Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 06:53:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: Darrell128@aol.com
Subject: NR 97095: Eastern Ave. CRC Declines to Call Lucas to Gay Ministry
NR #1997-095: Eastern Avenue CRC Declines to Call Lucas to Gay Ministry Due
to Disagreement with Synodical Position on Gay Marriage
Five years ago, Rev. Jim Lucas risked his future as a Christian Reformed
minister by declaring his homosexuality in a "coming out" speech at Calvin
College. Since then, Lucas has developed his informal counseling work with
Christian Reformed homosexuals into an interdenominational nonprofit
organization, "As We ARE," which meets on the premises of his home church,
Eastern Avenue CRC in Grand Rapids. The organization is related to "AWARE," a
loose network of Christian Reformed homosexual support groups with chapters
throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1995, Classis Grand Rapids
East has approved an annual request from Eastern Avenue that Lucas'
ministerial credentials be renewed for a number of reasons, including that
"he is actively pursuing a call to ministry as chaplain to AWARE." Classis
granted less explicit requests from the church in previous years. All of that
could change when classis next meets on September 18 to approve Lucas' annual
renewal of ministerial credentials. "Much to our mutual disappointment, a
problem emerged during more detailed discussions of Rev. Lucas' views
regarding the 1973 report on homosexuality," reported the church. "In the
July 9, 1996 meeting of Consistory, Jim reported that personally he follows
the guideline of celibacy and counsels others to pursue celibacy as the
ideal. However, he stated that he believes a faithful, committed, permanent,
same-sex union can be an experience of God's grace and within God's will for
those who cannot attain the ideal of celibacy."
Eastern Avenue CRC Declines to Call Lucas to Gay Ministry Due to Disagreement
with Synodical Position on Gay Marriage
* "Much to our mutual disappointment, a problem emerged... Jim reported that
personally he follows the guideline of celibacy and counsels others to pursue
celibacy as the ideal. However he stated that he believes a faithful,
committed, permanent, same-sex union can be an experience of God's grace and
within God's will for those who cannot attain the ideal of celibacy."
by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer
United Reformed News Service
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (September 8, 1997) URNS -- Five years ago, Rev. Jim
Lucas risked his future as a Christian Reformed minister by declaring his
homosexuality in a "coming out" speech at Calvin College. Since then, Lucas
has developed his informal counseling work with Christian Reformed
homosexuals into an interdenominational nonprofit organization, "As We ARE,"
which meets on the premises of his home church, Eastern Avenue CRC in Grand
Rapids. The organization is related to "AWARE," a loose network of Christian
Reformed homosexual support groups with chapters throughout the United States
and Canada.
Lucas' work received widespread publicity within weeks of his "coming out"
speech, and has included everything from television appearances, newspaper
interviews, and an advocacy role on Christian Reformed gay issues, to
personal counseling, church school education, and preaching.
Since 1995, Classis Grand Rapids East has approved an annual request from
Eastern Avenue that Lucas' ministerial credentials be renewed for a number of
reasons, including that "he is actively pursuing a call to ministry as
chaplain to AWARE." Classis granted less explicit requests from the church in
previous years.
All of that could change when classis next meets on September 18. According
to Christian Reformed rules, ministers without a call to a formal ministerial
position must come before their classis on an annual basis to have their
eligibility for call extended.
In its report to the upcoming classis, Eastern Avenue detailed Lucas'
history with the church and his ministry to homosexuals.
"Much to our mutual disappointment, a problem emerged during more detailed
discussions of Rev. Lucas' views regarding the 1973 Report on Homosexuality,"
reported the church. "In the July 9, 1996 meeting of Consistory, Jim reported
that personally he follows the guideline of celibacy and counsels others to
pursue celibacy as the ideal. However, he stated that he believes a faithful,
committed, permanent, same-sex union can be an experience of God's grace and
within God's will for those who cannot attain the ideal of celibacy."
The official Christian Reformed position on homosexuality, first articulated
in a 1973 report on the subject, includes a statement that "homosexualism --
as explicit homosexual practice -- must be condemned as incompatible with
obedience to the will of God as revealed in Holy Scripture."
Eastern Avenue CRC cited this provision in its report to classis, noting
that the church "is currently unable to call Rev. Lucas as Minister of the
Word to be chaplain of As We Are because of a significant difference
regarding Guideline 3 of the 1973 report." However, the church spoke highly
of Lucas' work and said it "is faced with a genuine dilemma."
"We wish to honor and abide by the 1973 Synodical Report and the polity of
the CRC in calling a Minister of the Word," reported the church. "At the same
time we do not wish to cut off or undermine one of the few public ministries
to homosexual persons associated with the CRC."
As a result, Eastern Avenue proposes that classis extend Lucas' ministerial
credentials again this year and in 1998, pending completion of the report of
a new synodical committee studying homosexual ministry. While recognizing
that it was making a "highly unusual request," the church noted that it
"anticipates that this [synodical] committee will provide insight regarding
ministry to persons who cannot agree with or live within Guideline 3."
Eastern Avenue pastor Rev. Mary Antonides said neither she nor the church
were aware of Lucas' views on homosexual marriage until last year.
"We all knew Jim was gay but he had never made his views public, and AWARE
doesn't take a stand on this issue," said Antonides. "Being a gay person is
not a problem, and telling other people you are gay and want to minister to
those who are gay and lesbian is not a problem either, but when it came time
to call him we had to look at his ministry and his views in light of the '73
report."
"Calling someone as a chaplain demands certain things of the person and of
the church that's going to be calling him and we wanted to do things
carefully and in the right way," said Antonides.
Lucas said he was concerned about the action by his church.
"It would be nice if the whole thing just sailed through and I could keep
doing my ministry instead of dealing with things that produce extra
stresses," said Lucas. "It kind of leaves me feeling hanging."
Nevertheless, Lucas said he understood why his church was doing as it had
done. "I feel as though Eastern Avenue is trying to deal with this issue with
as much integrity as possible," said Lucas. "They consider my ministry very
valuable but they understand and respect the denominational position on this
issue."
Lucas, who said he is currently working 40 to 60 hours per week on AWARE
ministry but is paid for only twenty hours per week due to financial
constraints, said he'd much prefer to spend his time building his
organization. "People ask me how I'm feeling with the church, and I say I'm
in limbo, but limbo assumes I've died," said Lucas. "Living with the tension
of not knowing what is happening is hard, it's stressful, and I'd rather not
have it that way. I'd rather have a call and get on with my life."
Lucas said he hoped the synodical committee studying ministry to homosexuals
would come back to Synod 1999 with a report favorable to his ministry.
Dr. Melvin Hugen, chairman of the synodical committee and professor of
pastoral care at Calvin Theological Seminary, said the committee wasn't far
enough along in its work for him to comment on what it was likely to decide,
but noted that the committee was barred by Synod 1996 from changing the CRC's
official position on homosexuality.
"It is not on our agenda as a committee to revise Guideline 3, that is not
our mandate and that is not what we will be doing," said Hugen. "The report
is pretty clear and it is a very accurate statement of what Scripture says."
However, Hugen -- who serves with both Antonides and Lucas on the Eastern
Avenue council -- said the church was correct in anticipating that the
synodical committee would "provide insight regarding ministry to persons who
cannot agree with or live within Guideline 3."
"We are aware that the church is doing ministry, and it ministers to people
who don't hold the same understandings the church does," said Hugen.
"We may minister in counseling to people who think there is nothing wrong
with divorce, yet the church holds with Scripture that marriages should be
permanent," said Hugen. "In a similar way the church will undoubtedly
minister to people who are convinced that a committed permanent same-sex
relationship is an option. There will be congregations that will have such
couples in their membership and in their worship services who will come and
address that."
Lucas said he didn't know whether to be hopeful or pessimistic about his
chances of retaining his ministerial credentials, noting that even if the
classis approves extending his eligibility for call, the synodical deputies
will still have to concur and Synod 1998 will have to approve their report.
"I guess if I had no hope I wouldn't continue the process," said Lucas. "I
really want to believe the best of the church, I want to believe the church
will do what is right. Some people say it's a hopeless case, but how do I
know? There are a lot of good people in the CRC."
Cross-References to Related Articles:
#1993-017: Over 1200 Pack Calvin College Auditorium to Debate Gay Rights;
Homosexual Activists Demand Equal Time for Views
#1993-019: Anti-Gay Rights Speaker Triggers Uproar at Calvin College;
Professor Renews Call for Ban on Outside Funding for College Republicans
Lecture Series
#1993-021: 3 Million Hear Noebel Counterattack Calvin College Regarding Gay
Rights on National Christian Radio Program
#1993-023: General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in America Calls Christian
Reformed Church to "Repent of Its Sins"; Women in office, homosexuality,
theistic evolution, deposition of conservative pastors cited as "departure
from the Scriptures in its doctrine and practice"
#1993-026: Children at the Lord's Table, Americans with Disabilities Act,
Judicial Code Matters, Homosexuality Delay Synod Schedule
#1993-031: More Churches Split Following Christian Reformed Synodical Vote
Allowing Women Elders and Pastors; Alberta Seceders Protest Homosexuality
Report by Classis Alberta North
#1994-005: Christianity Today Lists Calvin Among Christian Colleges Strained
by Homosexuals Pressing for Acceptance
#1994-016: Midwest Classis Asks CRC Synod to Address Homosexuality, Calling
God "She," Theistic Evolution, Ordination Process
#1994-031: Christian Reformed Synod: Members May Not "Practice or Advocate
Homosexualism"; Dr. David Engelhard Approved as CRC's Next General Secretary;
Synod Rejects Proposal to End Funding Endorsement for Westminster Seminary
#1994-037: Of Garages, Houses, and Women: Synod Keeps "Expounders" and
Appoints Committee to Decide What "Expounding" Means; Synod Cites Legal
Concerns in Modifying Abuse Committee Report; "Reaffirmation" of Past
Decisions on Inerrancy, Creation, Homosexuality Declared Unnecessary by Synod
#1994-048: Jim Lucas Hired as Chaplain of "As We Are" Gay Ministry;
Ministerial Credentials Extended to Permit Call to Position; Classis Grand
Rapids East of the Christian Reformed Denomination Expects Homosexuality
Study Committee to Report to January Classis Meeting
#1995-043: Committee Divides on Whether Gay Ministries Must Declare
Homosexual Activity is Sin; Classis Grand Rapids East Refers Both Reports to
Churches for Study
#1995-084: Classis Wisconsin Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Declare
that Members who "Deny the Biblical Condemnation of All Homosexual Behavior"
are Subject to Discipline
#1995-085: Text of Classis Wisconsin Overture re. Homosexuality
#1995-100: Grand Rapids East Attempts Compromise on Question of How to
Minister to Christian Reformed Gays
#1995-101: Text of Classis Grand Rapids East Study Committee Report on
Ministry with Persons who are Homosexual
#1995-113: Calvin Seminary Professors Urge Classis Grand Rapids East to
Affirm CRC Synod's Ruling that Homosexual Practice is Sin
#1995-114: Text of Calvin Seminary Faculty Letter on Homosexuality
#1996-010: Classis Grand Rapids East Follows Calvin Seminary Faculty Urgings;
Reaffirms 1973 CRC Position on Homosexuality
#1996-081: Tempers Flare as Christian Reformed Synod Appoints Committee to
Restudy Homosexuality
#1996-122: Calvin Theological Seminary Terminates Pro-Gay Professor
#1997-030: Calvin College Chimes Runs Four-Page Homosexuality Insert; Gay
Alumni Group Denied Ad Space in Alumni Magazine
#1997-041: Kalamazoo Christian "Releases" 30-Year Veteran Teacher for
Supporting "Homosexual Monogamous Relationships"
Contact List:
Rev. Mary Antonides, Pastor, Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church
2514 Normandy Dr. SE, Apt. 210-C, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
O: (616) 454-4888 * H: (616) 248-8357
Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North
America
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560
O: (616) 246-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 246-0834 * E-Mail:
engelhad@crcna.org
Dr. Melvin D. Hugen, Chairman, CRC Homosexuality Study Committee
3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387
O: (616) 957-6025 * H: (616) 942-0001 * FAX: (616) 957-8621
Rev. Jim Lucas, Chaplain, As We ARE
PO Box 7824, Grand Rapids, MI 49510
O: (616) 456-6174 * E-Mail: JimLucas12@aol.com
Dr. Philip R. Lucasse, Stated Clerk, Classis Grand Rapids East
3096 Old Kent Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
O: (616) 957-6000 * H: (616) 942-1219
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