From: Darrell128 <Darrell128@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 17:22:10 EST
Subject: NR 98005: Cl. Zeeland Rejects Ban on Women's Ordination
NR #1998-005: Classis Zeeland Rejects Ban on Women's Ordination
For years, Classis Zeeland has opposed ordaining women as ministers, elders,
or evangelists in the Christian Reformed Church. It still doesn't have any
women elders in its 18 organized churches, and last year it accepted Pine
Creek CRC of Holland after Classis Holland approved women's ordination.
However, Classis Zeeland's January 21 meeting rejected an overture from Lamont
CRC to ban delegation of women elders to its meetings.
NR #1998-005: For Immediate Release
Classis Zeeland Rejects Ban on Women's Ordination
by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer
United Reformed News Service
ZEELAND, MICH. (January 21, 1998) - For years, Classis Zeeland has opposed
ordaining women as ministers, elders, or evangelists in the Christian Reformed
Church. It still doesn't have any women elders in its 18 organized churches,
and last year it accepted Pine Creek CRC of Holland after Classis Holland
approved women's ordination. However, Classis Zeeland's January 21 meeting
rejected an overture from Lamont CRC to ban delegation of women elders to its
meetings.
Christian Reformed classes have been allowed since 1995 to permit churches to
delegate women elders to classis meetings by declaring the word "male" in one
or both of two church order articles to be "inoperative." So far, sixteen of
the CRC's 47 classes have declared male to be "inoperative," eleven classes
have rejected efforts to do so, and three classes have taken the additional
step of declaring that the word male will remain "operative" within the
classis.
Classis Zeeland could have become the fourth such classis, but that wasn't
the way classis wanted to handle the matter.
Rev. Harlan Vanden Einde of Borculo CRC - himself an outspoken opponent of
women's ordination - argued that the overture was unnecessary since no
churches in classis have women elders. "This overture is really not needed,
except that now if we vote it down, it will be reported in the media that we
have rejected it," said Vanden Einde.
Rev. Robert Walter of First CRC in Zeeland concurred. "We have a lot of fine
things in the church order," said Walter. "I think it would be a good thing to
reaffirm our commitment to missions, but do we have to reaffirm every little
thing in the church order?"
However, classical stated clerk Rev. Steven Sytsma warned that rejecting the
overture could have serious consequences. "In our classis there are churches
that have a very low level of trust," said Sytsma. "If we vote down this
overture, how do we address that low level of trust in those congregations
that are really, really struggling? There is a part of me that says there are
certain churches that need this to pass to restore trust in our classis and in
our denomination."
Elder Paul Mulder of Pine Creek CRC asked why Classis Zeeland hesitated to
publicly affirm the position that led his church to join the classis. "We have
a stand, and I wonder why we are so hesitant to go on record publicly saying
this is our stand," said Mulder.
Despite the concerns, classis rejected Lamont's overture by a 16-19 margin.
According to synodical rules, Classis Zeeland churches may still elect women
elders if they want, but they cannot be delegated to classis meetings.
Overture author Rev. Richard Terpstra of Lamont CRC said he was disappointed
that classis "had the opportunity to declare its position, to take a stand,
and passed that up."
Pine Creek delegates weren't happy, either.
"This is why we transferred to this classis; we believe it would have been
helpful for classis to clarify its position," said Mulder.
However, Mulder said that Pine Creek would remain in Classis Zeeland despite
the vote. "Their refusal to do so does not present a problem for us," said
Mulder. "Pine Creek's position remains the same. We will abide by the clear
teaching of Scripture regarding this matter."
Cross-References to Related Articles:
#1995-070: Christian Reformed Classes Permitted to Declare Church Order Ban on
Women's Ordination "Inoperative"; Synod Decision Given Immediate Effect
without Two-Year Ratification Process
#1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End
to Classical Option on Ordination of Women
#1996-077: Churches Allowed to Switch Classes for Theological Reasons
#1996-117B: Separation Without Secession: Interclassical Conference Urges
Christian Reformed Synod to Create New Conservative Classes
#1997-008: Classis Zeeland Votes by 72% Margin to Receive Pine Creek Christian
Reformed Church Pending Synodical Approval
#1997-068: Christian Reformed Synod Convenes Today in Grand Rapids; Major
Issues to Include Feminine Language for God, Abortion, Interchurch Relations,
Local Church Property Issues, Theologically-Defined Classes
#1997-075: Calling God "Mother," Theological Classes to Headline Thursday's
Christian Reformed Synod
#1997-077: No Theological Classes Allowed for CRC Conservatives
Contact List:
Rev. Steven Sytsma, Stated Clerk, Classis Zeeland
4452 - 38th St., Hamilton, MI 49419
O: (616) 688-5290 * H: (616) 688-5603
Rev. Richard Terpstra, Pastor, Lamont Christian Reformed Church
4745 Leonard Rd., Coopersville, MI 49404
O: (616) 677-3363 * H: (616) 677-2143
Rev. Harlan Vanden Einde, Pastor, Borculo Christian Reformed Church
6464 - 96th Ave., Zeeland, MI 49464
O: (616) 875-8271
Rev. Robert Walter, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church
147 East Central, Zeeland, MI 49464-1717
O: (616) 772-2866 * H: (616) 772-2656 * FAX: (616) 772-2620 * E-Mail:
walterbd@i2k.com
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