file:/ pub/resources/text/reformed: nr039.txt --------------------------------------------- From: Darrell128@AOL.COM X-Mailer: America Online Mailer Sender: "Darrell128" To: gsb1@cornell.edu (Gary S Bogart) Date: Fri, 19 Aug 1994 02:12:39 -0400 Subject: NR #39 For Immediate Release August 18, 1994 Release #1994-39 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 John Van Dyk, Managing Editor Christian Renewal Voice: (905) 562-5719 FAX: (905) 562-7828 US: PO Box 770, Lewiston, NY 14092 CANADA: PO Box 777, Jordan Sta., ON L0R 1S0 Canadian Independent Reformed Churches Organize "Ontario Regional Fellowship of Churches" by John Van Dyk c 1994 Christian Renewal Distributed by Reformed Believers Press Service Editor's Note: The text following is copyrighted by Christian Renewal but available for reprint in whole or in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given. St. Catharines, Ontario (August 18, 1994) RBPS - Following up on a recommendation passed by the Alliance of Reformed Churches at its November 1993 meeting, the independent Reformed churches in Ontario laid the foundations for mutual cooperation with the formation of the Ontario Regional Fellowship of Churches. Representatives of 15 independent Reformed churches in Ontario gathered in St. Catharines on June 18 to discuss the possibility of more cooperation among churches which became independent as a result of a break from the Christian Reformed denomination over the last few years. The meeting was chaired by Rev. John Bouwers of Immanuel Orthodox Reformed Church in St. Catharines. The meeting follows a similar gathering of independent churches in the West Michigan area which met to form a regional fellowship this past spring. Guided by written submissions from the churches, the agenda included a plan for the formation, organization, and purpose of a regional fellowship, as well as a number of miscellaneous matters. Those included concerns over legal action between Christians, the support of a mission work in Honduras, cooperation in the formation of youth and young adult conferences, officebearer conferences, questions concerning the funding of missions projects, and whether the independent churches should request representation on the board of Redeemer College. The first focus of business was the question of the place and purpose of a Regional Fellowship. At the November 1993 Alliance meeting in Lynwood, Illinois, at the request of a few churches, the ARC voted to encourage "its member churches to cooperate in the formation of Regions or Regional Fellowships as is suitable and feasible for the purpose of enhancing church life for the glory of God and the coming of His kingdom." The grounds given were that "the needs of the local churches are more fully met in cooperation with neighboring churches." The Alliance's statement of purpose includes among its purposes "to assist the member churches in promoting ecclesiastical unity and biblical obedience among the people of God" and "the history of the New Testament churches suggests some form of bonding which facilitated assistance, accountability, and ecclesiastical fellowship." Based on that recommendation, three churches decided to call a meeting of Ontario churches for the purpose of initiating the process. Although the majority of the delegates appeared willing to support the formation of a regional fellowship, delegates from the Hamilton Independent Christian Reformed Church questioned the timing and justification for it. Hamilton's pastor, Rev. Raymond Sikkema, argued for the need of a "principial basis" on which to come together. "This is not a confessional type of fellowship. We do share a common commitment, but the question is, how do we meet together?" asked Sikkema. "Who has defined independentism? Who has defined what a regional fellowship is all about? I would say that until we answer some of these questions, that this is premature." Another concern was whether the regional fellowship's organization would later on be found to be in conflict with a future church order presently being prepared by a committee of the Alliance. The church council of Trinity Orthodox Reformed Church in St. Catharines prepared the recommendations for the formation of a regional fellowship. Rev. Calvin Tuininga, pastor of Trinity ORC, said that the fellowship is simply that - a fellowship. "It is not a church orderly thing, and its purpose is to help the churches work in cooperation with each other, to streamline the meetings, and to aid the churches in very practical matters." Rev. Richard Stienstra, pastor of Grace Orthodox Reformed Church in Dunnville, also spoke in favor of forming a fellowship. "One of the things that faces the churches is a growing sense of independentism to the detriment of our confession of a holy catholic church," said Stienstra. "We should at this time in our history form this kind of relationship," said Stienstra. "I don't share the fear of some and the apprehension of others that we are ahead of ourselves since we have a committee of the ARC studying the church order." Another delegate suggested that if there are any conflicts later on with an adopted church order, that changes could be made at that time. Mention was also made by a number of delegates that the formation of the fellowship was an "interim measure" for churches whose need of fellowship and assistance was immediate. Elder D. Knight, delegate from Second Toronto Christian Reformed Church which only recently left the denomination, identified an immediate need which the regional fellowship could address. "We don't have a minister. We have a student who we would like to see ordained," said Knight. Until the Alliance of Reformed Churches established a church order, [the Regional Fellowship] is something we can use to guide us in that process." When the vote was cast on the motion "to form together as a fellowship of churches," it passed without dissent. The stated purpose of the fellowship, also passed in the Trinity ORC communication, passed with a few minor changes. The purpose will be to: - assist emerging and needy churches in their lack of resources and pulpit supply; - provide counsel and advice in church disciplinary matters, serving when requested as a forum to hear cases of appeal and protest; - assist member churches in the examination of candidates for ordination to the office of Minister of the Word and Sacraments; - cooperate together in matters of youth work, evangelism, missions, diaconal concerns, and training of officebearers; - encourage member churches in their ministry by means of regular church visiting to the end that God's people are being edified and all things are being done decently and in good order; - enhance communication and spiritual fellowship between member churches; - note that this is an interim measure until a church order is formulated by the Alliance of Reformed Churches. Other Matters Lawsuits. Concerned about churches becoming involved in legal matters before the civil courts, the council of the Independent Reformed Church of Sheffield, in a communication to the meeting, stated that "we believe it not to be upbuilding to the cause of God's Kingdom that we ask the judgment of a worldly court in order to settle the differences between believers." There are presently two independent churches in Ontario which have ongoing disputes with former members of their congregation over church property issues. Both asked whether the overture was meant for them specifically. The Sheffield elders said the communication was meant as a general reminder and was not directed specifically to either church. After some debate the fellowship decided to send the communication back to the church council with the advice that if it does have a concern with a specific church, it should contact that council keeping Matthew 18 in mind. Youth. For the smaller independent churches, keeping their young people involved in the ongoing work of the church when there are few other young people to fellowship with is a matter requiring attention. In the interests of both youth and young adults, Grace ORC of Simcoe County requested the organization of youth and young adult conferences, with the formation of a board to facilitate the matter. During the discussion of the proposal, Rev. Jerome Julien of Sheffield informed the delegates of an upcoming youth conference being organized for 1995 by Seventh Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. The church intends to invite the participation of the Alliance of Reformed Churches in the conference. Rev. Neal Hegeman of London Independent Christian Reformed Church also noted that other conferences for youth have been organized without the help of a board. In the end it was decided that the Simcoe church would initiate the process of organizing a board with the help of Hamilton Independent CRC with representation from each church. Missions. A former CRC missionary couple has been called to serve in Honduras by Immanuel ORC of St. Catharines. The Langendoens served the CRC under CRC World Missions for a number of years. Delegates from the church presented plans for the support of this missionary family and also requested support from other independent churches for this project. A board composed of members from Immanuel presently governs the work of the Langendoens; since other churches are involved in the project, it was requested that the church consider board representation from other churches raising funds for this project. Elders Conferences. So far, the practice of organizing conferences for officebearers has been at the discretion of individual churches. Aylmer Independent CRC asked that some structure be placed in the procedure of organizing to avoid duplication. The delegates decided that the present state of affairs was satisfactory and decided to continue with the status quo. However, the regional fellowship did approve plans by the council of Wellandport Orthodox Reformed Church to organize a deacon's conference in cooperation with Grace Reformed Church of Dunnville. Request for Representation. At the suggestion of the Aylmer Independent CRC, the regional fellowship voted in favor of writing the board of Redeemer College to request a representative from the independent churches on their board. The next meeting of the Ontario Regional Fellowship was set for June 17, 1995, in Grace Reformed Church of Dunnville. xContact List: xRev. John Bouwers, Pastor Immanuel Orthodox Reformed Church PO Box 20056, Stn. B. St. Catharines, ON L2M 7W7 O: (905) 688-3546 Grace Orthodox Reformed Church of Simcoe c/o Ken Evans, Clerk RR #2 Orilla, ON L3V 6H2 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. Jerome Julien, Pastor Independent Reformed Church of Sheffield 34 Azores Crescent Cambridge, ON N1R 7Z4 (519) 622-1033 Elder D. Knight Second Christian Reformed Church 259 Albion Rd. Rexdale, ON M9W 3P1 (416) 747-1179 Rev. Ray Sikkema, Pastor Hamilton Independent CRC 1411 Upper Wellington St. Hamilton, ON L9A 3S8 O: (416) 383-8315 H: (416) 389-7821 Rev. Richard Stienstra, Pastor Grace Reformed Church PO Box 85 Dunnville, ON N1A 2X1 (905) 774-1130 Rev. Calvin Tuininga, Pastor Trinity Orthodox Reformed Church 99 Scott St. St. Catharines, ON L2N 1G8 (905) 935-8322 Wellandport Orthodox Reformed Church RR #1 Wellandport, ON L0R 2J0 H/O: (416) 386-6652