Date: Sat, 06 Mar 1999 23:37:30 -0500 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service Subject: NR 99025: Classis Chicago South Criticizes Hope CRC's Homosexuality Conference NR #1999-025: Classis Chicago South Criticizes Hope Church's Homosexuality Conference but Won't Require Pastors to Explain Views After a Chicago-area Christian Reformed church touched off nearly a year of controversy by sponsoring a conference on homosexuality, Classis Chicago South has voted to declare that "the conference did not provide for the proclamation of the Christian Reformed position on homosexual acts." However, the classis rejected a request to require two ordained ministers involved in the conference "to explain to classis their belief and teaching on chastity and to state clearly whether or not they believe and teach that all homosexual erotic acts are unchaste." The "Conference of Hope," held in April 1998 and sponsored by Hope CRC of Oak Forest, Illinois, led to a number of complaints by Chicago churches, informal meetings between pastors and church councils, and a formal call to rebuke the sponsoring church, pastor, and organizers of the conference. Among the protesters is Rev. David Feddes, who as the broadcast minister for the English language radio and television ministry of the 275,000-member denomination, is one of the most-recognized names on the CRC's ministerial roll. Feddes' church, Faith CRC of Tinley Park, submitted a strongly-worded overture to Classis Chicago South's fall meeting which was tabled until an advisory committee could evaluate the overture and submit recommendations for classis' March 4 meeting. NR #1999-025: For Immediate Release: Classis Chicago South Criticizes Hope Church's Homosexuality Conference but Won't Require Pastors to Explain Views * Classis: Homosexuality conference "failed to adequately reflect the biblical and confessional standards of the Christian Reformed Church; furthermore, some comments contradicted sound teaching and godly conduct." by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service OAK LAWN, ILL. (March 4, 1999) URNS - After a Chicago-area Christian Reformed church touched off nearly a year of controversy by sponsoring a conference on homosexuality, Classis Chicago South has voted to declare that "the conference did not provide for the proclamation of the Christian Reformed position on homosexual acts." However, the classis rejected a request to require two ordained ministers involved in the conference "to explain to classis their belief and teaching on chastity and to state clearly whether or not they believe and teach that all homosexual erotic acts are unchaste." The "Conference of Hope," held in April 1998 and sponsored by Hope CRC of Oak Forest, Illinois, led to a number of complaints by Chicago churches, informal meetings between pastors and church councils, and a formal call to rebuke the sponsoring church, pastor, and organizers of the conference. Among the protesters is Rev. David Feddes, who as the broadcast minister for the English language radio and television ministry of the 275,000-member denomination, is one of the most-recognized names on the CRC's ministerial roll. Feddes' church, Faith CRC of Tinley Park, submitted a strongly-worded overture to Classis Chicago South's fall meeting which was tabled until an advisory committee could evaluate the overture and submit recommendations for classis' March 4 meeting. While the decision adopted by classis was a compromise, Feddes said he wasn't opposed to the final vote. "Overall, I'm not entirely displeased, the attempt to weaken it failed, the attempt to strengthen it succeeded," said Feddes. Classical Actions Criticize Hope Church, Reaffirm Christian Reformed Stance on Homosexuality The motion finally adopted by classis declared that the homosexuality conference "failed to adequately reflect the biblical and confessional standards of the Christian Reformed Church" and further declared that "some comments contradicted sound teaching and godly conduct." As grounds, classis noted that "conference speakers allowed or to some degree promoted the full inclusion and participation in the church by sexually active homosexual couples" and noted that "while the conference did promote several pastoral guidelines adopted by Synod 1973, the conference failed to adequately reflect the biblical and confessional standards of the Christian Reformed Church; furthermore, some comments contradicted sound teaching and godly conduct." Classis also adopted language from its advisory committee report reaffirming the CRC's official position - in place since 1973 - that homosexual acts are wrong, voted to "encourage all congregations, when discussing homosexuality, to express the full spectrum of pastoral guidelines articulated by that same synod," and notes that the Hope CRC conference "did not provide for the proclamation of the Christian Reformed position regarding homosexual orientation or homosexualism" although it did promote "several pastoral guidelines adopted by Synod 1973." That's not the way the motion started. Classis dealt with two attempts to amend the motion: a failed attempt to delete the statement that Hope CRC's conference didn't "promote sound teaching and godly conduct" and a successful attempt to strengthen the motion by specifically declaring that the conference not only didn't "promote" but also actually "contradicted" sound teaching and godly conduct. However, classis also cited procedural grounds in following the advice of its advisory committee to reject a number of strongly worded statements that the conference "repeatedly contradicted the Christian Reformed Church's biblical teaching that all homosexual acts are sinful and under divine judgment (Romans 1:26-27; I Corinthians 6:9)," "undermined the admonition and discipline of other congregations and church councils," "damaged the unity of the church," and "wronged homosexual persons by portraying as a healthy, holy way of life a road which in fact leads to destruction." The Tinley Park church had also asked classis to require Rev. William Lenters and Dr. Marvin Hoogland, two ordained Christian Reformed ministers whose membership is held by Hope CRC and who spoke at the conference, "to explain to classis their belief and teaching on chastity and to state clearly whether or not they believe and teach that all homosexual erotic acts are unchaste," citing as grounds that Lenters and Hoogland "have made statements which raise concern that they endorse homosexual coupling and thus contradict the biblical and confessional standard of chastity." Two related sections asked classis "to admonish the Hope CRC council to reaffirm that all homosexual erotic acts are sinful and to acknowledge to classis the conference's errors," and "to urge the council of Hope CRC to require clarification and accountability from individual members and officebearers from Hope who organized and/or spoke at the conference in ways that seemed to be at odds with the biblical and denominational position." According to the advisory committee, such additional inquiries are unnecessary because the Hope CRC council gave written notice that "our pastor and the associate pastors of Hope Church affirm the [CRC homosexuality synodical] decision of 1973, particularly the pastoral implications" and has reviewed the statements "by individual members and officebearers from Hope who organized and/or spoke at the conference in ways that seem to be at odds with the biblical and denominational position." The advisory committee also objected that "following Jesus' principle for reconciliation found in Matthew 18:15, we believe that the Faith council should seek to enter personal conversation about their concerns with both Rev. Lenters and Rev. Hoogland before bringing the issue to the floor of classis in the form of an overture." Classical Debate Strengthens Compromise Language Hope CRC didn't like the section of the classical advisory committee report stating that the church's conference "did not promote sound teaching or godly conduct," and Rev. Corky De Boer of Orland Park CRC moved to strike that phrase from the advisory committee's report. "If you leave that phrase in there, the implication is we were at that conference promoting unsound teaching and ungodly conduct, and I don't think that's fair," said Rev. William Lenters, pastor of Hope CRC at the time of the conference. "I want to speak to the intent of the conference," said Dr. Michael De Vries, consistory chairman of Hope CRC. "Our intent was not to focus on the doctrinal standards of the Christian Reformed Church, our intent was to respond pastorally to homosexuals, so I'm not sure it follows that we failed to promote sound teaching or godly conduct." Rev. Sam Hamstra, Jr., chairman of the advisory committee, said the intent of the committee was a bit different from how it had been interpreted. "We did not make any judgment on the conference itself, we stayed with the overture and evaluated it from a church order perspective," said Hamstra. "The amendment of this phrase is really at the heart of the overture, and I'm glad for this discussion." Both Feddes and classical stated clerk Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel argued that a statement declaring that Hope CRC's conference "did not promote sound teaching or godly conduct" is essential to the overture. "[Deletion] takes the heart out of the first recommendation," said Vanden Heuvel. "The intent of the committee was to say this not only did not reflect the Bible and the confessional standards, but also did not promote sound teaching or godly conduct." Feddes went further in his objections, citing statements made at the conference by former Hope CRC pastor Rev. William Lenters, Hope CRC consistory chairman Dr. Michael De Vries, and former Washington (DC) CRC pastor Rev. Jack Reiffer. "It concerns me somewhat when the committee says it made no effort to evaluate the conference but only the overture; it does need to be said that the conference did more than listen," said Feddes. "Dr. De Vries was not just listening. He said at one point, 'I hope that Jack Reiffer's optimistic predictions about the future come true and that maybe I'm wrong.' The only predictions I heard Rev. Reiffer make were that 'There will be a day when there are gay people - I mean, openly gay people - serving as officebearers in our denomination, and some of them will be couples who are in committed relationships. I know that's going to happen.' Rev. Reiffer also said that 'my prediction is that we will come to realize that for many gay people there are more options than simply trying to change or get fixed or cured or healed and to live sexually abstinent lives, that one of the legitimate possibilities is to enter into committed relationships, and we will find the way to explain that." "Perhaps Dr. De Vries could explain that comment, that he was trying to do more than listen, he was trying to evaluate," said Feddes, who also noted that De Vries criticized the Exodus network of ex-gay ministries which seek to bring homosexuals to repentance, said that he is "troubled by the fact that [Dr. Melvin Hugen], a seminary professor in the Christian Reformed Church, would make a public statement supporting conversion therapy," and denied that it was possible for most homosexuals to change their orientation. Feddes also noted that Lenters said his brother-in-law "is living in California with an ex-priest, and his marriage is going well, and I thank God for blessing him." "I don't think believe we can thank God for living in and doing what the Bible calls detestable practices," said Feddes. Neither of Hope CRC's delegates to classis appreciated Feddes' statements. "I have a tough time saying that God is not blessing people; if we think all of God's blessing is going to people who we think are fitting the mold, we've missed the boat," said Elder Jim Hofman. "God's blessing goes far beyond what our small Christian Reformed denomination can hold. Are we going to make moral judgments on people who don't see things precisely the way we do?" De Vries took up Feddes' invitation to explain his views, noting that he is trained as a clinical psychologist, teaches at Trinity Christian College and practices at the Chicago Christian Counseling Center, and doesn't see a statistical basis for supporting the proposition that conversion therapy helps most gays change their orientation. "Our intent was to listen and be educated, and to listen and be educated means we need to listen to a variety of viewpoints," said De Vries. "We are aware that not everyone who spoke at the conference articulated the position of the Christian Reformed Church, but that was to some extent our intention." After the failure of the effort to delete the statement that the Hope CRC conference "did not promote sound teaching or godly conduct," Rev. Neil Jasperse of Hessel Park CRC of Champaign, Illinois, moved to amend the language by stating that "some comments contradicted sound teaching and godly conduct." "If I understand what the amendment is, I think I have no difficulty supporting it," said De Vries. "I said very early in this debate that we acknowledged that some of what was said did not agree with the position of the Christian Reformed Church." The advisory committee chairman expressed caution about the statement. "I would be very uncomfortable saying 'some comments,' since any conference has some comments that do not reflect the position of those who sponsor it," said Hamstra. "Would Sam [Hamstra] be happier with 'most speakers' or 'most comments?'" asked Feddes, leading to laughter in the audience. "This is not just 'some speakers,' fourteen out of fifteen speakers contradicted the Christian Reformed position." Jasperse's amendment passed in a slightly modified form. Classis then moved on to the other recommendations of the advisory committee, which rejected each of the Faith CRC's other points. The rejection of Faith CRC's proposal to require Dr. Marvin Hoogland and Rev. Bill Lenters to further explain their views attracted the most criticism - mostly because of the ground stating that "following Jesus' principle for reconciliation found in Matthew 18:15, we believe that the Faith council should seek to enter personal conversation about their concerns with both Rev. Lenters and Rev. Hoogland before bringing the issue to the floor of classis in the form of an overture." "We take offense at the second ground," said Faith CRC pastor Rev. John Ouwinga. "This was a public event to which the churches of classis were invited, and classis has already acknowledged that at its last meeting. Classical stated clerk Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel concurred, and moved to delete the ground. "When you write a public letter for 33,000 Banner readers, you owe it to those readers to explain; when you host a conference and invite people to it, you can no longer say it is an in-house meeting," emphasized Feddes. "The intention of Matthew 18 is to discuss personally with a brother a matter perceived to be in error before bringing it to a higher level. I did not feel free to cite private letters and correspondence with Rev. Lenters; if there is no objection I would be ready to cite those items, but we have spoken at great length with these men privately, and these conversations were very far from allaying our concerns." Hoogland argued that Feddes hadn't completed the necessary first steps and that the Faith CRC overture to require him to further explain his views had to be rejected on those grounds alone. "I have offered repeatedly to meet with David Feddes; he did not take me up on those offers," said Hoogland. "That is his privilege; I'm not trying to force anything on David Feddes, but if he is going to pursue this matter he needs to do that first." After other advisory committee members noted that deleting the second ground would still retain the first ground stating that the Hope Council has affirmed that "our pastor and the associate pastors of Hope Church affirm the decision of 1973, particularly the pastoral implications," classis voted to pass the advisory committee recommendation that neither Hoogland nor Lenters be required to further explain their views, but did so without the Matthew 18 ground. Response to the Classical Vote Feddes said he wasn't entirely unhappy with the classical vote, but didn't know whether or not he or his council would follow through privately with Hoogland or Lenters to require them to further explain their views on homosexuality. "Where we go from here, I do not want to say a lot about," said Feddes. "I do plan to have further conversations, both to deal with any personal issues of wounded feelings and any misunderstandings that may exist. They are fellow professing Christians, they have said a few times that they feel misunderstood, and I will try to understand them." However, Feddes said he was seriously concerned about misunderstanding of his own position. "I don't want to encourage a revulsion and nastiness toward people with a homosexual orientation, but to minister in the spirit of Christ and according to the standards of the Bible," said Feddes. "I think classis wanted to say, 'We want to stand where the Bible stands, and we want to recognize that homosexuals struggle somewhat with what we understand that the Bible says, but we want to give Hope Church the benefit of the doubt.'" Later in the day, Ouwinga proposed additional action for the classis on the homosexuality matter, moving "that the interim committee plan specific events, conferences, and seminars to help the churches of the classis address these matters of homosexuality." Ouwinga's motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Hope CRC delegates said they also were not unhappy with the classical decision. "I appreciate the motion by Ouwinga at the end desiring to move forward in ministry rather than conflict or confrontation," said De Vries. "Hope Church wants to be involved in ministry to homosexuals, I think it was a good process, we will work together on building ministry where we are agreed." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1998-032: Gay Minister Loses Ordination; Classis Grand Rapids East Releases Rev. Jim Lucas from Christian Reformed Ministry #1998-102: Homosexuality Study Committee to Call Christian Reformed Synod to Repent of Lack of Ministry to Homosexuals #1999-024: Homosexuality Conference at Christian Reformed Church Leads to Calls for Discipline in Classis Chicago South Contact List: Dr. Michael De Vries, Chairman of Elders, Hope Christian Reformed Church 5825 West 151st St., Oak Forest, IL 50452 O (church): (708) 687-2095 * O (business): (708) 597-3000 * FAX: (708) 687-9917 * E-mail: hopecrc-sec@juno.com Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North America 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560 O: (616) 224-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 224-5895 * E-mail: engelhad@crcna.org Rev. David Feddes, Minister of English Broadcasting and Listener Contact, The Back to God Hour 6555 West College Dr., Palos Heights, IL 60463 O: (708) 371-8700 * H: (708) 614-7276 * FAX: (708) 371-1415 * E-mail: DFeddes@aol.com Rev. Sam Hamstra, Pastor, Palos Heights Christian Reformed Church 7059 West 127th St., Palos Heights, IL 60463 O: (708) 448-0186 * H: (708) 448-6329 * FAX: (708) 448-4389 * E-mail: hamstra@web2market.com Dr. Melvin D. Hugen, Chairman, CRC Homosexuality Study Committee 2105 Raybrook SE #5034, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 H: (616) 942-0001 * E-mail: mhugen@calvin.edu Dr. Marvin Hoogland, Council Vice-President, Hope Christian Reformed Church 14801 Sunset Ave., Oak Forest, IL 60452 O: (708) 361-1935 * H: (708) 687-4769 Rev. Neil Jasperse, Pastor, Hessel Park Christian Reformed Church 700 West Kirby, Champaign, IL 61820 O: (217) 356-3177 * E-mail: jasperse@staff.uici.edu Rev. Bill Lenters, Former Pastor, Hope Christian Reformed Church 6609 Courtney Dr., Oak Forest, IL 60452 O: (708) 687-2095 * H: (708) 687-2530 * FAX: (708) 687-9917 * E-mail: hopecrc_past@juno.com Rev. John Ouwinga, Pastor, Faith Christian Reformed Church 8383 West 171st St., Tinley Park, IL 60477 O: (708) 532-8300 * (708) 532-1669 * FAX: (708) 532-8937 * E-mail: faithchr@aol.com Rev. Jack Reiffer, Former Pastor, Washington (DC) Christian Reformed Church 2401 - 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009 O: (202) 328-8842 x 228 * FAX: (202) 328-8757 * jreiffer@aol.com Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel, Stated Clerk, Classis Chicago South 9401 S. 54th Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453 H/O/FAX: (708) 422-1428 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive99: nr99-025.txt .