From: Darrell128 Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 17:20:35 EST Subject: NR 98002: Cl. GR North "Releases" Vander Kooi and Walker CRC; Lets Little Farms NR #1998-002: Classis Grand Rapids North "Releases" Vander Kooi and Walker CRC to United Reformed Churches; Lets Little Farms CRC Join Orthodox Presbyterian Church Classis Grand Rapids North let Rev. Joel Vander Kooi and Walker Christian Reformed Church leave for the United Reformed Churches with little more than a wrist-slap. Evangelist Bob Van Manen and Little Farms CRC got off even easier - classis acquiesced in the church's near-unanimous decision to join the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Meeting January 20, the classis originally received a proposal from an investigating committee recommending that classis grant Vander Kooi a release from the CRC ministry "with honor." After delegates verified that describing Vander Kooi as "released" rather than "honorably released" wouldn't affect his future pension benefits, classis amended the motion to simply declare him to be "released" from the CRC ministry. NR 1998-002: Classis Grand Rapids North Classis Grand Rapids North "Releases" Vander Kooi and Walker CRC to United Reformed Churches; Lets Little Farms CRC Join Orthodox Presbyterian Church by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (January 22, 1998) -Classis Grand Rapids North let Rev. Joel Vander Kooi and Walker Christian Reformed Church leave for the United Reformed Churches with little more than a wrist-slap. Evangelist Bob Van Manen and Little Farms CRC got off even easier - classis acquiesced in the church's near-unanimous decision to join the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Meeting January 20, the classis originally received a proposal from an investigating committee recommending that classis grant Vander Kooi a release from the CRC ministry "with honor." "This means we are sending off Pastor Vander Kooi with our blessing," said Rev. Tom Mayo, associate pastor at Sunshine Community Church in Grand Rapids and a member of the investigating committee. "The reason we went with Walker's original request to release him with honor was that the decision has already been made and we wanted to avoid any further bitterness and confrontation." That proposal didn't sit well with the synodical deputies or some ministers in classis. "Despite the fact that he left graciously, the fact remains that he did lead a congregation out of the Christian Reformed Church," said Rev. Ed Blankespoor of Beckwith CRC. "That bothers me. It just seems to me that the term honorably released' is used more typically when a pastor leaves without a congregation, as with Dr. P.Y. DeJong who left but did not take a congregation with him." "To say you release him with honor does mean you like the way he left, he did the right thing," said synodical deputy Rev. Scott Hoezee. "To say released' is not to take a stand one way or another. The manual for synodical deputies and also of church government says to pay particular attention to the word choice, especially when schismatic activity has occurred, which would appear to be germane here." Elder Lawrn Vander Klipp cited additional concerns. "Being the neighboring church and haven taken in a lot of Walker people recently, it does seem to say released' is the proper term," said Vander Klipp. "There are a lot of embittered people who have left, and just let us remember this is 26% of the congregation who didn't vote in favor of this." After delegates verified that describing Vander Kooi as "released" rather than "honorably released" wouldn't affect his future pension benefits, classis amended the motion to simply declare him to be "released" from the CRC ministry. Contacted following classis, Vander Kooi said he wasn't upset by the decision. "I'm very much at peace with the word they used," said Vander Kooi. "The Bible says God honors those who honor him, and it's the name of God we have to prize above that of men." Contrary to the report at classis, Vander Kooi said only two families had requested to transfer out of the Walker CRC since the church joined the URC, and both went to the Reformed Church in America rather than returning to the Christian Reformed Church. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1995-070: Christian Reformed Classes Permitted to Declare Church Order Ban on Women's Ordination "Inoperative"; Synod Decision Given Immediate Effect without Two-Year Ratification Process #1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End to Classical Option on Ordination of Women #1997-073: Synod Modifies Local Church Property Rights #1997-074: Severance of Ties, Dealing with Seceders Dominate CRC Agenda #1997-075: Calling God "Mother," Theological Classes to Headline Thursday's Christian Reformed Synod #1997-076: Christian Reformed Synod Rejects Calling God "Mother" #1997-077: No Theological Classes Allowed for CRC Conservatives #1997-099: Classis Grand Rapids North Faces Two Conservative Secessions; Mayfair CRC Proposes Allowing Women's Ordination Contact List: Rev. Edward Blankespoor, Pastor, Beckwith Christian Reformed Church 2024 N. Eventide Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-5766 O: (616) 458-0150 * H: (616) 458-9151 * FAX: (616) 458-9141 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@crcna.org Dr. P.Y. De Jong 2681 S. Rt. 394, Room 628, Crete, IL 60417 O: (708) 946-9042 Rev. Scott Hoezee, Synodical Deputy, Classis Grand Rapids East 1634 Fisk Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506-6544 O: (616) 451-8467 * H: (616) 247-6720 Rev. Tom Mayo, Associate Pastor, Sunshine Christian Reformed Church 3432 Hidden Hills Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 O: (616) 940-1368 * H: (616) 364-4242 * FAX: (616) 363-6550 Rev. Frederick Van Dyk, Stated Clerk, Classis Grand Rapids North 3110 - 17 Mile Rd., Ceder Springs, MI 49319 H/O: (616) 696-9863 * E-Mail: fvandyk@juno.com Evang. Bob Van Manen, Pastor, Little Farms Orthodox Presbyterian Church 12582 - 24th Ave., Marne, MI 49435 O: (616) 677-6170 * H: (616) 677-2087 Rev. Joel Vander Kooi, Pastor, Walker United Reformed Church 1985 Randall Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504-2136 O: (616) 453-8101 * H: (616) 453-5767 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-002.txt .