NR #1995-066: For Immediate Release John Suk Reappointed as Banner Editor Despite Flak Attack GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 15, 1995) URNS - Denominational reappointments usually proceed without a hitch at synod. However, Rev. John Suk met with sizeable opposition when his name came up for reappointment after two years as editor-in-chief of The Banner, the Christian Reformed denominational weekly magazine. Rev. Casey Freswick of Classis Hudson led off the criticism by citing a recent issue of The Banner in which Suk had printed an article by Letha Dawson Scanzoni, a leading feminist theologian and co-author of a book entitled "Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?" "She has written and coauthored books with persons who, I believe, are outside the pale of Christianity," said Freswick. Rev. Roger Bouwman of Classis of the Heartland objected to a statement in the grounds for reappointing Suk. "I too would like to challenge the statement about The Banner being well-received by readers," said Bouwman. "Our own board representative told us at classis that while The Banner had received a sizeable increase in subscriptions, by the end of the year there had been a significant decline and the year had ended with a net loss of subscribers." "I think we need to speak here in terms of reduction of the loss," said Rev. William Koopmans, reporter for the advisory committee dealing with publications matters. "The decline in readership has been cut in half in terms of annual readership loss." Koopmans estimated that a 3000-subscriber per year loss had been cut to a loss of only 1500 subscribers per year during Suk's tenure. According to the official CRC Publications report to synod, the current readership of The Banner stands at slightly over 35,000. Rev. William Veenstra of Classis British Columbia Northwest came to Suk's defense, noting that his teenagers were now reading The Banner and that attracting a younger generation of readers is essential to the paper's future. Freswick, however, noted that the content rather than the design was the problem. "I personally like the format and the layout better, but that's not for me the critical part," said Freswick, noting that he could not use The Banner as an evangelistic or discipleship tool. "It hampers my ministry; I have had people hesitate to enter the Christian Reformed Church because they read The Banner," said Suk. Despite the criticism, Suk won reappointment by a wide voice vote margin. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-024: Christian Reformed Synod Debates Single Nominee for Banner Editorship; Withholds Action on Controversial Liturgy #1993-025: CRC Synod Appoints John Suk Editor-in-Chief of The Banner; Separate Vote Encourages Celebration of Denominational Unity Contact List: Mr. Tim Penning or Mrs. Bonny Wynia, Christian Reformed Synodical News Office Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-8652 * FAX: (616) 957-8551 To Reach Delegates During Synod: (616) 957-6000 Pre-Recorded CRC Synod Hotline: (616) 957-8654 Rev. John Suk, Editor, The Banner 1510 Seminole Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 * O: (616) 246-0791 * H: (616) 243-5695 * FAX: (616) 246-0834 Synod Shorts: For Immediate Release CRC Hears Fraternal Delegates, Receives Agency Reports by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 15, 1995) URNS - Other items of business conducted by synod during its sessions today included the following: * Hearing speeches from fraternal delegates from the president of the synod of the Christian Reformed Church in Nigeria and from a fraternal delegate of the Reformed Church of Zambia * Hearing an address by retiring CRC Pastor-Church Relations Director Rev. Louis Tamminga * Rejecting overtures asking synod to appoint an issue awareness committee and designate a sanctity of life Sunday. * Receiving a report from Rev. Arie Van Eek, executive director of the Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada * Approving a total denominational ministry share budget for 1996 of $567.29 per professing member per year and $244.99 per family per year, based on a ratio of 40% computed on a per-family basis and 60% on a per-professing-member basis. * Dismissal with thanks of the Chaplain Committee, Committee on Disability Concerns, Pastor-Church Relations Committee, and Synodical Committee on Race Relations, all of which according to a decision last year are to be replaced by a single pastoral ministries committee. Cross-References to Related Articles: [No related articles on file] Contact List: Mr. Tim Penning or Mrs. Bonny Wynia, Christian Reformed Synodical News Office Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-8652 * FAX: (616) 957-8551 To Reach Delegates During Synod: (616) 957-6000 Pre-Recorded CRC Synod Hotline: (616) 957-8654 Rev. Louis Tamminga, Director, Pastor-Church Relations Services 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560 * O: (616) 246-0838 * H: (616) 247-1974 Rev. Arie Van Eek, Executive Secretary, Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada 23 Niska Dr., Waterdown, ON L0R 2H3 * O: (905) 336-2920 * H: (905) 689-5226 * F: (905) 336-8344 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-066.txt .