Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 15:12:46 -0400 (EDT) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97046: Rhem's Attorney Responds: "The RCA in Western Michigan [is] Truly a Dysfunctional Family NR #1997-046: Rhem's Attorney Responds: "The RCA in Western Michigan [is] Truly a Dysfunctional Family" In a prepared statement, legal counsel for Rev. Richard Rhem and Christ Community Church of Spring Lake have issued a response to the May 5 decision of the Great Lakes Regional Synod of the Reformed Church in America. Rhem's attorney, Roger Boer of the Grand Rapids law firm Rhoades, McKee, Boer, Goodrich, and Titta, states that "I advise my clients to have nothing to do with Classis Muskegon RCA. Recent history shows that both the Regional Synod and the Classis are not interested in healing but wish to pursue discord and unrest." The complete text of the prepared statement is printed without any form of editorial comment. NR #1997-046: For Immediate Release Rhem's Attorney Responds: "The RCA in Western Michigan [is] Truly a Dysfunctional Family" by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (May 6, 1997) URNS -- In a prepared statement, legal counsel for Rev. Richard Rhem and Christ Community Church of Spring Lake have issued a response to the May 5 decision of the Great Lakes Regional Synod of the Reformed Church in America. Rhem's attorney, Roger Boer of the Grand Rapids law firm Rhoades, McKee, Boer, Goodrich, and Titta, states that "I advise my clients to have nothing to do with Classis Muskegon RCA. Recent history shows that both the Regional Synod and the Classis are not interested in healing but wish to pursue discord and unrest." The following is the complete text of the prepared statement without any form of editorial comment. Editors should be advised that the "Classis Muskegon" word order is incorrect: unlike the Christian Reformed Church, RCA terminology uses the form "Muskegon Classis" or "Classis of Muskegon." The Great Lakes Regional Synod's remand of the allegations against Christ Community Church of Spring Lake, Michigan and its senior pastor Rev. Richard A. Rhem back to Classis Muskegon is business as usual for the R.C.A. in Western Michigan. They are truly a dysfunctional family. The trustees and Rev. Rhem are strongly advised to make no comment on this action beyond what was contained in the April 25, 1997 letters to both the Synod and the Classis. In the Synod letter they stated: "The trustees of Christ Community Church cannot believe that a synodical body in the Reformed Church in America would remand an accusation of this nature to Classis, and in so doing, instruct them to act simultaneously as police, prosecutor, judge, and jury. How can this be done fairly? How can there be any semblance of due process when Classis has already sentenced our pastor when they held him up to "disrepute with Christ, the Church, and the world?" My clients have been advised that the word and integrity of Classis Muskegon R.C.A. is suspect. Witness how on two occasions the resolutions and commitments of that body, March 1996 and October 1996, were ignored and not consummated by its leadership. It is clear that the Classis agenda is calculated to discredit both Christ Community Church and its pastor. It is therefore the conclusion that any interaction between the parties would exacerbate the situation. I advise my clients to have nothing to do with Classis Muskegon R.C.A. Recent history shows that both the Regional Synod and the Classis are not interested in healing but wish to pursue discord and unrest. Roger W. Boer Rhoades, McKee Boer Goodrich and Titta on behalf of the Trustees Christ Community Church Rev. Richard A. Rhem Cross-References to Related Articles: #1997-045: Reformed Church in America Regional Synod of the Great Lakes Sends Rhem "Gross Sexual Misconduct" Case Back to Muskegon Classis for Investigation, Possible Trial [See additional articles at crossreference] 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 Roger W. Boer, Esq., Partner, Rhoades, McKee, Boer, Goodrich & Titta, Attorneys at Law 161 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 600, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2793 O: (616) 235-3500 * FAX: (616) 459-5102 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. 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-046.txt .