Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 01:25:25 +0000 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Reply-To: Darrell128@aol.com Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service To: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 98092: Pella Fight Ends in $600,000 Settlement for Seceders NR #1998-092: Pella Fight Ends in $600,000 Settlement for Seceders After immigrating to the United States, Dutch seceder minister Rev. Scholte founded the Iowa town of Pella and named it after a biblical city of refuge. Scholte's own church split repeatedly, and by 1866, one of those splits became the first Christian Reformed congregation west of the Mississippi River. The First Christian Reformed Church of Pella has had a long series of well-known conservative ministers for over forty years, including Revs. P.Y. DeJong, John Piersma, Richard Venema, Jerome Julien, Mark Beach, and Dr. John Sittema. A number of those men have since left the Christian Reformed Church, and it wasn't a surprise when the First CRC council voted earlier this year by a 24 to 4 margin to secede from the denomination. Eventually, the classical interim committee proposed the deposition of the consistory members advocating secession, and only a last-minute settlement agreement between the majority and minority prevented a vicious battle at a special classis meeting over deposition and a likely court fight over the assets of the building. In the agreement, the council members voting to leave the CRC relinquished claims to be officebearers in First CRC and relinquished claim on the property in return for a $600,000 settlement: $100,000 for operating expenses and the remainder for property. NR #1998-091: For Immediate Release: Pella Fight Ends in $600,000 Settlement for Seceders by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service PELLA, IOWA (September 24, 1998) URNS - After immigrating to the United States, Dutch seceder minister Rev. Scholte founded the Iowa town of Pella and named it after a biblical city of refuge. Scholte's own church split repeatedly, and by 1866, one of those splits became the first Christian Reformed congregation west of the Mississippi River. The First Christian Reformed Church of Pella has had a long series of well-known conservative ministers for over forty years, including Revs. P.Y. DeJong, John Piersma, Richard Venema, Jerome Julien, Mark Beach, and Dr. John Sittema. A number of those men have since left the Christian Reformed Church, and it wasn't a surprise when the First CRC council voted earlier this year by a 24 to 4 margin to secede from the denomination. During the month of January, the council distributed informational packets on denominational issues for the congregation, centering on creation, women's ordination, social issues such as abortion and homosexuality, worship, and feminine language for God, in anticipation of a congregational vote on the matter. What happened next wasn't expected, at least by the consistory majority. Within one week of the distribution of the first paper by the council, church members were receiving letters - some initially anonymous but later signed by a group of dissatisfied members - attacking the consistory decision and claiming support from retired Back to God Hour broadcast minister Dr. Joel Nederhood and Rev. Jacob Eppinga, former synod president and retired pastor of La Grave Avenue CRC in Grand Rapids. Rev. Marvin Van Donselaar of Calvin CRC in Dundas, Ontario, Marly Visser of First CRC in Orange City, Iowa, and Larry Bosma of Sanborn (IA) CRC wrote letters describing earlier secessions in their churches, and retired Dordt College president Dr. John Hulst was invited to lead an "inspirational informative meeting" in Pella. Eventually, the classical interim committee proposed the deposition of the consistory members advocating secession, and only a last-minute settlement agreement between the majority and minority prevented a vicious battle at a special classis meeting over deposition and a likely court fight over the assets of the building. In the agreement, the council members voting to leave the CRC relinquished claims to be officebearers in First CRC and relinquished claim on the property in return for a $600,000 settlement: $100,000 for operating expenses and the remainder for property. The new congregation, First Independent Reformed Church of Pella, counts 460 members, according to church clerk Elder Paul Vos. Elder Bruce Bandstra, consistory vice president of the continuing First CRC, said his church "would not be interested" in an interview, but Vos said that First CRC claims a membership of 240. Prior to the split, the 1998 CRC Yearbook reported a membership of 855. Classical interim committee chairman Rev. Ronald Bouwkamp said he regretted the split but was glad it hadn't been as bitter as it could have been. "Above all we feel there was a lot of information the church had about the Christian Reformed Church and was not willing to look into it deeper and in a direct fashion," said Bouwkamp. "We certainly wish this had not happened, but the agreement was the best, and we're thankful this did not drag on for a long time." Some of the problems that led to the proposal to depose the consistory stemmed from an older set of articles of incorporation that differ from the denominationally-recommended articles in their provisions for property division in case of a split. "As far as I know most of the council members of the First Christian Reformed Church were ignorant of their articles of incorporation, that those who leave forfeit all rights to property," said Bouwkamp. "Instead, they tried to lay claim to all the property." Vos said the new church plans to be actively involved in community life despite the problems leading up to the split. "We said in our letter that we intend to continue to support Pella Christian High School and other local ministries and we have; we're still supporters of the Back to God Hour even though we were criticized by Nederhood," said Vos. "We as a body hold no ill will or bad feelings against the brothers over at First CRC, in light of the apparently rancorous beginning to the division. I say that for the council, and myself, and probably the whole congregation." Currently renting the Pella Christian High School auditorium - the largest available in Pella - First IRC has purchased property near Pella and hopes to begin building in the near future. The church hasn't yet decided its denominational affiliation and is looking at the United Reformed Churches, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and Presbyterian Church in America. In addition to the Three Forms of Unity, the church has adopted the Westminster Standards as authoritative confessional documents. "We're looking for someone who holds the Word in very high regard, believing the Word is authoritative rather than taking a position first and going to the Bible to support it," said Vos. Bouwkamp said he had extensive contact with people in both First CRC and First IRC over his fifteen years in the classis and felt the secession was unnecessary. "What was so frustrating with this was so many of the stands the independent church put to their people of where they stood was where the Christian Reformed Church stands but they don't realize it," said Bouwkamp. "Some of that is their own fault, they should have been asking questions more directly instead of always being suspicious of the Christian Reformed Church. On the other hand I think the Christian Reformed Church could be doing a better job of communicating." Bouwkamp and the interim committee prepared their own position paper enumerating the stance of the CRC and Classis Pella on various current issues, and had originally intended to have it discussed and adopted by classis. The matter has since been dropped on the classical level; CRC General Secretary Dr. David Engelhard said the denomination has hired staff through Calvin Seminary to review the proposed Classis Pella paper and revise it for presentation on the denominational website and elsewhere. Regardless of the CRC's current and future stance, Pella IRC is looking toward the future. Its new pastor, Rev. Carl Heuss, was installed on September 6 at a service that included participating ministers from the Christian Reformed Church, Reformed Church in America, and United Reformed Churches. Heuss, originally an independent fundamentalist minister, was received into the CRC ministry as an assistant to Dr. John Sittema of Bethel CRC of Dallas, formerly pastor of First CRC of Pella. Heuss served the Des Moines (IA) CRC before accepting the call to First IRC of Pella. Heuss noted that Pella is growing rapidly due to local industry and that he wanted to reach the newcomers. "My passion is to be intentionally evangelistic in preaching the gospel, and that gospel is best reflected in the Reformed faith," said Heuss. "In an age of postmodernism, I think the Reformed faith has the answers." Heuss cited a focus on methods rather than message as a central weakness of broad evangelicalism that led him to the Reformed faith. "I've been through the praise and worship, I had a praise team before people knew what that was," said Heuss. "We need to have a broader view for outreach if we're going to reach the next generation." Cross-References to Related Articles: [No related articles on file] Contact List: Elder Bruce Bandstra, Consistory Vice-President, First Christian Reformed Church c/o First CRC, Box 44, 914 Liberty Street, Pella, IA 50219 O: (515) 628-2321 Rev. Ronald Bouwkamp, Interim Committee Chairman, Classis Pella 130 Peoria West Street, Pella, IA 50219 H/O: (515) 625-4313 * E-Mail: ronb@kdsi.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. Carl Heuss, Pastor, First Independent Reformed Church 109 Oskaloosa St., Pella, IA 50219 H/O: (515) 621-0217 Elder Paul Vos, Clerk, First Independent Reformed Church 739-1/2 Franklin, Pella, IA 50219 O: (515) 620-1777 * H: (515) 628-2146 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-092.txt .