NR #1996-080: Record of Previous Synodical Votes on Women in Office

 The 1996 synodical decision to maintain the 1995 decision to allow each
classis to decide its position on women in office resulted in the highest
vote total ever in favor of women's ordination at a Christian Reformed synod.
Following is a complete record of all decisions on the ordination of women as
ministers, elders, and evangelists since the initial 1990 decision in favor
of ordaining women to those offices.

NR #1996-080: For Immediate Release
Record of Previous Synodical Votes on Women in Office

by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer
United Reformed News Service

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 18, 1996) URNS - The 1996 synodical decision to
maintain the 1995 decision to allow each classis to decide its position on
women in office resulted in the highest vote total ever in favor of women's
ordination at a Christian Reformed synod. Following is a complete record of
all decisions on the ordination of women as ministers, elders, and
evangelists since the initial 1990 decision in favor of ordaining women to
those offices.

 The procedure followed in each year has been similar: an advisory committee
composed of synodical delegates appointed by the officers from the previous
year's synod has come to synod with a majority and minority report, one
favoring and one opposing women's ordination. The majority report is first
taken up by synod but any delegate may move to table the majority report for
the purpose of considering the recommendations of the minority report.

 Two exceptions occurred in 1990 and 1992: in 1990, a synodical study
committee on the matter of "headship" granted its right of precedence to the
minority opposed to women in office, and in 1992, the majority report in
favor of allowing women to "teach, expound the Word of God, and provide
pastoral care" without ordination prompted two minority reports, one in favor
of full ordination for women and the other opposed to allowing women
expounders. In some years, the key vote was not the final vote but a
procedural motion or a rejection of a minority report prior to the final
vote, so substantive procedural motions prior to the final vote are included
as well as the final vote. The vote tallies do not reflect nuances of
difference in the grounds favoring and opposing women's ordination made from
year to year or other motions implementing the decision made that year, most
of which were passed by voice vote once the main question was settled.

Synod 1990:

 Study committee grants precedence to minority opposed to women's ordination

 Motion to consider majority favoring women's ordination pending 1992
ratification PASSED, 91-89

 Motion to consider minority opposing women's ordination PASSED, 94-88

 Minority recommendation DEFEATED, 92-88

 Final vote favoring women's ordination pending 1992 ratification PASSED,
voice vote

Synod 1991:

 Motion to consider minority opposing women's ordination PASSED, 99-79
 Minority recommendation DEFEATED, 111-73
 Final vote not to consider overturning 1990 until 1992 PASSED, voice vote

Synod 1992:

 Motion to consider minority opposing women's ordination DEFEATED, voice vote

 Final vote not to ratify 1990 PASSED, 109-73

Synod 1993:

 Motion to consider minority favoring women's ordination PASSED, 104-77

 Motion to declare "new and sufficient grounds" for revising 1992 PASSED,
93-90

 Final vote favoring women's ordination PASSED, 95-88-1

Synod 1994:

 Final vote opposing women's ordination PASSED, 95-89

Synod 1995:

 Motion to consider minority opposing women's ordination DEFEATED, 62-??
(negatives not announced)

 Final vote allowing classes to decide on women's ordination PASSED, 112-66
Synod 1996:

 Motion to consider minority opposing women's ordination DEFEATED, 128-50

 Final vote not to overturned 1995 PASSED, 122-54-1

Sources: Synods 1990-1991, Christian Renewal; Synods 1992-1996: United
Reformed News Service




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