Subject: NR #1995-007: 3 Conservative CRC Ministers Dismissed/Deposed To Reach RBPS Staff, Contact: Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer [For news tips or content-related inquiries] Voice: (616) 674-8446 * FAX: (616) 674-8454 * E-Mail: Darrell128@AOL.com PO Box 691, Lawrence, MI 49064-0691 Wayne Martin, Circulation Manager [For missing or back issue inquiries] Voice: (708) 895-2139 * FAX: (708) 963-6342 * E-Mail: WayneM55@AOL.com 3539 Madison, Lansing, IL 60438 Ron Ellens, Subscription Services [For subscription inquiries or address changes] Voice: (708) 331-0847 * FAX: (708) 636-9366 16424 Cottage Grove, South Holland, IL 60473 NR #1995-007: For Immediate Release Three Conservative Ministers Declared "Dismissed" or "Deposed" for Leaving Christian Reformed Denomination by Al Bezuyen, Correspondent c 1995 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. ORANGE CITY, Iowa (January 12, 1994) RBPS - Classis of the Heartland met on December 7 to examine a candidate for the ministry and also to decide the status of three of its former ministers who recently left the Christian Reformed denomination, two for a newly independent church and one for the Orthodox Presbyterian denomination. On the same day that candidate Tim Van Zalen successfully sustained his ordination examination before classis, two ministers, Dr. Richard Venema and Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, were dismissed from the Christian Reformed ministry, and Rev. Ralph Pontier was declared to have the status of one deposed from office. The decisions, made in executive session by classis at the recommendation of the Classical Interim Committee (CIC), came in the wake of two secessions from the CRC in both Orange City, Iowa, and Sanborn, Iowa. In both cases, a group of members and a number of officebearers left the CRC to form two independent churches - the Cornerstone Orthodox Reformed Church of Sanborn out of the Sanborn CRC, and the Redeemer Alliance Reformed Church of Orange City out of First CRC in Orange City. Recognizing the intention of classis to categorize the status of their former minister, Rev. Ralph Pontier, and Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, an elder in the church and an ordained CRC minister serving as professor of ethics and New Testament at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, the council of Orange City First CRC sent a request to classis asking that "Classis Heartland acknowledge the resignation of" the two men "as ministers of the Word in the CRCNA and hereby declare them as being released from their active ministerial service in the CRCNA." In the grounds included with the request for an acknowledgement of their "resignations," the council stated that during the recent conflict, neither the council nor any church members sought to have either of the men disciplined. Another ground stated that a de facto disciplinary action could aggravate the situation the council must deal with within the congregation. A fourth ground suggested that a parallel to the situation was the separation of Paul and Barnabas "who went their separate ways when they reached an impasse, but neither made any parting declaration regarding the other and his ministry." Instead of ruling in favor of the request, classis accepted the recommendations of the Classical Interim Committee discussed under the cloak of executive session, and ruled Venema and Kloosterman "dismissed" from their offices, and Pontier "deposed." When asked why the CIC made the recommendations it did, Rev. Jack Gray, clerk of classis and member of the CIC, said that the CIC "has more time to study these matters and for the sake of expediting these matters the CIC made these decisions." He said that all three men had submitted letters requesting they be released from the ministry of the Word in the CRC, and he also pointed out that all three recommendations were approved with the concurrence of the synodical deputies. In response to the decision of classis, long-time CRC pastor Dr. Richard Venema said he had tried to leave the denomination "without a fuss." The former chairman of the board for the Back to God Hour and emeritus pastor was visibly upset by the actions of classis. "This was nothing more than a dirty dig. It's vicious and maligning and slanderous," said Venema. "[The CIC members] have done more to break up churches in this area than any issue could have." Venema, whose wife passed away recently, had transferred his ministerial credentials and was accepted by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church prior to the action of classis. This prompted classis to instruct the clerk to write to the presbytery of the OPC "expressing dismay on behalf of classis" for their having accepted Venema's credentials prior to his having been released from his office in the CRC. The classis also intends to seek the advice of Synod 1995 concerning the proper handling of "ministers who have been dismissed but affiliate with a church in 'ecclesiastical fellowship'" with the CRC. The OPC and the CRC are both members of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council, commonly known as NAPARC. In the case of Pontier, former pastor of the First CRC of Orange City, classis decided on the harsher sentence that "his status... be that of one deposed from the office of the ministry of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church" because, as the declaration explained, it was he "who led a schism within the First Christian Reformed Church of Orange City." On October 5, 1994 six officebearers and Pontier himself resigned their trusteeship from the church and subsequently sent a letter to the church membership inviting them to join a reorganizing church under the leadership of the departing officebearers. This decision followed a controversial classis meeting in which the CIC had recommended that Pontier be given a "leave of absence" from the church. Pontier had little to say in response to the decision of classis other than that he "was not surprised." Pontier added that although he requested his release from the ministry, he never resigned, nor was he asked for his resignation. Gray said the day was an "emotional one for [himself] and all the clergy." "These men are friends in the Lord, though they are no longer colleagues in the church, and now our friends have asked to be put out," said Gray. Pontier, however, pointed out that he was not contacted prior to his request for release. "Not one of these men came to me prior to my leaving to talk to me, warn me or dissuade me," said Pontier. In the letters from classis to Venema and Pontier, both were addressed by their first name, their titles of "Dr." and "Rev." removed. Kloosterman, who served two Christian Reformed congregations before becoming a professor at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, offered his own evaluation. "It's hard to measure the significance of an action whose grounds are either silent or non-existent, but as far as I can tell the Lord has not indicated any concurrence with this verdict," said Kloosterman. Venema agreed, expressing the conviction of I Corinthians 4:4 which says, "I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord." Crossreferences to Related RBPS Articles: #1994-047: Northwest Iowa Gets First Independent Reformed Church; Emergency classis meeting prompts three-fourths of Sanborn CRC council to secede from denomination, leave property behind #1994-051: Classis of the Heartland Writes Stormy Final Chapter on Secession from Sanborn Christian Reformed Church #1994-053: One Motion Too Many Leads to Split in 'Mother Church' of Classis of the Heartland #1995-006: Classis Bans Leading Professor at Mid-America Reformed Seminary from Preaching in Christian Reformed Pulpits Contact List: Rev. Edward Eppinger, Stated Clerk, Presbytery of the Dakotas (OPC) RR #1, Box 490, Bancroft, SD 57353 * H/O: (605) 546-2292 Rev. Jack Gray, Stated Clerk, Classis of the Heartland 708 - 5th St., Orange City, IA 51041-1804 * O: (712) 737-2797 * H: (712) 737-2997 Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, Professor, Mid-America Reformed Seminary Rt. 2, Box 163, Orange City, IA 51041 * O: (712) 737-3446 * H: (712) 737-4838 * FAX: (712) 737-3318 Rev. Aldon Kuiper, Pastor, Hope Christian Reformed Church 1421 Sixth St., Hull, IA 51239 * H/O: (712) 439-1003 Rev. Ralph Pontier, Pastor, Redeemer Alliance Reformed Church 207 Kansas Ave. NW, Orange City, IA 51041 * H: (712) 737-4901 Dr. Richard Venema 1930 E. 6th St., Sheldon, IA 51201 * H: (712) 324-2993 Dr. Carl Zylstra, Pastor, Immanuel Christian Reformed Church 217 - 3rd St. SW, Orange City, IA 51041 * O: (712) 737-3294 * H: (712) 737-8309 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-007.txt .