Date: Sat, 06 Feb 1999 06:54:18 -0500 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service Subject: NR 99008: Classis GR East to Consider Ministry Share Relief for Historic Church with Collapsed Sanctuary NR #1999-008: Classis Grand Rapids East to Consider Ministry Share Relief for Historic Church with Collapsed Sanctuary By unanimous vote at its January 21 meeting, Classis Grand Rapids East will consider reducing payments Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church owes to the classis and denomination. The historic church was condemned as structurally unsound after a heavy January blizzard damaged the roof, and most of its building - including a $200,000 pipe organ - was demolished by city order within days of discovering the damage. "I think it's important to send a message today that we want to come alongside of them, but I think that's all we can do today," said Rev. Duane Kelderman of Neland Avenue CRC. Organized in 1890 and rebuilt in 1905 and 1962, Oakdale Park CRC was known for years as a bulwark of Christian Reformed conservative preaching. Once totaling nearly 1600 members, neighborhood changes led to a precipitous decline in the church's membership from over 1300 members in the 1950's until the membership plateaued around 600 members by the 1980's. NR #1999-008: For Immediate Release: Classis Grand Rapids East to Consider Ministry Share Relief for Historic Church with Collapsed Sanctuary by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (February 6, 1999) URNS - By unanimous vote at its January 21 meeting, Classis Grand Rapids East will consider reducing payments Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church owes to the classis and denomination. The historic church was condemned as structurally unsound after a heavy January blizzard damaged the roof, and most of its building - including a $200,000 pipe organ - was demolished by city order within days of discovering the damage. "I think it's important to send a message today that we want to come alongside of them, but I think that's all we can do today," said Rev. Duane Kelderman of Neland Avenue CRC. Rev. Jerry Zandstra of Seymour CRC concurred, and asked a question of his own. "If the Classical Interim Committee comes with a proposal in May, is that reasonable?" asked Zandstra. "We're overwhelmed by your support," responded Oakdale Park pastor Rev. William Vanden Bosch. "We're not going to start spending money in earnest until the next meeting of classis anyway; our major work over the next two or three months will be to plan." In response, Zandstra proposed that classis instruct its interim committee "to explore with Oakdale Park ways that the churches of Classis Grand Rapids East can come alongside of Oakdale Park CRC in this difficult time." "This exploration should include but not be limited to the possibility of ministry share relief for Oakdale Park CRC and redistribution of Oakdale Park CRC's ministry shares to the other churches of Classis Grand Rapids East based on percentage of total paid for each church," Zandstra's motion specified after some suggested additions. No delegates spoke against the motion. "We have a huge need, it's an unexpected need," said Vanden Bosch after the classical vote. "I'm pleased by the prayer support, the encouragement, the love that has been shown by classis, and obviously the financial support." Vanden Bosch said the current ministry shares paid by his church total approximately $90,000 per year. Rebuilding expenses are currently uncertain and will depend upon rebuilding bids. A although the church had insurance, it "will not cover what it takes to rebuild as our ministry is today," said Vanden Bosch. Despite the loss, Vanden Bosch said things could have been worse. "We saved everything we prayed to save; the whole basement, the steeple, the elevator shaft, and the educational wing." Organized in 1890 and rebuilt in 1905 and 1962, Oakdale Park CRC was known for years as a bulwark of Christian Reformed conservative preaching. Four of its former pastors - Louis Berkhof, Foppe Ten Hoor, William Hendriksen, and P.Y. DeJong - went on to become Calvin Seminary professors; other well-known conservative pastors included Y.P. DeJong and John Piersma. Two of those men are known far beyond the CRC for their scholarly work: Berkhof for his systematic theology and Hendriksen for his series of Bible commentaries. Once totaling nearly 1600 members, the building is located in the center of what was once an ethnic Dutch neighborhood. However, neighborhood changes led to a precipitous decline in the church's membership from over 1300 members in the 1950's until the membership plateaued around 600 members by the 1980's. Current membership totals 526. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1999-003: Weather Forces Demolition of Landmark Grand Rapids Church; Church Once Pastored by Louis Berkhof Faces Wrecking Ball Contact List: Rev. Duane Kelderman, Pastor, Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church 940 Neland Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507-1397 O: (616) 452-4899 * H: (616) 452-3002 * FAX: (616) 245-0680 * E-mail: dkelderm@calvin.edu Dr. Philip R. Lucasse, Stated Clerk, Classis Grand Rapids East 3096 Old Kent Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512-2777 O: (616) 957-6000 * H: (616) 942-1219 * FAX: (616) 942-7978 * E-mail: luca@calvin.edu Rev. William Vanden Bosch, Pastor, Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church 1000 Hancock SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 O: (616) 241-5798 * H: (616) 245-5514 * FAX: (616) 452-5870 * E-mail: wvdbosch@@aol.com Rev. Gerald Zandstra, Pastor, Seymour Christian Reformed Church 840 Alger St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 O: (616) 245-8726 * E-mail: BSQG78E@prodigy.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive99: nr99-008.txt .