Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 10:51:13 -0500 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service Subject: NR 99007: Classis Zeeland Rejects CRC-Wide Women's Ordination by 86% Majority NR #1999-007: Classis Zeeland Rejects Denomination-Wide Women's Ordination by 86% Majority By a 33 to 5 margin, Classis Zeeland voted to inform the Christian Reformed synod that requiring all 47 Christian Reformed regional governing bodies to accept women's ordination would negatively affect the classis. "When you look at the 86% majority answer to that question, that should show very clearly where the classis stands," said Rev. Robert Walter, pastor of First CRC of Zeeland and president of the January 20 classis session. A special committee appointed by last year's CRC synod asked each classis to respond to Synod 1995's decision to allow all of the denomination's regional bodies, known as classes, to make their own decision on ordaining women as ministers, elders, and evangelists. Currently seventeen classes allow women's ordination. In the other thirty classes, including Classis Zeeland, local churches may elect women as elders but no church may call women ministers or evangelists and no church may delegate women elders to classis meetings. Classis Zeeland has no churches with women elders, and accepted the conservative Pine Creek CRC of Holland after Classis Holland voted to allow the ordination of women. NR #1999-007: For Immediate Release: Classis Zeeland Rejects Denomination-Wide Women's Ordination by 86% Majority by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service BEAVERDAM, MICH. (January 20, 1999) URNS - By a 33 to 5 margin, Classis Zeeland voted to inform the Christian Reformed synod that requiring all 47 Christian Reformed regional governing bodies to accept women's ordination would negatively affect the classis. "When you look at the 86% majority answer to that question, that should show very clearly where the classis stands," said Rev. Robert Walter, pastor of First CRC of Zeeland and president of the January 20 classis session. A special committee appointed by last year's CRC synod asked each classis to respond to Synod 1995's decision to allow all of the denomination's regional bodies, known as classes, to make their own decision on ordaining women as ministers, elders, and evangelists. Currently seventeen classes allow women's ordination. In the other thirty classes, including Classis Zeeland, local churches may elect women as elders but no church may call women ministers or evangelists and no church may delegate women elders to classis meetings. Classis Zeeland has no churches with women elders, and accepted the conservative Pine Creek CRC of Holland after Classis Holland voted to allow the ordination of women. Synod 2000 will vote on whether to keep the current policy of letting each classis make its own decision, to allow the ordination of women across the denomination, or to bar the ordination of women anywhere in the denomination. While Classis Zeeland overwhelmingly opposed allowing women's ordination throughout the denomination, its votes were mixed on the other choices. Only three of the 38 delegates thought keeping the current policy would positively affect the classis; thirteen said its effect would be negative and twenty said it would have no effect. On the other hand, eighteen supported banning women's ordination throughout the denomination, eleven said a complete ban would have no effect, and only eight thought a ban would negatively affect the classis. Walter said Classis Zeeland wasn't required to take a formal vote on the matter, but chose that route to make clear to the synodical committee where its churches stand. "I think each classis owes this to the committee," said Walter. "Getting a response from each classis would be helpful, so I hope each classis would submit something to the committee." While few delegates wanted women in office throughout the denomination, some delegates liked the current position while others viewed it as only the best option among bad options. "My idea is that churches should be left alone; I think I prefer the local option," said Rev. Dongo Pewee of Unity CRC in Allegan. "We need peace in Zion. You're not going to get everyone to agree on every theological doctrine, and you have to make room for differences." Rev. Daryl Kats of Beaverdam CRC disagreed. "I was one of those who voted that women should not be ordained as elders, evangelists, or ministers, locally or otherwise," said Kats. "It demonstrates our willingness to be submissive to God's Word rather than man's words." Nevertheless, Kats was glad the current position of synod allowed Pine Creek CRC and other churches opposed to women's ordination to transfer to regional bodies such as Classis Zeeland. "There's no turning around, there's only one way the synod's going to go, they're going to continue to loosen the standards on submission to the Bible." 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 #1996-051: Classis Holland Rejects Effort to Ban Women Delegates #1996-123: Pine Creek CRC Petitions to Leave Classis Holland for Zeeland #1997-008: Classis Zeeland Votes by 72% Margin to Receive Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church Pending Synodical Approval #1997-010: Classis Holland Acquiesces in Pine Creek Request to Transfer to Classis Zeeland Due to Opposition to Women in Office Contact List: Rev. Steven Sytsma, Stated Clerk, Classis Zeeland 4452 - 38th St., Hamilton, MI 49419 O: (616) 688-5290 * H: (616) 688-5603 Rev. Daryl Kats, Pastor, Beaverdam Christian Reformed Church 5166 - 64th Ave., Hudsonville, MI 49426 O/FAX: (616) 875-8943 * H: (616) 875-8277 * E-Mail: dskats@egl.net Rev. Dongo Pewee, Pastor, Unity Christian Reformed Church 1652 M40 North, Allegan, MI 49010 O: (616) 673-8593 Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church 635 Riley St., Holland, MI 49424 O: (616) 399-1413 * E-Mail: pinecreek@i2k.com Rev. Robert Walter, Jr., Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church 15 South Church St., Zeeland, MI 49464 O: (616) 772-2866 * H: (616) 772-2656 * FAX: (616) 772-2620 * E-Mail: walterbd@i2k.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive99: nr99-007.txt .