/pub/resources/text/reformed: nr94-041.txt ------------------------------------------ For Immediate Release August 23, 1994 Release #1994-41 For Further Information Contact: Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service Voice: (616) 674-8446 FAX: (616) 674-8454 E-Mail: Darrell128@AOL.com PO Box 691, Lawrence, MI 49064-0691 Rev. Edwin P. Elliott, Jr., Managing Editor The Christian Observer Voice: (703) 335-2844 FAX: (703) 368-4817 E-Mail: ChristianO@AOL.com 9400 Fairview Ave., Manassas, VA 22110 Unprecedented Decision of Reformed Church in America Synod Removes Voting Rights from Two Regional Classes by Rev. Edwin P. Elliott, Jr. with Darrell Todd Maurina Distributed by Reformed Believers Press Service (August 23, 1994) RBPS - America's senior Protestant denomination, the Reformed Church in America, excluded 10 delegates from two of its West Michigan classes from participation in its 1994 General Synod. Though not full excision from the denomination, the two assemblies were refused the right to vote because they did not collect denominational assessments from congregations in their bounds. In Muskegon Classis, Christ Community Church in Spring Lake had withheld payments from the central office due to objections over the mailing of the denominational periodical, the Church Herald, to all congregations. Christ Community Church, pastored by Rev. Richard Rhem, is a progressive congregation which has on occasion changed the Lord's Prayer to feminine language. Christ Community even termed its action "civil disobedience." In contrast, the strongly conservative Seventh Reformed Church in North Grand Rapids Classis withheld payments because the denomination was too liberal. Seventh Reformed's pastor, Dr. John R. deWitt, is a leading figure in conservative circles identified with the Banner of Truth Trust and formerly a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. The General Synod did give the ten delegates from the two classes full privilege of the floor apart from voting rights. Ironically, the total assessment in question ran to only $22.98 per person, less then a tenth of the assessments in the RCA's sister denomination, the Christian Reformed Church. In other action, the General Synod voted to expand the number of delegates admitted to future synods. A year-old change in the Book of Church Order which had reduced classical representation came under fire and the assembly voted to begin the process to restore full representation. Some 23 classes had been reduced from four to two representatives because they had fewer than four thousand members. On the international front, the RCA once more returned to committee its plan for confronting Islam. This time, however, the report was received favorably and the requested changes are minor. The RCA interest in the Middle East dates back over a century to the pioneering work of Rev. Peter Zwemer. Current efforts focus primarily on Arab populations in the Arabian Gulf - the local term for what is known in the West as the "Persian Gulf." However, work is expanding in other areas through the influence of expatriate workers reached in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. As these new believers return to their homes in other areas they carry the Reformed faith with them. The RCA numbers some 132,345 households organized into 966 congregations. Last year saw the formation of one new congregation at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the loss of five congregations: New Life Community in Apple Valley, Minnesota, New Life Korean in Portland, Oregon, Korean Community in San Francisco, Community in Fort Meyers, Florida, and Faith in Detroit, Michigan. The item of most interest to the larger Reformed world was the retirement of General Secretary Edwin G. Mulder after eleven years at the helm of the RCA. He was replaced by G. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson. The 49-year-old Granberg-Michaelson is noted as a major figure in the ecumenical community and is expected to lead the RCA into greater cooperation with other denominations. Contact List: xDr. John R. deWitt, Pastor Seventh Reformed Church (RCA) 950 West Leonard St. Grand Rapids, MI 49504 (616) 459-4451 News Office Reformed Church in America 4500 - 60th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512 O: (616) 698-49512 Rev. Richard Rhem, Senior Pastor Christ Community Church (RCA) 225 East Exchange St. Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 842-1985 H: (616) 846-7777