NR #1996-079: Synod Rejects Gender-Sensitive Confessional Revisions In two separate votes, synod rejected the product of the CRC Worship Committee, assigned by Synod 1994 to "provide gender-sensitive language to name and describe persons in the translations of the Belgic Confession and Canons of Dort, provided that the theological intent is not altered." The work of the committee, which appeared for the first time in the materials prepared for Synod 1996, led to two late overtures and highly critical reviews in the conservative media - including a review by Mid-America Reformed Seminary professor Dr. Cornel Venema printed in two hundred copies of Outlook magazine which were made available to the synodical delegates. NR #1996-079: For Immediate Release Synod Rejects Gender-Sensitive Confessional Revisions by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 18, 1996) URNS - In two separate votes, synod rejected the product of the CRC Worship Committee, assigned by Synod 1994 to "provide gender-sensitive language to name and describe persons in the translations of the Belgic Confession and Canons of Dort, provided that the theological intent is not altered." According to the synodical advisory committee on publications, "in some cases theological intent has been altered." The work of the committee, which appeared for the first time in the materials prepared for Synod 1996, led to two late overtures and highly critical reviews in the conservative media - including a review by Mid-America Reformed Seminary professor Dr. Cornel Venema printed in two hundred copies of Outlook magazine which were made available to the synodical delegates. "Anyone seeking evidence that a spirit profoundly at odds with the spirit and forms of Reformed confessional Christianity had infected the denomination, will have to look no farther than this report," wrote Venema in his review, noting that the committee had changed not only the language of the confessions but also the language of Scripture. "If the committee and those who support its agenda do not like the way in which God has been pleased to speak in Scripture, then let them say so boldly and get on with the business." As a result of the objections, the advisory committee asked synod to "form a new committee consisting of members of the Worship Committee and persons with expertise in the areas of Old and New Testament theology and the Reformed confessions to revise the present proposal by addressing concerns like those listed in Overture 78 and 79." Grounds cited for the new committee were that "the present proposed translations indicate that this project is not simply an issue of liturgy and publication, but also one with confessional and biblical dimensions that must be safeguarded." Synod adopted the first recommendation against accepting the confessional revisions without much debate. However, the second recommendation to form a new committee was rejected as well. The net effect is that Synod 1996 has killed the entire "gender sensitive language" confessional revision project, at least for the time being. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1994-034: CRC Synod Appoints Committee to Study Calling God "She"; Ratification of Church Order Changes by Classes Rejected Contact List: NOTE TO EDITORS: Most synodical delegates are staying on the campus of Calvin College. To reach delegates in their dormitory rooms during Synod 1996, expected to adjourn on or before June 20, call Calvin College at (616) 957-0000 or contact the synodical news office at the following numbers: Synod News Office: Press Officers Rev. Robert De Moor and Rachel Boehm Van Harmelen O: (616) 957-8652 * F: (616) 957-6469 Pre-Recorded Synod News Hotline: (616) 224-0841 or toll-free (888) 277-9663 Dr. Emily Brink, Music and Liturgy Editor, CRC Publications 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560 * O: (616) 246-0819 * FAX: (616) 246-0834 Rev. LeRoy Christoffels, Chairperson, CRC Publications Worship Committee 490 Valley Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470 * H: (201) 694-1516 * O: (201) 628-1313 Dr. Cornelis Venema, Professor, Mid-America Reformed Seminary 229 Seminary Dr., Dyer, IN 46311 * O: (219) 864-2400 * FAX: (219) 864-2410 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-079.txt .