NR #1996-023: For Immediate Release Muskegon RCA Classis: No Room for Pastor Questioning Salvation Apart from Christ, Authority of Scripture America's oldest continuously-established Protestant denomination, the Reformed Church in America, appears poised to deal with something it hasn't done since 1929: official separation of a pastor from his ordained status due to theological issues. That course was set tonight by Muskegon Classis, a West Michigan regional governing body of the 323,000-member RCA, when it voted by a 38-19 margin to follow the advice of its classical executive committee and declare that if Rev. Richard Rhem does not recant his views "which are not fully supportive of the definitive authority of Scripture and salvation through Christ alone, that Richard Rhem and Christ Community Church prayerfully and deliberately, with humility, work toward a peaceful separation" from the denomination. NR #1996-023: For Immediate Release Muskegon RCA Classis: No Room for Pastor Questioning Salvation Apart from Christ, Authority of Scripture by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service MUSKEGON, Mich. (February 29, 1996) URNS - America's oldest continuously-established Protestant denomination, the Reformed Church in America, appears poised to deal with something it hasn't done since 1929: official separation of a pastor from his ordained status due to theological issues. That course was set tonight by Muskegon Classis, a West Michigan regional governing body of the 323,000-member RCA, when it voted by a 38-19 margin to follow the advice of its classical executive committee and declare that if Rev. Richard Rhem does not recant his views "which are not fully supportive of the definitive authority of Scripture and salvation through Christ alone, that Richard Rhem and Christ Community Church prayerfully and deliberately, with humility, work toward a peaceful separation" from the denomination. Rhem, who has pastored the 3500-member Christ Community Church in Spring Lake since 1971 and is Muskegon Classis' longest-serving pastor, aroused controversy last year by permitting the Muskegon Metropolitan Community Church, a congregation primarily composed of practicing homosexuals, to use Christ Community's facilities for worship. While Rhem acknowledged that the homosexual issue precipitated the investigation by classis, the classical executive committee recommended a peaceful separation not because of his views on homosexuality but because of his views on Scripture and salvation apart from Christ. "I am not prepared to say there is no salvation apart from that mediated by Jesus Christ as understood in the Christian tradition," Rhem told classis delegates and a largely supportive audience that packed Hope Reformed Church of Muskegon to capacity. "Even the Polish Pope agrees with me on that issue, and so do many, many others, so I'm not really that far off in that area," said Rhem. Rhem's views forced Muskegon Classis to do something that rarely happens in the RCA: decide the limits of toleration in a denomination that prides itself on maintaining unity despite a diversity of theological viewpoints. According to denominational General Secretary Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, who cancelled attendance at an ecumenical meeting to fly to the classis from RCA denominational headquarters in New York, while resignations and denominational transfers have periodically occurred for theological reasons, the RCA's last official separation of a pastor from his classis for such reasons occurred in 1929 with Rev. Albert Waalkes over the issue of infant baptism. According to the RCA historical directory listing all pastors since the denomination's founding in 1628 in New York City, then the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, Waalkes left his charge at Garfield Park RCA in Grand Rapids and was subsequently dismissed to a Baptist denomination. At least one member of the classical executive committee wanted to prevent Rhem from being the RCA's next case of separation for theological reasons. Rev. Timothy Vander Haar of Central Reformed Church in Muskegon moved to amend the executive committee motion by substituting a proposal to have classis commit itself to a yearlong period of study and prayer over the issues raised by Rhem. "I agree that we have struggled, but we haven't struggled together," said Vander Haar. "If we love our neighbor as ourselves, the very least we owe our neighbor is to talk to each other for a year. If you have any doubt in your heart which way to go on this, you must lean in the direction of grace." The substitute motion wasn't acceptable to many delegates, however. "I feel that I am clear on where Dick is on salvation and on Scripture, and I know where I am," said Rev. Don Van Slyke of First Reformed Church in Ravenna, noting that while he continued to respect Rhem's integrity and intellect, decisive action was necessary. "We as a denomination will continue to be perceived as a people of God who are less than evangelical, and I do not believe that the majority of the people in Muskegon Classis are less than evangelical." "There have been times that we have argued about theological minutiae; this is not one of them," concurred Rev. Steve Smallegan of Westwood Reformed Church. "Surely the lowest common denominator of the Christian faith is what we believe about the authority of Scripture and salvation through Christ." Others had even stronger feelings. "I speak strongly against this motion because Jesus himself in John 14:6 says, "I am the way - and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,'" noted Rev. Richard Christy of Conklin Reformed Church. "I speak on behalf of my consistory that if we continue to dialogue about this, there will be churches that will leave because of the less than evangelical stand we are taking." Opponents of Rhem's theological position weren't the only people to express strong feelings. "We are a diverse classis," noted Rev. Miriam Baar-Bush of Covenant Community Church in Muskegon Heights. "This is not just Dick who is wondering and thinking about Scripture; there are more of us here who are part of the debate." "There will be many of us who will still be here who will continue the debate," said Baar-Bush - sentiments echoed by a number of other delegates who reminded classis that Rhem was not the only RCA minister with similar views. "We here at Classis Muskegon are one pocket of our denomination; we have to think about our brothers in the broader Reformed Church in America," said Elder Marilyn Rottschaefer of Christ Community Church. "I wonder if this is truly representative of what the broader denomination thinks about this." After extended debate, classis voted down the proposed substitute motion by a 42 to 15 margin, later also rejecting a proposal to defer action to a closed session the following Tuesday. Classis then moved on to the executive committee motion proposing a peaceful separation from the RCA if Rhem does not recant. "I think it is important that we declare ourselves as a classis on whether there is room in the classis for the views of Dick regarding salvation and regarding Scripture, and if there is not, that we move toward a peaceful separation," said classis minister Rev. Richard Veenstra. "This is not about deposing, this is about whether there is room for Dick in this classis and in this denomination." Following Veenstra's speech, the denominational General Secretary was invited to provide advice to the classis. "This is a very important moment, and it's one that is being felt throughout the Reformed Church in America; it is also one of very deep pain," said Granberg-Michaelson, noting that he had written a pastoral letter on the subject to the members of the classical executive committee and a number of other delegates to classis. Citing the history of the 1929 discipline case, Granberg-Michaelson noted that such cases were extremely rare. "Historically taking such an action is the full right of a classis, its right as a bishop and overseer, but it has been exercised very, very rarely," said Granberg-Michaelson. "The process prescribed in the Book of Church Order for separation of a minister of the Word and Sacrament is intentionally made extremely difficult. It is a little bit like saying, should divorce be easy, no fault, or should it be difficult because of the seriousness of the vows you have taken." Several delegates questioned the intention behind the executive committee motion. "I am still in a fog as to what exactly the intent of the recommendation is," said Baar-Bush. "Do we say to Dick, we wish you would just leave and go away? I would like to know if we are asking him to demit, if we are deposing him, if we are excommunicating him, or what." "All we are asking in the motion is a recantation of those two areas of doctrine," responded classical stated clerk Rev. James Stevens. "If he can, fine. The issue is does he recant or does he not. If he does not, then there are further steps that may need to be taken." Elder David Jensen of Unity Reformed Church in Muskegon urged the adoption of the recommendation. "The issue we are talking about is not peripheral; these are not minors, things we can agree to disagree on," said Jensen. "When it's Jesus Christ being the source of salvation alone, when it's Scripture being the authentic Word of God, I don't think we can do anything else," said Jensen, noting that to defeat the motion would mean all classis members would need to support Rhem. "I in good conscience tonight, as a pastor of my church, and the Reformed Church in general, I cannot do that." Baar-Bush made clear that a decision to oppose Rhem would also have widespread consequences. "This will separate and divide our denomination," said Baar-Bush. "If you want to speak truth, the truth needs to be know that we are saying anyone who holds the same views as Dick needs to be excluded. We are setting a precedent for other classes; there are others in the pulpit, there are those in the Reformed Church who teach in our theological schools, who will be affected by this. Who's next?" Faced with the inevitability of division within the classis and the possibility of greater division outside the classis, the delegates chose by a large majority to follow the recommendation of the classical executive committee. On a secret ballot vote, classis decided by a 38-19 margin to ask Rhem to recant his views, with the understanding that a peaceful separation would be sought if he does not recant. Following the vote, the denominational General Secretary made some closing pastoral comments. "You do serve as a corporate bishop, and you have all the rights to do so, but I have to point out to you that you are part of as broader denominational family," said Granberg-Michaelson. Rhem said in a subsequent interview that he had not yet decided what he would do, although his congregation by a nearly unanimous vote had declared their support for him and will almost certainly follow his decision. "I can turn in my credentials and then they're off the hook and I'm no longer a minister of the Reformed Church," said Rhem. "The other possibility is to say, you've made that claim and can begin the discipline process." "My heart says let's walk. My head says I am a responsible churchman who also has to think of others in the church," said Rhem. "The future is unclear." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1994-041: Unprecedented Decision of Reformed Church in America Synod Removes Voting Rights from Two Regional Classes #1995-032: Reformed Church in America Expels Leading Conservative Church for Nonpayment of Denominational Assessments #1996-013: Special Meeting of RCA's Muskegon Classis Discusses Homosexuality, Scripture, Salvation Apart from Christ #1996-014: Calvin Professor Part of Survey of Clergy on Political Attitudes Contact List: Rev. Miriam Baar-Bush, Co-Pastor, Covenant Community Church 134 East Barney Ave., Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 * O: (616) 737-1491 * H: (616) 766-3415 Rev. Richard Christy, Pastor, Conklin Reformed Church Box 65, 19630 Cherry St., Conklin, MI 49403 * O: (616) 899-2432 * H: (616) 899-2432 Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America 49 Yawpo, Oakland, NJ 07436 * O: (212) 870-2845 Elder David Jensen, Unity Reformed Church 1521 Porter Rd., Muskegon MI 49441 * O: (616) 798-2476 * H: (616) 780-2814 Rev. Richard Rhem, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Church 225 East Exchange St., Spring Lake, MI 49456 * O: (616) 842-1985 * H: (616) 846-7777 Elder Marilyn Rottschaefer, Christ Community Church c/o Christ Community Church, 225 East Exchange St., Spring Lake, MI 49456 * O: (616) 842-1985 Rev. James Stevens, Stated Clerk, Classis of Muskegon 281 North 2nd Ave., Fruitport, MI 49415 * H/O: (616) 865-6165 Rev. Timothy Vander Haar, Pastor, Central Reformed Church 1121 Jefferson St., Muskegon, MI 49441 * O: (616) 728-9484 * H: (616) 798-2845 Rev. Don Van Slyke, Pastor, First Reformed Church PO Box 163, 3327 Mortimer St., Ravenna, MI 49451 * O: (616) 853-6621 * H: (616) 853-2421 Rev. Richard Veenstra, Classis Minister, Classis of Muskegon (RCA) 17432 North Shore Estates Rd., Spring Lake, MI 49456 * O: (616) 534-7533 * H: (616) 842-0454 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-023.txt .