NR #1995-104: Alliance of Reformed Churches: New Federation on the Way? The issue of "federation" and adoption of a church order will likely headline the November 14-16 meeting of the Alliance of Reformed Churches, a loose association of 55 independent congregations with 10,800 members which have seceded from the Christian Reformed denomination in recent years, over two dozen CRC congregations, and a scattering of churches from other denominations. As has become customary over the last half-decade, the Alliance will convene at Lynwood Christian Reformed Church (Independent) in the southeast suburbs of Chicago. NR #1995-104: For Immediate Release Alliance of Reformed Churches: New Federation on the Way? by John Van Dyk, Managing Editor, Christian Renewal c 1995 Christian Renewal Distributed by United Reformed News Service (October 23, 1995) - The issue of "federation" and adoption of a church order will likely headline the November 14-16 meeting of the Alliance of Reformed Churches, a loose association of 55 independent congregations with 10,800 members which have seceded from the Christian Reformed denomination in recent years, over two dozen CRC congregations, and a scattering of churches from other denominations. As has become customary over the last half-decade, the Alliance will convene at Lynwood Christian Reformed Church (Independent) in the southeast suburbs of Chicago. Last year following its annual meeting, a number of delegates to the Alliance of Reformed Churches expressed frustration with the course of the two-day meeting. "Spinning our wheels" was a common refrain. Sensing the growing need to get beyond its present status as a group of isolated churches searching for fellowship with like-minded other churches, what seemed to be missing in all the discussion was a road map to reorganization that would satisfy all involved. This year's Alliance agenda does not necessarily provide directions to reorganize, but it does provide enough recommendations and a time frame to get federation discussion moving in a forward direction. The 1995 Agenda for the Alliance of Reformed Churches deals exclusively with the needs of the independent churches. There are no overtures from Christian Reformed member churches. In fact, over the last couple of years the number of churches in the ARC belonging to the CRC has been eclipsed by the rapidly growing number of independent churches. At last year's meeting, some of those Christian Reformed congregations expressed the desire to see the independents organize into a federation so that their churches "would have some place to go" should they decide it was time to leave the denomination as others had done before them. At the same time, others feared that concentration on federation would lead to the eventual breakup of the Alliance, and a loss of what was becoming something of an ecumenical gathering of various denominational representatives for mutual fellowship and discussion. This year's agenda set by the overtures focuses on the proposed church order prepared by a committee of appointed by the Alliance in 1993 and on the matter of federation. The first draft of the church order was presented to the churches for feedback before last year's meeting. Some 17 churches made suggestions for improvements, and the committee went back to work, presenting a revised church order, to be discussed at this year's meeting in November. A total of three overtures (Messiah's Independent Reformed of Overisel, Michigan, Independent Christian Reformed of London, and Dutton Independent Reformed of Dutton, Michigan) ask the Alliance to postpone ratification of the church order for one year, the reason being the need for more time for the churches to properly study the proposed document. Six other overtures ask that specific changes be made to the church order prior to its adoption. One overture from Ancaster asks that the Alliance consider another church order (a copy of which is included in the agenda) complete with Scripture references attached to each article. It is likely that time will be given for discussion of the proposed church order at the Alliance, and that the churches will also be given another year to evaluate the current document before any move to ratify takes place. The churches requesting discussion on federation are Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church in New Jersey, the Independent Reformed Church of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Orthodox Reformed Church of Edmonton, Alberta, the Independent Christian Reformed Church of Aylmer, Ontario, and Trinity Orthodox Reformed Church of St. Catharines, which asks that a definite time slot be set aside during the meeting for federation discussion. Other items on the agenda include an overture from Reformed Heritage Community Church of Holland, Michigan, asking that time be given to representatives of causes to present their ongoing work and needs to the delegates. Last year the delegates voted down a recommendation to give representatives time in the meeting for such presentations. Also included is a lengthy report prepared by a committee appointed by the Alliance in 1993 to study the matter of the work of deacons which makes a number of recommendations for consideration; a report by a committee which deals with correspondence from other Reformed denominations; a report from the committee appointed to recommend specific liturgical forms for use in the churches; and a report from the missions committee. A committee appointed to compare the Dutch Reformed confessions (the Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort) with the Presbyterian confessions (the Westminster Confession and Catechisms) reports that its work is still ongoing. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-053: Alliance of Reformed Churches Recognizes "Need" for Christian Reformed Seceders to Federate in New Denomination; Record Attendance at Alliance: 59 Churches send 130 Voting Delegates; 10 Send Observers; Federation: A Small Step with Potentially Big Implications; Alliance Encourages Creation of Regional Fellowships; Binding the Broader Reformed Community Together; Presbyterian Denomination Requests Inclusion in ARC; Inclusion of Westminster Confession Tabled; Alliance Strengthens Procedures for Ordination Examinations; Church Order Issues to be Reviewed by Committee; List of Churches Sending Delegates to Alliance #1994-057: Alliance of Reformed Churches to Headline Questions on Whether to Form a New Denominational Federation, Debate on Adoption of Westminster Standards #1994-060: Alliance of Reformed Churches Adopts Westminster Standards; Seceding Christian Reformed Congregations Move to Convene New Federation; Church Order Committee Avoids Explosion Over Federation Question; Sharply Divided Committee Reaches Unanimous Compromise on Inclusion of Westminster Standards in Alliance Purpose Statement; Independent Churches Decide to Federate Apart from Alliance; Unauthorized Letter to 600 PCA Churches and Leaders Prompts Protests in Presbyterian Church in America and Alliance of Reformed Churches; Alliance Declines Offer of Dordt College Board Position; Confessional Conference on Ecclesiology Scrapped for 1995; Other Matters: Yearbook Problems, Reading Sermons Proposal Rejected, Proposals on Ministerial Training, Revenue Canada, Contact Committee with CRC, Equalizing Travel Costs Voted Down, Alliance Stays in Chicago for 1995 Meeting, Julien Re-Elected Stated Clerk, P.Y. DeJong Addresses Alliance #1995-029: Lynwood Cancels Federation Conference of Independent Congregations in Alliance of Reformed Churches Contact List: Rev. Ken Anema, Pastor, Messiah's Independent Reformed Church 234 N. Ottawa, Zeeland, MI 49464 * H: (616) 748-1542 Aylmer Independent Christian Reformed Church PO Box 244, Springfield ON N0L 2J0 * O: (519) 765-3799 Rev. Jerry Dodds, Pastor, Reformed Heritage Community Church 95 East 24th, Holland, MI 49423; H/O: (616) 392-2221 Rev. Frederick E. Folkerts, Pastor, Independent Reformed Church of Winnipeg 52 Wendilene, Winnipeg, MB R2C 4X7 * O: (204) 654-2243 * Home: (204) 669-8806 Dr. Neal Hegeman, Pastor, London Independent Christian Reformed Church 30 Grand Ave., London, ON N6C 1K8 * O: (519) 432-0808 * H: (519) 457-7211 * FAX: (519) 432-2078 Rev. Richard J. Kuiken, Pastor, Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church 415 Boulevard, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 * O: (201) 835-4784 * Home: (201) 835-5602 Rev. Paul Murphy, Pastor, Dutton Independent Reformed Church 6940 Hanna Lake Rd., Caledonia, MI 49316 * H/O: (616) 698-7467 Rev. Calvin Tuininga, Pastor, Trinity Orthodox Reformed Church 99 Scott St., St. Catharines, ON L2N 1G8 * (905) 935-8322 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-104.txt .