Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1998 08:27:15 -0400 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Reply-To: Darrell128@aol.com Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service Subject: NR 98062: Synod Allows Endorsement of Female Military Chaplain NR #1998-062: Synod Allows Endorsement of Female Military Chaplain Despite Ban on Agency Appointment of Women Ministers When Dr. John E. Kim -- then pastor of the CRC's second largest congregation -- repeatedly warned delegates to the Christian Reformed synod that allowing women in office would lead to an exodus of Koreans from the CRC, nobody could have predicted that one of the first women ministers in the CRC would be a Korean raised in Kim's home denomination, the Hapdong Presbyterian Church. The graduation of InSoon Gho from the M.Div. program at Calvin Seminary created an unexpected problem and led to a last-minute overture from Classis Grand Rapids East noting that Gho is unlikely to receive a call to a Korean church in the CRC and asking synod to waive the denominational policy barring appointment of women ministers by denominational agencies. The 1995 policy, intended as a compromise with conservative opponents of women's ordination who objected to paying the salaries of women ministers appointed by the denomination while their own churches and classes were on record as opponents of women in office, gave no specific consideration to the special case of the CRC Chaplaincy Ministries, which endorses candidates for the chaplaincy but doesn't pay their salaries. Gho, currently a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve, wants to become a chaplain in the US military but cannot do so without the endorsement of her denomination. If appointed, she would become not only the CRC's first female military chaplain but also its first ethnic minority chaplain, and one of only a few dozen female chaplains in the entire US military. NR #1998-062: For Immediate Release Synod Allows Endorsement of Female Military Chaplain Despite Ban on Agency Appointment of Women Ministers by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (June 17, 1998) URNS -- When Dr. John E. Kim -- then pastor of the CRC's second largest congregation -- repeatedly warned delegates to the Christian Reformed synod that allowing women in office would lead to an exodus of Koreans from the CRC, nobody could have predicted that one of the first women ministers in the CRC would be a Korean raised in Kim's home denomination, the Hapdong Presbyterian Church. The graduation of InSoon Gho from the M.Div. program at Calvin Seminary created an unexpected problem and led to a last-minute overture from Classis Grand Rapids East noting that Gho is unlikely to receive a call to a Korean church in the CRC and asking synod to waive the denominational policy barring appointment of women ministers by denominational agencies. The 1995 policy, intended as a compromise with conservative opponents of women's ordination who objected to paying the salaries of women ministers appointed by the denomination while their own churches and classes were on record as opponents of women in office, gave no specific consideration to the special case of the CRC Chaplaincy Ministries, which endorses candidates for the chaplaincy but doesn't pay their salaries. Gho, currently a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve, wants to become a chaplain in the US military but cannot do so without the endorsement of her denomination. If appointed, she would become not only the CRC's first female military chaplain but also its first ethnic minority chaplain, and one of only a few dozen female chaplains in the entire US military. "It is because we have our denominational ministry share system, and we want to protect the conscience of those in the two-thirds of our classes that don't endorse the ordination of women," said Calvin Seminary church polity professor Dr. Henry De Moor. "The issue raised by both the General Secretary and an earlier question by a delegate is that if you grant a waiver to something, you are opting for an interpretation that there is a rule in place that you need to waive. This is not just about InSoon Gho, this is about how the Chaplaincy Services processes applications. Next year we could have five or six more candidates applying to the Chaplaincy Services, so this is a rather important matter." Gho's case prompted sympathy even from opponents of the ordination of women. Rev. Bernard Tol of North Street CRC in Zeeland proposed that synod itself endorse Gho rather than setting a precedent by making an exception to the 1995 policy banning appointment of women ministers by denominational agencies, much as classes sometimes act to transfer ministerial credentials rather than delegating the matter to their interim committees if the transfer occurs shortly before a scheduled classis meeting. "Is there any way that we as the synod, because we are in session, can give Miss Gho the endorsement she needs to the military?" asked Tol. Chaplaincy director Rev. Jacob Heerema noted that even if synod made the endorsement directly, military regulations would still require him rather than the synodical officers to sign the documents as the chaplaincy endorser of record for the denomination. "Depending on Miss Gho's patience, because she is highly qualified, she is likely to go to another denomination which will endorse her," advisory committee reporter Elder Sander De Haan reminded the delegates. In the end, synodical delegates voted to allow the pastoral ministries board and its chaplaincy director to endorse Gho on the grounds that the "overture is not needed" because "she is not an employee of Chaplaincy Ministries, is not being appointed by this agency, and the agency has not asked Eastern Avenue to call her." 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 #1998-057: Synod Rejects Opposite Overtures on Women's Ordination Contact List: Dr. Henry De Moor, Professor of Church Polity, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 O: (616) 957-7194 * H: (616) 940-0513 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 * E-Mail: DEMH@Calvin.edu 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 Rev. Jacob Heerema, Director, CRC Chaplaincy Ministries 2501 Palm Dale Dr. SW, Grandville, MI 49418 O: (616) 224-0733 * H: (616) 530-6335 * FAX: (616) 224-0834 * E-Mail: heeremaj@crcna.org Rev. Bernard Tol, Pastor, North Street Christian Reformed Church 333 Valley Dr., Zeeland, MI 49464 O: (616) 772-1545 * H: (616) 772-9356 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-062.txt .