From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 04:59:05 -0500 (EST) NR #1996-111: November 11-12 Special Meeting of Canadian CRC Council Asked to Retract Brief to Canadian Government Supporting Homosexual Domestic Partnership Legislation When the Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada convenes in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 11, it will have an unexpected item on its crowded two-day agenda. Classis Hamilton has asked the Canadian Council to formally retract a brief to the Canadian government asserting Christian Reformed support for homosexual domestic partnership legislation. The official CRC position since 1973 has clearly stated that homosexual practice is contrary to Scripture. However, the Canadian Council's Committee for Contact with the Government has complicated the situation by sending a brief to the Canadian government stating that Canada should enact "appropriate legislationx ensuring that there is protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation with regard to housing, employment, and services." The brief also suggested that "mutually supportive relationships of a private and perhaps intimate nature other than those understood by the familiar and historic termsx should be given a new designationx [namely], domestic partnerships." Such domestic partnerships, according to the CRC brief, would be registered "much like 'traditional' marriages are" so that the partners could have "rights and privileges similar to the spousal benefits married couples now enjoy." NR #1996-111: For Immediate Release November 11-12 Special Meeting of Canadian CRC Council Asked to Retract Brief to Canadian Government Supporting Homosexual Domestic Partnership Legislation by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service (October 28, 1996) - When the Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada convenes in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 11, it will have an unexpected item on its crowded two-day agenda. Classis Hamilton has asked the Canadian Council to formally retract a brief to the Canadian government asserting Christian Reformed support for homosexual domestic partnership legislation. The official CRC position since 1973 has clearly stated that homosexual practice is contrary to Scripture. However, the Canadian Council's Committee for Contact with the Government has complicated the situation by sending a brief to the Canadian government stating that Canada should enact "appropriate legislationx ensuring that there is protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation with regard to housing, employment, and services." The brief also suggested that "mutually supportive relationships of a private and perhaps intimate nature other than those understood by the familiar and historic termsx should be given a new designationx [namely], domestic partnerships." Such domestic partnerships, according to the CRC brief, would be registered "much like 'traditional' marriages are" so that the partners could have "rights and privileges similar to the spousal benefits married couples now enjoy." In an overture adopted by Classis Hamilton and sent on to the Canadian Council, Ancaster (ON) CRC asked the Canadian Council to "retract the submission of the Committee for Contact with the Government (CCG)" with the explanation that the documents "express a viewpoint that is not in keeping with the expressed public position of the Christian Reformed Church." Ancaster CRC pastor Rev. Bernard De Jonge took particular offense to the Committee for Contact with the Government claiming to speak on behalf of the CRC while in fact contradicting the CRC's official position on homosexuality. "Is the Committee for Contact with the Government running ahead of the churches?" asked De Jonge. "They acted as a rump parliament. Here was a small group of people acting on behalf of the whole. They have exceeded their jurisdiction and spoken for the whole; they have said more than what the larger body would have said." De Jonge also warned that if the brief to the government was not retracted it would set a bad precedent for the future. "We don't go changing the position of the church in a roundabout way by using the public media; if there is a desire to see the official position changed we need to use the channels of the church," said De Jonge. "It may very well be that the whole question of the church's ministry to persons of homosexual orientation needs to be addressed, but if that is the case let's do it the proper way." According to Canadian Council interim committee chairman Rev. Gerard Ringnalda, the Canadian Council's special meeting will only be able to take up the Classis Hamilton overture by special motion to place it on the agenda. "The meeting is scheduled only to deal with the restructuring of ministries in Canada, not to deal with anything else," said Ringnalda. "The procedure basically is that a motion would be made to consider the matter legally before the meeting, and if that motion gets a majority the chair would be obliged to place it before the meeting." Regardless of whether the Canadian Council formally retracts its brief to the government, the author, Reinder Klein, has already submitted a public letter of apology for his actions. That isn't enough for De Jonge, however. "Our concern is that these are official submissions by the church and therefore must be officially retracted," said De Jonge. "For Reinder Klein to apologize is not enough If you borrow money and cannot repay, an apology isn't sufficient." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-031: More Churches Split Following Christian Reformed Synodical Vote Allowing Women Elders and Pastors; Alberta Seceders Protest Homosexuality Report by Classis Alberta North #1994-016: Midwest Classis Asks CRC Synod to Address Homosexuality, Calling God "She," Theistic Evolution, Ordination Process #1994-031: Christian Reformed Synod: Members May Not "Practice or Advocate Homosexualism"; Dr. David Engelhard Approved as CRC's Next General Secretary; Synod Rejects Proposal to End Funding Endorsement for Westminster Seminary #1994-048: Jim Lucas Hired as Chaplain of "As We Are" Gay Ministry; Ministerial Credentials Extended to Permit Call to Position; Classis Grand Rapids East of the Christian Reformed Denomination Expects Homosexuality Study Committee to Report to January Classis Meeting #1995-043: Committee Divides on Whether Gay Ministries Must Declare Homosexual Activity is Sin; Classis Grand Rapids East Refers Both Reports to Churches for Study #1995-084: Classis Wisconsin Overtures Christian Reformed Synod to Declare that Members who "Deny the Biblical Condemnation of All Homosexual Behavior" are Subject to Discipline #1995-085: Text of Classis Wisconsin Overture re. Homosexuality #1995-100: Grand Rapids East Attempts Compromise on Question of How to Minister to Christian Reformed Gays #1995-101: Text of Classis Grand Rapids East Study Committee Report on Ministry with Persons who are Homosexual #1995-113: Calvin Seminary Professors Urge Classis Grand Rapids East to Affirm CRC Synod's Ruling that Homosexual Practice is Sin #1995-114: Text of Calvin Seminary Faculty Letter on Homosexuality #1996-011: CRC's Largest Congregation Joins Protest Against Fraternal Relations with Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland #1996-044: Engelhard to Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland: Christian Reformed Synod Upset by Biblical Justification of Homosexuality in Dutch Mother Church #1996-081: Tempers Flare as Christian Reformed Synod Appoints Committee to Restudy Homosexuality Contact List: Rev. Bernie De Jonge, Pastor, Ancaster Christian Reformed Church 177 Manitou Way, Ancaster, ON L9G 1X9 O: (416) 648-2323 * H: (416) 648-0969 Rev. Gerard Ringnalda, Interim Committee Chairman, Canadian Council 294 Bay St., Orilla, ON L3V 3X3 O: (416) 229-4610 * H: (705) 325-7056 Rev. Arie Van Eek, Executive Secretary, Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada 23 Niska Dr., Waterdown, ON L0R 2H3 O: (905) 336-2920 * H: (905) 689-5226 * F: (905) 336-8344 To Reach United Reformed News Service Regional Office Staff, Contact: Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer [For news tips or content-related inquiries] Voice: (616) 674-8446 * FAX: (616) 674-8454 * E-Mail: Darrell128@AOL.com PO Box 691, Lawrence, MI 49064-0691 Greg Rickmar, Circulation Manager [For missing or back issues, subscription inquiries, or address changes] Voice: (616) 968-5110 * FAX: (616) 966-3659 * E-Mail: grickmar@msn.com Box 583, Battle Creek, MI 49016-0583 .c1.World Wide Web Site: "http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/reformed/reformed-home.html" ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-111.txt .