and then postponed the decision again until the May session. At the January classis, Eastern Avenue CRC said part of the problem was that the church, which played a pivotal role in the ordination of women and has Rev. Mary Antonides as its pastor, didn't have the energy to take on another hot-button issue. "What happened was we couldn't handle it anymore," said Elder Phil Quist. "Mary doesn't need to be tainted, given a high profile on this issue." Although Eastern Avenue CRC has made clear that it will not call him to As We Are or to a part-time chaplaincy at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids that he received shortly before the January classis, Lucas hoped that another church would be willing to call him. If that doesn't happen, however, Lucas didn't know what he would do. "I have no 'Plan B,' said Lucas in a later interview. "If the time comes, I will have to do a lot of praying and a lot of grieving." "I'm trying to remain optimistic; I'm questioning whether it is possible to remain optimistic and realistic at the same time." What will happen if Classis Grand Rapids East releases Lucas from the ministry? "It will say that the Christian Reformed Church really does not want to begin a process of living and growing together with its gay members," said Lucas. "No matter what they say, that's how it will be read." Lucas said he had no idea why Eastern Avenue CRC had decided to back off from supporting him in 1997 after half a decade of defending him from criticism. "I'm trying to figure it out myself," said Lucas. "I was completely shocked, but there are folks there who are trying to reach out. There are a couple here [at the homosexuality conference] >from Eastern Avenue who wanted to show their support." Rev. Mary Antonides from Eastern Avenue CRC did not return calls for comment. Classis Grand Rapids East will next meet on May 21 at Woodlawn CRC in Grand Rapids. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-017: Over 1200 Pack Calvin College Auditorium to Debate Gay Rights; Homosexual Activists Demand Equal Time for Views #1993-019: Anti-Gay Rights Speaker Triggers Uproar at Calvin College; Professor Renews Call for Ban on Outside Funding for College Republicans Lecture Series #1993-021: 3 Million Hear Noebel Counterattack Calvin College Regarding Gay Rights on National Christian Radio Program #1993-023: General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in America Calls Christian Reformed Church to "Repent of Its Sins"; Women in office, homosexuality, theistic evolution, deposition of conservative pastors cited as "departure from the Scriptures in its doctrine and practice" #1993-026: Children at the Lord's Table, Americans with Disabilities Act, Judicial Code Matters, Homosexuality Delay Synod Schedule #1993-031: More Churches Split Following Christian Reformed Synodical Vote Allowing Women Elders and Pastors; Alberta Seceders Protest Homosexuality Report by Classis Alberta North #1994-005: Christianity Today Lists Calvin Among Christian Colleges Strained by Homosexuals Pressing for Acceptance #1994-016: Midwest Classis Asks CRC Synod to Address Homosexuality, Calling God "She," Theistic Evolution, Ordination Process #1994-031: Christian Reformed Synod: Members May Not "Practice or Advocate Homosexualism"; Dr. David Engelhard Approved as CRC's Next General Secretary; Synod Rejects Proposal to End Funding Endorsement for Westminster Seminary #1994-037: Of Garages, Houses, and Women: Synod Keeps "Expounders" and Appoints Committee to Decide What "Expounding" Means; Synod Cites Legal Concerns in Modifying Abuse Committee Report; "Reaffirmation" of Past Decisions on Inerrancy, Creation, Homosexuality Declared Unnecessary by Synod #1994-048: Jim Lucas Hired as Chaplain of "As We Are" Gay Ministry; Ministerial Credentials Extended to Permit Call to Position; Classis Grand Rapids East of the Christian Reformed Denomination Expects Homosexuality Study Committee to Report to January Classis Meeting #1995-043: Committee Divides on Whether Gay Ministries Must Declare Homosexual Activity is Sin; Classis Grand Rapids East Refers Both Reports to Churches for Study #1995-084: Classis Wisconsin Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Declare that Members who "Deny the Biblical Condemnation of All Homosexual Behavior" are Subject to Discipline #1995-085: Text of Classis Wisconsin Overture re. Homosexuality #1995-100: Grand Rapids East Attempts Compromise on Question of How to Minister to Christian Reformed Gays #1995-101: Text of Classis Grand Rapids East Study Committee Report on Ministry with Persons who are Homosexual #1995-113: Calvin Seminary Professors Urge Classis Grand Rapids East to Affirm CRC Synod's Ruling that Homosexual Practice is Sin #1995-114: Text of Calvin Seminary Faculty Letter on Homosexuality #1996-010: Classis Grand Rapids East Follows Calvin Seminary Faculty Urgings; Reaffirms 1973 CRC Position on Homosexuality #1996-081: Tempers Flare as Christian Reformed Synod Appoints Committee to Restudy Homosexuality #1996-122: Calvin Theological Seminary Terminates Pro-Gay Professor #1997-030: Calvin College Chimes Runs Four-Page Homosexuality Insert; Gay Alumni Group Denied Ad Space in Alumni Magazine #1997-041: Kalamazoo Christian "Releases" 30-Year Veteran Teacher for Supporting "Homosexual Monogamous Relationships" #1997-095: Eastern Avenue CRC Declines to Call Lucas to Gay Ministry Due to Disagreement with Synodical Position on Gay Marriage #1997-101: Eastern Avenue CRC Withdraws Endorsement of Gay Minister's Ordination; Classis Tables Issue Until January #1998-001: Classis Grand Rapids North Lets Gay Christian Reformed Minister Keep His Credentials - For Now Contact List: Rev. Mary Antonides, Pastor, Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church 2514 Normandy Dr. SE, Apt. 210-C, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 O: (616) 454-4888 * H: (616) 248-8357 * E-Mail: willem@iserv.net 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@crcna.org Rev. Jim Lucas, Chaplain, As We ARE PO Box 7824, Grand Rapids, MI 49510 O: (616) 456-6174 * E-Mail: JimLucas12@aol.com Dr. Philip R. Lucasse, Stated Clerk, Classis Grand Rapids East 3096 Old Kent Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 O: (616) 957-6000 * H: (616) 942-1219 * E-Mail: luca@calvin.edu ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-023.txt .