NR #1996-044: Engelhard to Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland: Christian Reformed Synod Upset by Biblical Justification of Homosexuality in Dutch Mother Church At the April 23, 1996 session of the general synod of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland-synodical; hereafter GKN), the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), the North American sister denomination of the GKN, threatened to break ties with the Dutch body because of long-standing differences of opinion regarding Bible interpretation and homosexuality. Last year the CRC, a denomination founded by Reformed immigrants from the Netherlands, decided, despite all kinds of criticism, not to break relations with the GKN. "But you must remember that the continuing and intensifying objections within the CRC concerning our relationship with the GKN do not indicate that the relation between our denominations has improved," warned Dr. David Engelhard, general secretary of the CRC. The Dutch synod expressed both surprise and anger. In order to deal with the reprimand of its sister denomination, the synod recessed as quickly as possible to committee meetings, which in effect meant going into executive session, without the press, visitors, and other observers. NR #1996-044: For Immediate Release Engelhard to Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland: Christian Reformed Synod Upset by Biblical Justification of Homosexuality in Dutch Mother Church c 1996 Friesch Dagblad Distributed by United Reformed News Service [Translation from the Dutch courtesy of Dr. Nelson Kloosterman] LUNTEREN, The Netherlands (April 23, 1996) URNS - At the April 23, 1996 session of the general synod of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland-synodical; hereafter GKN), the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), the North American sister denomination of the GKN, threatened to break ties with the Dutch body because of long-standing differences of opinion regarding Bible interpretation and homosexuality. The Dutch synod expressed both surprise and anger. In order to deal with the reprimand of its sister denomination, the synod recessed as quickly as possible to committee meetings, which in effect meant going into executive session, without the press, visitors, and other observers. Last year the CRC, a denomination founded by Reformed immigrants from the Netherlands, decided, despite all kinds of criticism, not to break relations with the GKN. "But you must remember that the continuing and intensifying objections within the CRC concerning our relationship with the GKN do not indicate that the relation between our denominations has improved," warned Dr. David Engelhard, general secretary of the CRC. The address to the 1995 CRC synod by Rev. Richard S.E. Vissinga, synod president and representative of the GKN, simply added fuel to the fire. In his remarks, Vissinga explained that homosexual church members are fully accepted in his denomination. The CRC synod was not surprised, Engelhard claimed, "but what upset so many of us was Vissinga's biblical justification for accepting homosexual members." The GKN report on ecumenicity stated rather enthusiastically that the relationship with the CRC seemed to have improved. After all, the CRC had not broken relations, but merely decided that serious dialogue with the GKN was needed. In his remarks, however, Engelhard made it clear that this decision contained more of a threat than the Dutch leaders had perceived. The general secretary of the CRC informed the Dutch synod that the 1996 CRC synod would be faced with nine overtures asking the CRC to suspend or break ties with the GKN. "The pressure to go our separate ways and to break ties as sister churches is becoming steadily more intense," said Engelhard. In his response to this development, Vissinga stated that he had no regret about his remarks. In his view, some of his predecessors who have addressed CRC synods have been less clear than he regarding the stand of the GKN. As a result of this past ambiguity, the idea had taken root in the CRC that the GKN neither condemned nor condoned homosexuality, when in reality the GKN has elevated the acceptance of homosexual church members to a matter of principle. Vissinga believes that the final decision by the next CRC synod depends significantly on the message Engelhard and the two other delegates from the CRC take back home when they return to Grand Rapids. Engelhard's address did not make Vissinga very optimistic. Many GKN synodical delegates were pained by Engelhard's words, because the sexual orientation of church members threatened once again to become the subject of discussion. Rev. Evert Overeem, chairman of the ecumenical committee, insisted that dialogue with the CRC concerning homosexuality must continue. "We must be prepared to talk about homosexuality in a theological discussion regarding how we must read the Bible," he argued. This summer the CRC is hosting the meetings of the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) in Grand Rapids, of which the GKN is also a member. The membership of the GKN in the REC has also been under discussion for a long time. During the 1992 meeting of the REC in Athens, the GKN was almost expelled from the ecumenical organization on account of its liberal view of homosexuality and biblical authority. The Dutch delegation coming to the 1996 meeting has received assurance, however, that no proposal to oust the GKN will be coming to the floor. The CRC synod will meet in Grand Rapids immediately after the REC meeting. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1995-067: Christian Reformed Synod Votes to Keep Fraternal Relations with Gereformeerde Kerken Despite Advocacy of Gay Rights #1995-068: Complete Text of the GKN President's Fraternal Address #1996-011: CRC's Largest Congregation Joins Protest Against Fraternal Relations with Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland #1996-045: Christian Reformed Conservatives Pleased by Engelhard Speech to Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland Contact List: 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@crcnet.mhs.compuserve.com Rev. Evert Overeem, Moderator, GKN Interchurch Relations Committee Schoutelaan 16, 9751 PM Haren, NETHERLANDS Richard Van Houten, General Secretary, Reformed Ecumenical Council 2017 Eastern Avenue SE, Suite 201, Grand Rapids, MI 49507-3234 * O: (616) 241-4424 Rev. Richard S. E. Vissinga, President, Synod of the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland Watermunt 11, 8265 EL Kampen, NETHERLANDS ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-044.txt .