NR #1996-075: Effort Rejected to Downgrade Status of Seceding Ministers In its evening session on June 17, the Christian Reformed synod rejected an effort by Pastor George Vander Weit to review the work of the synodical deputies in concurring with decisions by Classis Illiana to "dismiss" three ministers who seceded from the CRC in the months following Synod 1995's decision to allow each classis to open the offices of the church to women. In a passionate speech to synod, Vander Weit recounted the pain felt by his aunt, a member of Oak Glen CRC in the southern Chicago suburb of Lansing, as her strongly conservative consistory criticized denominational agencies and synodical decisions, finally leading her church out of the CRC. "I believe it's time for us to stand up for the Aunt Georgias in our denomination, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our seminary professors, and to say to everyone that you may not bear false witness against our denomination," said Vander Weit. However, when Vander Weit's motion came to a vote, it was resoundingly defeated on a voice vote. Synod also approved synodical deputy reports concurring with Classis Grandville's decision to revise its declarations that retired ministers Revs. Ralph Honderd and Richard Veldman, members of Beverly CRC at the time it seceded, were "dismissed" from the CRC ministry. Veldman (now deceased) and Honderd will now be regarded as "honorably released." NR #1996-075: For Immediate Release Effort Rejected to Downgrade Status of Seceding Ministers by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 17, 1996) URNS - In its evening session on June 17, the Christian Reformed synod rejected an effort by Pastor George Vander Weit to review the work of the synodical deputies in concurring with decisions by Classis Illiana to "dismiss" three ministers who seceded from the CRC in the months following Synod 1995's decision to allow each classis to open the offices of the church to women. Vander Weit, pastor of North Hills CRC in the Detroit suburb of Troy, called synod's attention to the fact that one of the three synodical deputies dissented in each of the three cases and that the Manual of Christian Reformed Church Government, while noting that that synod has not ruled on proper procedure in such matters, recommends that "the matter ought to remain in status quo until either the classis reconsiders the matter and the deputies render unanimous advice or until the synod renders its decision." However, Vander Weit's concern did not center on procedure. In a passionate speech to synod, Vander Weit recounted the pain felt by his aunt, a member of Oak Glen CRC in the southern Chicago suburb of Lansing, as her strongly conservative consistory criticized denominational agencies and synodical decisions, finally leading her church out of the CRC. "I believe it's time for us to stand up for the Aunt Georgias in our denomination, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our seminary professors, and to say to everyone that you may not bear false witness against our denomination," said Vander Weit. "As we said earlier in our debate over the GKN, there is a time to call sin 'sin,' and this is that time." Rev. Laryn Zoerhof, reporter for the synodical advisory committee dealing with the matter and stated clerk of Classis Illiana, reminded synod that over the recommendation to "dismiss" Oak Glen pastor Rev. Paul Ipema, former Oak Glen pastor Rev. Art Verburg, and Rev. Tom Wetselaar of Bethel CRC in De Motte, Indiana, was stronger than desired by many classical delegates. "In Classis Illiana the most we could hope for was to dismiss; a motion to depose would have failed," said Zoerhof. "What he have here is clear and obvious schismatic activity," retorted Vander Weit, arguing that synod should act if classis was unwilling or unable to do so. The other ministerial delegate from Classis Illiana, Rev. Bernard Haan of First CRC in De Motte, urged synod to note extenuating circumstances in case - Verburg was retired at the time, Ipema was a recent seminary graduate whose church had set its direction many years before calling him, and Wetselaar had only left the CRC after a minority had seceded from his own church and extended him a call when it became clear his position in the continuing CRC was untenable. "I do not understand what George is all upset about," said Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel, pastor of First CRC in the southwest Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn and the third synodical deputy who declined to concur with the classical action. "Does he think these men should have been deposed? Does he think I was wrong not to concur? I did not think synodical deputies were to march in lockstep. I felt then, and I feel very strongly now, that we need to be charitable in these cases." Even Rev. George Vink of First CRC in Visalia, California, who as a member of Classis Grandville had been instrumental in that classis' 1992 decision to declare Rev. Art Besteman of Beverly CRC to be in the status of one deposed from office and as a synodical deputy had issued a report regretting Classis Kalamazoo's failure in 1993 to take stronger action when former synod president Rev. Henry Vander Kam seceded, opposed Vander Weit's proposal. "I think at this point we have to approve the work of the synodical deputies, as much as I would have preferred the fourth step [of deposition] in at least some of these cases," said Vink. When Vander Weit's motion came to a vote, it was resoundingly defeated on a voice vote. Synod also approved synodical deputy reports concurring with Classis Grandville's decision to revise its declarations that retired ministers Revs. Ralph Honderd and Richard Veldman, members of Beverly CRC at the time it seceded, were "dismissed" from the CRC ministry. Veldman, now deceased, was no longer able to make decisions for himself at the time of the original classical decision. The classical action in his case was based on the statement of his son that he had civil power of attorney to act on behalf of his parents and that he believed his father, if able to make decisions for himself, would have preferred to remain a member of the Beverly church despite its withdrawal from the CRC. Veldman and Honderd will now be regarded as "honorably released" from the CRC ministry. In related action, synod also rejected an effort by Classis Grand Rapids East to review the synodical deputy reports in the case of Rev. Gene Beerens. The classis argued that the synodical deputies "did not review the written allegations of abuse of office submitted" by 16 victims of alleged abuse; synod concluded that the synodical deputies had adequate information to concur and had not been negligent in their work. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-007: No Deposition for Former Synod President Vander Kam; Synodical Deputies Regret Failure to Take Strong Action #1995-098: Classis Grandville Refuses to Lift Deposition Status for Beverly Christian Reformed (Independent) Pastor Rev. Art Besteman #1996-004: More Christian Reformed Churches Secede from Denomination Contact List: Rev. Robert Arbogast, Stated Clerk, Classis Kalamazoo 6138 Ormada Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49001 * O: (616) 342-2646 * H: (616) 629-5258 Rev. Art Besteman, Pastor, Beverly Christian Reformed Church (Independent) 2420 Avon Ave. SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 * H/O: (616) 532-1708 Rev. Bernard J. Haan, Jr., Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 1621 S. Halleck St., De Motte, IN 46310 * O: (219) 987-4355 * H: (219) 987-2581 Rev. Peter Honderd 725 Baldwin, #3021; Jenison, MI 49428; Home: (616) 457-7791 Rev. Paul Ipema, Pastor, Oak Glen Covenant Community Reformed Church 2224 Indiana Ave., Lansing, IL 60438-2107 * O: (708) 474-0172 * H: (708) 474-0172 Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel, Stated Clerk, Classis Chicago South 9401 S. 54th Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453 * H/O: (708) 422-1428 Pastor George Vander Weit, North Hills Christian Reformed Church 2901 Waterloo Dr., Troy, MI 48084 * O: (810) 645-1990 * H: (810) 649-5388 * E-Mail: NoHillsCRC@aol.com Rev. Leonard Van Drunen, Stated Clerk, Classis Grandville 937 Village Lane, Jenison, MI 49428 * O: (616) 457-8685 Rev. Art Verburg, Pastor Emeritus, Oak Glen Covenant Community Reformed Church 8220 Harrison Ave. #305, Munster, IN 46321 * H: (219) 836-5069 Rev. George Vink, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 3527 W. Victor, Visalia, CA 93227 * O: (209) 625-0444 * H: (209) 738-9512 * FAX: (209) 625-0259 Rev. Tom Wetselaar, Pastor, Immanuel Reformed Church PO Box 638, De Motte, IN 46310 Rev. Laryn Zoerhof, Stated Clerk, Classis Illiana 8910 Grace St., Highland, IN 46322 * O: (219) 838-6231 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-075.txt .