file: pub/resources/text/reformed: nr94-057.txt ----------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release November 7, 1994 Release #1994-57 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 E-Mail: JVanDyk@AOL.com US: PO Box 770, Lewiston, NY 14092 CANADA: PO Box 777, Jordan Station ON L0R 1S0 Alliance of Reformed Churches to Headline Questions on Whether to Form a New Denominational Federation, Debate on Adoption of Westminster Standards 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. (November 7, 1994) RBPS - Thirteen overtures, one communication and three committee reports, one including a draft church order, make up this year's agenda of the Alliance of Reformed Churches, meeting November 15-17 in Lynwood, Illinois. Of the churches sending delegates, the breakdown as of October 26 includes 45 independent churches, 17 Christian Reformed churches, and six "others," according to Alliance stated clerk Rev. Jerome Julien. The "others" come from federations such as the Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church in America, the Canadian Reformed Churches and the Reformed Church in America. Delegates come either as voting delegates or observers. Each member church may send three voting delegates. Items of particular interest at this year's meeting include a first draft church order compiled by a committee appointed at last year's meeting; a vote on whether to add the Westminster Standards to the ARC's "Statement of Purpose" and "Basic Confessional Statements"; and, at least two overtures asking for some form of action, one for, one against, moving toward the organization of a federation of churches within the Alliance. In the minds of many of last year's delegates, the first step toward the formation of a federation occurred when the majority of delegates voted to recognize "the need of the independent churches to federate." The second step following that was a vote in favor of appointing a committee to craft a church order, one of the items needed, delegates reasoned, for the independent churches to "federate around." Not all the churches agreed, however. Opposition to federation came from those churches who believe that before any steps are taken toward any kind of organizational unity, it should be determined whether "federation" is the "biblical way to go," and whether it is necessary and good for the churches at this time. Two overtures that will help focus the debate somewhat are provided by Trinity Lethbridge and Dutton CRC (Independent). The Trinity Lethbridge overture asks the Alliance, to "take a definite and positive step toward federation...by adopting some basic principles of agreement and cooperation on the basis of which they may federate." Grounds for the request include concerns about the length of time for a church order to be developed; the "danger" of independent churches drifting apart by too long a delay; the expressed desire of CRC-affiliated churches looking "for a place to land" once they do decide to leave the denomination; and, the need to further ecumenical relations with other denominations. The overture, however, does not offer the recommended "broad principles" for the Alliance to consider, should it act on this overture. In contrast, the overture from Dutton recommends a more cautious approach, by asking the Alliance "to neither federate nor commit to federating until the work of the Confessional Conference for Reformed Unity dealing with Ecclesiology is completed." Grounds for the recommendation include the concern that action on federation would "preempt the work which the ARC has sponsored the Conferences to do"; the disagreement present within the Alliance over church polity matters makes such action potentially divisive; not enough study has been done on the subject; federation erects a wall at a time when the ARC is being viewed by other denominations as an umbrella; like a marriage, the vision of what a marriage should be like must be agreed upon before tying the knot. The overture points to examples in recent church history of newly formed federations which fractured only a few years after "hastily federating" to fortify its case against federating at this time. Which way the Alliance decides to go will go a long way to determining what it does with the church order being offered for examination at this year's meeting. The church order in first draft form has been included in the agenda. Composed of 71 articles, it is divided into four sections: The Offices of the Churches; the Assemblies of the Churches; the Functions and Tasks of the Churches; and Christian Discipline. For those looking for a radical approach to church order, it is not found here. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the committee has leaned on the work of past and current church order documents. Included in this church order is the structure of "consistory, classes and synod," which will likely be of concern to some. Built in are safeguards against a classis or synod attempting to unlawfully discipline a minister, or take a church's property away should it decide to leave the federation. The door is also open for churches who wish to leave the federation, with grounds to be provided for such action. The committee is looking for feedback from the churches by March 1, 1995, and it is likely that some initial feedback will come to the floor of the Alliance when the church order is introduced. The committee is also requesting that another committee be formulated to recommend specific liturgical forms and a form of subscription for use in the churches. The third item of significance is the proposed adoption of the Westminster Standards for inclusion in the Alliance's Statement of Purpose and the Basic Confessional Statements. This inclusion would allow Presbyterian churches to hold membership in the Alliance and open it up to a broader ecumenical base. It will also allow churches to subscribe to the Three Forms of Unity or the Westminster Standards, or both. Overtures addressing the matter come from: * Immanuel Fellowship in Kalamazoo, which calls on the Alliance to "restudy the matter" before making a decision. "Conflict in procedures (among the confessions) regarding church polity will tend to promote confusion rather than unity and peace within the churches of the ARC," wrote the church. * The Christian Reformation Church of Grand Rapids, which is looking to amend the changes to further clarify that churches may subscribe to one or the other of the confessions, and need not necessarily subscribe to both. The church is also asking that a committee be appointed to study the differences between the two reformed confessions. * Messiah's Congregation of Brooklyn, New York, which asks that the Alliance recognize as members those churches which subscribe to either the Three Forms of Unity or the Westminster Standards. Of the other overtures in the agenda, most appear to deal with housekeeping matters such as requests to share the travel expenses to and from Alliance meetings; a request to hold the annual meeting in other locations from time to time; a request to take up active contact with the Christian Presbyterian Church, a federation formed last year among formerly Christian Reformed Korean churches; a request to rescind last year's decision concerning the examination of candidates for ordination, because the church argues, the examination is unnecessarily tough on the candidate. Closing out the agenda are reports from the Missions Committee of the ARC, which is seeking a new mandate, and a brief report from the committee appointed to study the role of the deacon requesting more time to complete its work. The ARC continues to evolve and develop in response to the needs of its member churches, and in response to a clear indication from other conservative Reformed denominations of a desire to work together in some way toward some form of ecclesiastical cooperation and unity. As was done last year, Tuesday evening is reserved for an "inspirational" address. Last year, Dr. Richard DeWitt of Seventh Reformed was called upon. This year, Dr. P.Y. DeJong will provide words of "inspiration" for the consideration of the delegates. Contact List: Dr. P.Y. De Jong RR #1 Box 25, Orange City, IA 51041 * H/O: (712) 722-4408 Rev. Jerome Julien, Stated Clerk, Alliance of Reformed Churches 34 Azores Crescent, Cambridge, ON N1R 7Z4 * (519) 622-1033 Rev. Paul Murphy, Pastor, Dutton Independent Reformed Church 6940 Hanna Lake Rd., Caledonia, MI 49316 * H/O: (616) 698-7467 Rev. Steve Schlissel, Pastor, Messiah's Congregation 2662 E. 24th St., Brooklyn, NY 11235 * (718) 332-4444 Rev. Mark Scholten, Pastor, The Christian Reformation Church 1001 - 33rd St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548 * H/O: (616) 246-6203 Rev. Jelle Tuininga, Pastor, Trinity Reformed Church 1807 2nd Ave. "A" N., Lethbridge, AB T1H 0G4 * (403) 328-4799 Rev. Duane Vedders, Pastor, Immanuel Fellowship Church 5206 North Riverview Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49004 * O: (616) 343-5357 * H: (616) 375-4012 --