From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1997 10:24:56 -0500 (EST) Subject: NR 97013: No Transfer for Terra Ceia to Classis Hudson NR #1997-013: No Transfer for Terra Ceia to Classis Hudson Synod 1996 said churches could transfer between classes for reasons other than geography, with the intent of allowing churches on both sides of the women in office issue to transfer to a classis which would support their views. So far, Classis Zeeland and Classis Holland have approved the request of Pine Creek CRC to transfer from Holland to Zeeland and Classis Northern Michigan has said that Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant may transfer to a classis which would be willing to ordain its female pastor, Mary-Lee Bouma. However, Synod 1997 won't be dealing with the first such request that was made. In September, Terra Ceia (NC) CRC received permission from Classis Hackensack to leave the classis but was denied permission by Classis Hudson to join. Hackensack was one of the first Christian Reformed classes to allow the ordination of women; Hudson still does not permit women's ordination. Terra Ceia has now withdrawn their request to transfer. NR #1997-013: For Immediate Release No Transfer for Terra Ceia to Classis Hudson by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service MIDLAND PARK, N.J. (January 25, 1997) -- Synod 1996 said churches could transfer between classes for reasons other than geography, with the intent of allowing churches on both sides of the women in office issue to transfer to a classis which would support their views. So far, Classis Zeeland and Classis Holland have approved the request of Pine Creek CRC to transfer from Holland to Zeeland and Classis Northern Michigan has said that Trinity CRC of Mt. Pleasant may transfer to a classis which would be willing to ordain its female pastor, Mary-Lee Bouma. However, Synod 1997 won't be dealing with the first such request that was made. In September, Terra Ceia (NC) CRC received permission from Classis Hackensack to leave the classis but was denied permission by Classis Hudson to join. Hackensack was one of the first Christian Reformed classes to allow the ordination of women; Hudson still does not permit women's ordination. While Hudson stated clerk Rev. Don Wisse emphasized last fall that the classis wasn't necessarily unwilling to receive Terra Ceia if synod decided to effect the transfer, the message given to Terra Ceia -- intentionally or otherwise -- was that the church was not wanted. West Sayville (NY) CRC -- the church from which many of the Terra Ceia members originally came and in which many members still have close family ties -- submitted a strong protest to the January 22 meeting of Classis Hudson. In its protest, West Sayville objected that Classis Hudson "unfairly denied Terra Ceia the freedom they should have" and argued that the minutes of the September meeting do not accurately reflect the grounds stated on the floor of classis for the rejection. Before the protest came to the floor of classis, however, the alternate stated clerk of Classis Hudson informed classis that Terra Ceia had submitted a letter to the stated clerk of Classis Hackensack withdrawing their request to affiliate with Hudson. As a result, Classis Hudson never acted on the West Sayville protest. Contacted after the Hudson meeting, the clerk of the Terra Ceia consistory sa id he was disappointed by Classis Hudson's September vote not to receive his church. "We were trying to go to Classis Hudson to be with churches that are likeminded, but a number of those churches have left now so we decided that wouldn't help us too much to be in Classis Hudson," said Elder Wayne Slager. "We did send delegates to the South Holland conference, we have accepted the affirmations of faith," said Slager, referring to the November conference of Christian Reformed conservatives which proposed the creation of new classes organized by theological affinity rather than geography. "We are looking into joining the Covenant Union but we haven't yet made any decisions on that." West Sayville pastor Rev. Jim Stastny said he was disappointed by the Terra Ceia decision but was understanding in light of Classis Hudson's earlier vote. "I think they realize that Classis Hudson really is not that much different from Classis Hackensack," said Stastny. "Those in Classis Hudson who are in favor of the changes in the Christian Reformed Church far outnumber those who are against it." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End to Classical Option on Ordination of Women #1996-088: Interclassical Conference of Christian Reformed Conservatives to be Asked to Create Nongeographical Classes; Minority Urges Immediate Secession from Christian Reformed Denomination #1996-109: Classis Hudson Declines to Overture Christian Reformed Synod to Receive Hackensack Church Opposed to Women in Office Contact List: 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 Rev. John Hoogland, Alternate Stated Clerk, Classis Hudson 90 Sea Girt Ave., Oceanport, NJ 07757 O: (201) 445-4260 * H: (908) 222-0075 * FAX: (201) 445-6424 Elder Wayne Slager, Clerk, Terra Ceia Christian Reformed Church 3264 Terra Ceia Rd., Pantego, NC 27860 H: (919) 927-4953 Rev. Jim Stastny, Pastor, West Sayville Christian Reformed Church 31 Rollstone Ave, West Sayville, NY 11796 O: (516) 589-9281 * H: (516) 589-1281 Rev. Don Wisse, Stated Clerk, Classis Hudson 183 Godwin Ave, Midland Park, NJ 07432 O: (201) 445-4260 * H: (201) 444-6423 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-013.txt .