Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 02:35:34 -0500 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service Subject: NR 99012: CRC Classis Kalamazoo Allows Women's Ordination, but Still Loses South Bend CRC to Classis Holland NR #1999-012: Christian Reformed Classis Kalamazoo Allows Women's Ordination, but Still Loses South Bend CRC to Classis Holland At its January 26 meeting, Classis Kalamazoo became the eighteenth Christian Reformed classis to allow the ordination of women ministers, elders, and evangelists, but did so by a compromise proposal that bars churches from sending women as delegates to classis meetings. However, that wasn't enough for South Bend CRC, which received permission from Classis Kalamazoo to transfer to Classis Holland, a classis which not only allows women to be ordained but also to be delegated to classis meetings. The 26 to 19 vote follows over three years of arguments on the matter. By narrow margins, Classis Kalamazoo had repeatedly voted against allowing women's ordination due to protests from conservative churches which objected to attending classical meetings with women present. NR #1999-012: For Immediate Release: Christian Reformed Classis Kalamazoo Allows Women's Ordination, but Still Loses South Bend CRC to Classis Holland by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service KALAMAZOO, MICH. (January 26, 1999) URNS - At its January 26 meeting, Classis Kalamazoo became the eighteenth Christian Reformed classis to allow the ordination of women ministers, elders, and evangelists, but did so by a compromise proposal that bars churches from sending women as delegates to classis meetings. However, that wasn't enough for South Bend CRC, which received permission from Classis Kalamazoo to transfer to Classis Holland, a classis which not only allows women to be ordained but also to be delegated to classis meetings. The 26 to 19 vote follows over three years of arguments on the matter. By narrow margins, Classis Kalamazoo had repeatedly voted against allowing women's ordination due to protests from conservative churches which objected to attending classical meetings with women present. "When we came to this point before, we always came up against the issue of conscience of the brothers who feel they would have to leave and not participate if women elders are present," said Rev. Steve Van Heest of Westwood CRC. "Some of us who are in favor of opening the offices to women have voted out of respect for the conscience of those who feel otherwise. This is something new, it breaks the logjam we've been up against." Van Heest's reasoning echoed that of the pastor of the sponsoring church, Third CRC of Kalamazoo, which submitted the overture to classis. "I want to underscore what we consider to be a compromise approach to what has been a troublesome issue within our classis," said Rev. Ken Baker of Third CRC. "In the same way that some churches of our classis, Third Church included, have benefited from the ministries of women elders within the confines of our churches, we want to see if there is some way our classis would be able to allow churches to benefit from the ministries of ordained women within the confines of the local church." That rationale didn't persuade Dr. Warren Lammers of Second CRC of Kalamazoo. "I don't see this as a compromise," said Lammers. "If we can think of this in terms of left and right, the right keeps backing up step by step, the left keeps advancing step by step. I see all the steps moving in one direction, so although I don't like swimming against the tide, I feel obligated to vote against this." Rev. Kevin Dwyer of Three Rivers CRC warned that the alternative to passing Third CRC's overture could be more trouble. "South Bend CRC is probably going to leave our classis; that is a grievous thing," said Dwyer. "Third CRC is trying to do what they can do to avoid having to leave the classis. I think we should think about that." Despite Classis Kalamazoo's vote to allow women's ordination, part of Dwyer's prediction proved true. Rev. Leonard Vander Zee of South Bend CRC told classis that the church still wanted to leave for Classis Holland. "The most important thing I want to say is this is not a decision that was taken lightly at South Bend CRC," said Vander Zee. "Our problem is we see delegation of women to classis as an essential part of their role as elders," said Vander Zee. "When we look around at our women elders and say we cannot delegate them to classis, this is a wound in some of their hearts. There are also some highly qualified women who do not feel they can serve as elders unless they can be regarded as fully entitled to be delegated to classis." Vander Zee noted that nothing in his church's overture was ecclesiastical disobedience. "This is an option that is given to us by synod," said Vander Zee. "We do not want to break fellowship with you, it will just be fellowship in a different classis." Only one delegate spoke against the South Bend overture. "What we are doing here is ripping the cloth," said the delegate. "We are not moving from classis to classis, we are dividing the church, and we are making wounds that will not heal." Both Vander Zee and Baker said they were pleased by the classical decision - but Vander Zee noted that it wasn't without mixed emotions. "We wanted to find a way to remain in the fellowship of the classis and challenge classis to stretch by saying that it is possible to remain in the classical covenant and the denominational covenant," said Vander Zee. "We did not want to and never even considered leaving this classis; we're pleased that classis made this decision." "The pain of it is more intense, meeting personally with the ministers of classis and hearing the expressions of regret at our leaving," said Vander Zee. Located near the Indiana campus of Notre Dame University, the South Bend CRC includes a number of the denomination's more prominent professors teaching at Notre Dame, some of whom previously taught at Calvin College. Among them are nationally recognized historians, theologians, and Bible scholars such as Dr. George Marsden, Dr. Alvin Plantinga, and Dr. Jim Vander Kam. If the June meeting of the Christian Reformed synod approves the decision by Classis Kalamazoo and Classis Holland, South Bend CRC would be the third church transferred due to disagreement with its classis on the ordination of women. Synod 1997 transferred Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant to Classis Muskegon because Classis Northern Michigan wasn't willing to allow the ordination of Trinity CRC's female pastor, and transferred Pine Creek CRC of Holland from Classis Holland to Classis Zeeland because the conservative church didn't want to remain in a classis with women elders. Classical transfers are ordinarily routinely approved if both classes desire the transfer. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1994-043: Second Woman Pastor to Serve Christian Reformed Church; Mary-Lee Bouma to "teach, expound the Word of God, and provide pastoral care" as an unordained solo pastor of Trinity CRC, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan #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 #1996-024: CRC's Classis Muskegon Approves Women's Ordination #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 #1997-029: Classis Muskegon Admits Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant; Vote Allows Ordination of Mary-Lee Bouma as Third Christian Reformed Woman Pastor #1999-009: CRC's Classis Holland Votes to Accept Indiana Church with Women Elders Pending Votes by Classis Kalamazoo and Synod #1999-011: Christian Reformed Church's Classis Kalamazoo to Debate Ordaining Women; May Lose Congregation with Women Elders to Classis Holland Contact List: Rev. Ken Baker, Pastor, Third Christian Reformed Church 2400 Winchell Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008 O: (616) 343-2400 * H: (616) 375-3871 * FAX: (616) 342-2505 * E-Mail: revbaker@juno.com Rev. Mary-Lee Bouma, Pastor, Trinity Christian Reformed Church 211 W. Broomfield, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858-3805 O: (517) 772-0664 * H: (517) 772-1029 Dr. Ronald De Young, Stated Clerk, Classis Holland 3596 - 47th St., Hamilton, MI 49419 O: (616) 751-8487 * H: (616) 751-6901 * FAX: (616) 751-7389 * E-Mail: hcrc@accn.org Rev. Kevin Dwyer, Pastor, Three Rivers Christian Reformed Church 58445 Kerr Creek Rd., Three Rivers, MI 49093 O: (616) 273-8406 * H: (616) 273-8406 * E-Mail: shwarzma@net-link.net Dr. David Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North America 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560 O: (616) 224-0744 * H: (616) 243-2418 * FAX: (616) 224-5895 * E-Mail: engelhad@crcna.org Dr. Warren Lammers, Pastor, Second Christian Reformed Church 3015 Nichols Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49004 O: (616) 342-0120 * FAX: (616) 344-0029 * E-Mail: drlammers@aol.com Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church 635 Riley St., Holland, MI 49424 O: (616) 399-1413 * E-Mail: pinecreek@i2k.com Rev. Neal Rylaarsdam, Stated Clerk, Classis Kalamazoo 5828 Cheshire St., Portage, MI, 49002-2220 O: (616) 327-4206 * H: (616) 669-9876 * FAX: (616) 327-0128 * E-Mail: REV123@aol.com Rev. Steven Sytsma, Stated Clerk, Classis Zeeland 4452 - 38th St., Hamilton, MI 49419 O: (616) 688-5290 * H: (616) 688-5603 Rev. Leonard Vander Zee, Pastor, South Bend Christian Reformed Church 1855 North Hickory Rd., South Bend, IN 46635 O/FAX: (219) 272-8424 * H: (219) 233-2044 * E-Mail: lenvz@michiana.org Rev. Steve Van Heest, Pastor, Westwood Christian Reformed Church 620 Northampton, Kalamazoo, MI 49006-2716 O: (616) 381-8691 * H: (616) 329-1434 * FAX: (616) 381-8699 * E-Mail: westwoodcrc@juno.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive99: nr99-012.txt .