From: Darrell128 Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 19:38:37 EDT Subject: NR 98026: RCA Regional Synod to Propose Procedures for Processing Sex Charges May 2, 1998 * Contents: NR #1998-026: Reformed Church in America Regional Synod to Propose Procedures for Processing Sex Charges On May 4, the Reformed Church in America's Regional Synod of the Great Lakes will convene at Camp Geneva in Holland. One major item will be three recommendations from the regional synod's Overtures and Judicial Business Committee on how to handle future accusations of sexual misconduct, borrowed from current United Church of Christ procedures. "Most of those have to do with what have we learned and what can we do to prevent this from happening again," said regional synod minister Rev. Sherwin Weener. The regional synod had been expected to process an appeal from Jan Timmer, the former organist at Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, who accused Christ Community pastor Rev. Richard Rhem of "gross sexual misconduct." Rhem was eventually found guilty by the Muskegon Classis on the sex charges; Timmer has since withdrawn her appeal against Rhem's church board for not properly handling her allegations. One local church will receive special attention: Maple Avenue Ministries, whose pastor, Rev. Dave Sieplinga, will lead the opening worship service for the regional synod. Currently a joint program of Maple Avenue CRC and Christ Memorial RCA, Maple Avenue Ministries will become the first union church of the CRC and RCA if Synod 1998 of the Christian Reformed Church approves. The RCA already has 15 union churches in arrangements with seven different denominations, of which the most common are the Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church. NR 1998-026: For Immediate Release Reformed Church in America Regional Synod to Propose Procedures for Processing Sex Charges by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (May 2, 1998) URNS -- On May 4, the Reformed Church in America's Regional Synod of the Great Lakes will convene at Camp Geneva in Holland. One major item will be three recommendations from the regional synod's Overtures and Judicial Business Committee on how to handle future accusations of sexual misconduct. "Most of those have to do with what have we learned and what can we do to prevent this from happening again," said regional synod minister Rev. Sherwin Weener. The regional synod had been expected to process an appeal from Jan Timmer, the former organist at Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, who accused Christ Community pastor Rev. Richard Rhem of "gross sexual misconduct." Rhem was eventually found guilty by the Muskegon Classis on the sex charges; Timmer has since withdrawn her appeal against Rhem's church board for not properly handling her allegations. "One other thing we are doing is dealing with the fact it's not only sexual misconduct by pastors of churches but also relationships within congregations with volunteers and other employees," said Weener. Weener emphasized that the Rhem case was highly unusual and shouldn't discourage people from attending RCA churches. "Fortunately, sexual misconduct situations are very rare in the Reformed Church, and have been very, very rare in recent years," said Weener. "People can with confidence allow their young people and children to take part." OJB chairman Rev. Patrick Shetler said his committee's recommendations focused on adopting the sexual misconduct sections of the United Church of Christ's manual on the ministry. "I read it and I found it to be a very helpful manual, giving step by step instructions on how to deal with a very difficult issue," said Shetler. "It tried to be fair to the pastor and to the person making the allegations. This is not an issue that most people have a lot of practical experience in and we felt it would be helpful to have this manual get a larger dissemination in the church." Shetler noted that the RCA's handling of the Rhem case was marred by repeated procedural errors. "Churches and consistories need to be aware of the proper procedures that are to be followed in making whatever allegations are made," said Shetler. "We want to raise the awareness at the classis level of how we as a classis should handle these." Weener noted that many of the RCA's Michigan and Ohio churches have already implemented an earlier regional synod recommendation to adopt the abuse prevention policy written by General Synod 1994. "Many, many of our churches already have abuse prevention policies in place," said Weener. "These have in my mind served a great purpose in making people know we really care about that and making it a trustworthy place. In other business, the regional synod will elect its officers for the upcoming year and process reports from other committees and officers. One local church will receive special attention: Maple Avenue Ministries, whose pastor, Rev. Dave Sieplinga, will lead the opening worship service for the regional synod. Currently a joint program of Maple Avenue CRC and Christ Memorial RCA, Maple Avenue Ministries will become the first union church of the CRC and RCA if Synod 1998 of the Christian Reformed Church approves. The RCA already has 15 union churches in arrangements with seven different denominations, of which the most common are the Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church. "We on the RCA synod level are affirming this by hiring both David Sieplinga and David Kool as urban ministers; they are both Christian Reformed in background, now RCA ministers," said Weener. "Maple Avenue CRC is certainly to be commended for the mission and commitment to outreach and their willingness to participate in this program." With 84,227 members in 168 churches, the Great Lakes Regional Synod is the largest of the eight RCA regional bodies and accounts for over a quarter of the RCA's total membership. Union Churches in the Reformed Church in America Reformed Church in America/United Church of Christ - 4 Faith Community Church of Eddyville, Iowa Bowne Street Community Church, Brooklyn, New York Chinese Community Church of Manhattan, New York United Church of Spring Valley, New York Reformed Church in America/Presbyterian Church (USA) - 4 First Federated Church of Bayonne, New Jersey Old Bergen Church, Jersey City, New Jersey Bay Ridge United Church of Brooklyn, New York United Church of Willow Lake, South Dakota Reformed Church in America/United Methodist Church -2 Community Church of Hoboken, New Jersey Federated Church of Kerhunkson, New York Japanese-American United Church of Manhattan, New York Reformed Church in America/United Methodist Church/Baptist Bergen Point Community Church, Bayonne, New Jersey Reformed Church in America/United Methodist Church/Quaker Lyall Memorial Church, Millbrook, New York Advent Lutheran Church Gravesend Advent Church of Brooklyn, New York Evangelical Covenant Church Hemlock Farms Church of Hawley, Pennsylvania Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-013: Special Meeting of RCA's Muskegon Classis Discusses Homosexuality, Scripture, Salvation Apart from Christ #1996-023: Muskegon RCA Classis: No Room for Pastor Questioning Salvation Apart from Christ, Authority of Scripture #1996-086: Muskegon Classis Rebukes Rhem for "Heretical" Views, Restarts Negotiations "to Reach a Mutually Acceptable Separation Agreement" with Christ Community Church #1996-091: Rhem Conflict Leads to Homosexuality Debate in Muskegon #1996-092: Back to the Drawing Board: Muskegon Classis Tables Proposed Settlement with Pastor of RCA's Fourth-Largest Church #1996-093: Dr. Jonathan Gerstner on Rhem: "Tragedy is the Only Word" #1996-094: Second RCA Minister Faces Discipline for Theological Views #1996-103: Classis Muskegon Averts Heresy Trial, Completes Separation Agreement with Richard Rhem, Christ Community Church #1996-110: Appeal Stalls Settlement Agreement on Rev. Richard Rhem; Protests Greet Upcoming Rhem Keynote Speech for RCA Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics on "The Church in Conflict... Can Non-Believers be Saved?" #1996-118: Rhem to Reformed Church in America: "The Bible is a Wax Nose" #1997-001: Muskegon Classis Suspends Separation Agreement Until Regional Synod Adjudicates Appeal on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Allegations Against Richard Rhem #1997-002: Rhem's Attorney Responds: "Classis… Has Engaged in Conspiratorial Actions Which Were Maliciously Calculated to Damage Rev. Richard Rhem and Christ Community Church" #1997-007: Appeal of Charges Against Rhem Sent Back to Committee by RCA's Regional Synod Executive Committee; Van Hoeven Appeal to Proceed with Recommendation of Dismissal #1997-019: Reformed Church in America Classes Poised to Vote on Church Order Change: Should All RCA Ministers and Churches Annually Reaffirm that Salvation is Through Christ Alone? #1997-026: SW Michigan Becomes First RCA Michigan Classis to Ratify Church Order Amendment on Salvation Through Christ Alone #1997-028: Rhem Case on Hold; Muskegon Classis Affirms Salvation Through Christ Alone #1997-031: Reformed Church in America's Second and Third Largest Classes Vote to Affirm Salvation Only Through Christ #1997-032: South Grand Rapids Classis Overtures Reformed Church in America to Reject "Full Communion" with United Church of Christ Due to UCC Approval of Gay Marriage and Ordination #1997-033: Holland Classis Rejects Church Order Amendment to Require Annual Declaration that Salvation is Through Christ Alone #1997-034: Reformed Church in America Rejects Annual Declaration that Salvation is Through Christ Alone #1997-040: Typo Leads Reformed Church in America to Recommend New Vote on Salvation Apart from Christ #1997-043: RCA Committee Asks Regional Synod of the Great Lakes to Send Rhem "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Case Back to Muskegon Classis for Investigation, Possible Trial #1997-044: Great Lakes Regional Synod Minister: Reformed Church in America not "Dead," but Needs to "Wake Up" #1997-045: Reformed Church in America Regional Synod of the Great Lakes Sends Rhem "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Case Back to Muskegon Classis for Investigation, Possible Trial #1997-046: Rhem's Attorney Responds: "The RCA in Western Michigan [is] Truly a Dysfunctional Family" #1997-057: RCA's Muskegon Classis Calls Special Meeting to Consider Trial for Richard Rhem on Sexual Misconduct Charges #1997-058: Reformed Church in America's Muskegon Classis to Investigate Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Rhem #1997-079: Muskegon Classis to Meet June 24 for More Inquiry on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Charges Against Rev. Richard Rhem; Classis Also Asked by Regional Synod to Consider Charging Rhem's Church with Leaking Documents to News Media #1997-080: Muskegon Classis Seeks to Avoid Media Exposé; Votes to Try Rhem on "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Charges #1997-083: Christ Community Church Sues RCA Classis; Asks Civil Court to Order Classis to Let Church Depart with its Property #1997-086: Reformed Church in America's Muskegon Classis Finds Rev. Richard Rhem Guilty of "Gross Sexual Misconduct" #1997-094: Muskegon Classis Responds to Christ Community Lawsuit #1997-104: RCA's Muskegon Classis Votes to Seize Christ Community's Property Unless Rhem's Church Negotiates with Classis #1997-132: Rhem Fight Ends: Christ Community Church, RCA Muskegon Classis Agree on Settlement of Lawsuit and Property Fights #1998-024: It's Not Over Until It's Over: Timmer Signs $30,000 Settlement with Muskegon Classis Over Rhem Sex Charges Contact List: Rev. E. Wayne Antworth, Director, RCA Stewardship & Communication Services 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115 O: (212) 870-2954 * FAX: (212) 870-2499 Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America 49 Yawpo, Oakland, NJ 07436 O: (212) 870-2845 Rev. Mark Nieuwsma, President, Muskegon Classis 704 South De Spelder, Grand Haven, MI 49417 O: (616) 842-4170 * H: (616) 842-2984 Rev. Richard Rhem, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Church 225 East Exchange St., Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 842-1985 * H: (616) 846-7777 * F: (616) 842-3476 * E-Mail: christcommunity@novagate.com Rev. Patrick Shetler, Pastor, First Reformed Church 271 E. State Rd., PO Box 365, Grant, MI 49327 O: (616) 834-8668 * H: (616) 834-7246 * E-Mail: grantreformedchurch@worldnet.att.net Rev. Steve Smallegan, Stated Clerk, Muskegon Classis 3025 Glenside Blvd., Muskegon, MI 49441 O: (616) 759-3238 * H: (616) 755-8446 * E-Mail: SGLMusk@aol.com Rev. Sherwin Weener, Synod Minister, Regional Synod of the Great Lakes 4500 - 60th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 O: (616) 698-7071 * H: (616) 457-3572 * FAX: (616) 698-6606 * E-Mail: SGLSherwin@aol.com Ron Zoet, Director of Operations, Christ Community Church 225 East Exchange St., Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 842-1985 * F: (616) 842-3476 * RLZoet@aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-026.txt (reformatted 5-6-98) .