From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 06:36:44 -0500 (EST) Subject: NR 97028: Rhem on Hold; Muskegon Classis Affirms Salvation Through Christ Alone NR #1997-028: Rhem Case on Hold; Muskegon Classis Affirms Salvation Through Christ Alone According to Muskegon Classis stated clerk Rev. Steve Smallegan, the overtures and judicial business committee of the Reformed Church in America's Regional Synod of the Great Lakes met on February 21 for a hearing on an appeal filed by a member of Rhem's church against the classis' action in dismissing her allegation of "gross sexual misconduct" against Rhem on the grounds of insufficient evidence. The synod committee responded to the appeal by deciding it had enough information to proceed and appointing a subcommittee to prepare a report. "What synod is doing is reviewing our process and procedure, they are not considering content but how we handled the charge," said Smallegan. "There has been no decision made, we do not know what the decision will be, there will be a time we will know and that time is not now." At its March 4 meeting, classis also dealt with the theological concerns sparked by Rhem. By a wide voice vote margin, classis voted to ratify a proposed amendment to the RCA's book of church order specifying that all ministers and churches must annually reaffirm not only that they agree with the Word of God and the doctrinal standards of the denomination but also "the truth that divine redemption from sin is only by grace through faith in the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, the only mediator between God and humankind." NR #1997-028: For Immediate Release Rhem Case on Hold; Muskegon Classis Affirms Salvation Through Christ Alone by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service MONTAGUE, Mich. (March 4, 1997) URNS -- Meeting March 4 at Ferry Memorial Reformed Church in Montague, the Muskegon Classis of the Reformed Church in America received a report on the longstanding conflict with Rev. Richard Rhem, senior pastor of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake. According to classical stated clerk Rev. Steve Smallegan, the overtures and judicial business committee of the RCA's Regional Synod of the Great Lakes met on February 21 for a hearing on an appeal filed by a member of Rhem's church against the classis' action in dismissing her allegation of "gross sexual misconduct" against Rhem on the grounds of insufficient evidence. The synod committee responded to the appeal by deciding it had enough information to proceed and appointing a subcommittee to prepare a report. "What synod is doing is reviewing our process and procedure, they are not considering content but how we handled the charge," said Smallegan. "There has been no decision made, we do not know what the decision will be, there will be a time we will know and that time is not now." "The conflict revolves around the technical question of whether the Muskegon Classis fully carried out their role regarding the charge," said Smallegan. However, the technical point has delayed a negotiated separation agreement between Christ Community Church and the denomination, since classis officials have declined to sign the separation agreement until the appeal is complete. Classis also dealt with the theological concerns sparked by Rhem. By a wide voice vote margin, classis voted to ratify a proposed amendment to the RCA's book of church order specifying that all ministers and churches must annually reaffirm not only that they agree with the Word of God and the doctrinal standards of the denomination but also "the truth that divine redemption from sin is only by grace through faith in the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, the only mediator between God and humankind." A number of delegates objected that the amendment was redundant because the doctrinal standards of the RCA already specify that salvation is only through Christ. "I feel strongly on this that it is both redundant and unnecessary," said Rev. Tim Vander Haar, chairman of the classical Commission on Congregations which is responsible for tallying and reporting the answers to the constitutional inquiry questions. That argument didn't satisfy other classis delegates. "Those who uphold the belief that there can be other ways to Christ were saying last year that they can answer these [constitutional inquiry] questions because they do not say salvation is through Christ alone," said Rev. Bert Jara of Coopersville RCA. "Now some of those same people, not necessarily Tim, are saying this is redundant. Redundancy is a small price to pay for being clear." Other delegates alleged more serious problems than redundancy. "I think the motivation behind this is inquisitorial in nature and I would suggest that we vote against it," said Rev. Mark Bush of Covenant RCA in Muskegon. "My perception is that for the last couple of years this classis has stood firm on the sufficiency of the Word of God to rebuke Rev. Rhem. For me it seems kind of doubletalk to say that the Word of God is insufficient." One of Rhem's assistant pastors at Christ Community Church, Rev. Robert Kleinheksel, warned that the classis vote required more reflection. "We should wait rather than making exclusivism a law," said Kleinheksel. "At this point it is mainly a reaction out of fear." Others felt the amendment might be both redundant and necessary. "What's wrong with redundancy, especially when it's dealing with the bedrock of our faith?" asked Elder Jarvis Wigger of Coopersville RCA. "When you look at how the media has been putting down religion and religious people we need to take a stand for what we believe." Rev. Sherwin Brantsen of Laketon Bethel RCA in Muskegon concurred -- and warned that a clear signal to the public about RCA beliefs was necessary. "When I graduated from Western Seminary in 1982 I really thought that the majority of my peers would disagree with this, and that as a simple believer in Christ I was in the minority," said Brantsen. "My perception back in 1982 may have been wrong, but by passing this it will really help clarify what the Reformed Church believes." According to Smallegan, all RCA churches in the classis currently affirm their agreement with the Word of God and the doctrinal standards in their annual constitutional inquiry questions. However, Vander Haar said that for the two previous years Christ Community Church had answered "no" to the question of whether the church affirmed the RCA doctrinal standards. Christ Community Church, whose declaration of independence from the RCA in July of last year has not been recognized by the classis, did not return their annual questionnaire this year. 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: Southwest Michigan Becomes First RCA Michigan Classis to Ratify Church Order Amendment on Salvation Through Christ Alone #1997-027: "Kindred Spirits Gathering" of RCA Progressives Meet in Holland to Discuss Direction of Reformed Church in America 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. Sherwin Brantsen, Pastor, Laketon Bethel Reformed Church 1731 Dykstra Rd., Muskegon, MI 49445 O: (616) 744-1749 * H: (616) 744-2287 Rev. Mark Bush, Pastor, Covenant Community Church 134 East Barney Ave., Muskegon, MI 49444 O: (616) 737-1491 * H: (616) 766-3415 Rev. Roberto Jara, Associate Pastor, Coopersville Reformed Church 423 West Randall St., Coopersville, MI 49404 O: (616) 837-8949 * H: (616) 837-7715 Rev. Robert Kleinheksel, Minister of Care and Social Challenge, Christ Community Church 225 East Exchange St., Spring Lake, MI 49456 O: (616) 842-1985 * H: (616) 847-6985 * F: (616) 842-3476 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 Rev. Steve Smallegan, Stated Clerk, Muskegon Classis 3025 Glenside Blvd., Muskegon, MI 49441 O: (616) 759-3238 * H: (616) 755-8446 Rev. Timothy Vander Haar, Pastor, Central Reformed Church 1121 Jefferson St., Muskegon, MI 49441 O: (616) 728-9484 * H: (616) 798-2845 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 Elder Jarvis Wigger, Coopersville Reformed Church c/o Coopersville RCA, 423 West Randall St., Coopersville, MI 49404 O: (616) 837-8949 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-028.txt .