From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 07:46:21 EDT Subject: NR 98051: Van Hoven Wins Unexpected Victory at RCA General Synod NR #1998-051: Van Hoeven Wins Unexpected Victory: RCA Fails to Discipline Minister Who Supported Rhem in Local Papers Retired campus minister Rev. Don Van Hoeven of Kalamazoo has won an unexpected victory at the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America. Van Hoeven, who was formally rebuked by the Classis of Southwest Michigan for heresy after writing articles in four local newspapers supporting the universal salvation views of Rev. Richard Rhem of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, appealed the dismissal of his case by the Regional Synod of the Great Lakes. The General Synod's overtures and judicial business committee recommended that Van Hoeven's appeal be rejected on technical grounds, namely, that the rebuke was an action of pastoral admonition rather than judicial discipline. In a highly unusual action, the General Synod voted to send the case back to the regional synod for review. NR #1998-051: For Immediate Release: Van Hoeven Wins Unexpected Victory: RCA Fails to Discipline Minister Who Supported Rhem in Local Papers by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service HOLLAND, MICH. (June 8, 1998) URNS - Retired campus minister Rev. Don Van Hoeven of Kalamazoo has won an unexpected victory at the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America. Van Hoeven, who was formally rebuked by the Classis of Southwest Michigan for heresy after writing articles in four local newspapers supporting the universal salvation views of Rev. Richard Rhem of Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, appealed the dismissal of his case by the Regional Synod of the Great Lakes. The General Synod's overtures and judicial business committee recommended that Van Hoeven's appeal be rejected on technical grounds, namely, that the rebuke was an action of pastoral admonition rather than judicial discipline. In a highly unusual action, the General Synod voted to send the case back to the regional synod for review. I do not oppose recommendation two either because of agreement or disagreement with Don Van Hoeven," said Rev. Robert Luidens of Altamont (NY) Reformed Church. "The heart of the matter before us as a synod is not the content of Rev. Van Hoeven's articles, but rather his right to speak." Elder John De Koster of the Classis of West Sioux also urged the general synod to look at the procedural issues involved rather than Van Hoeven's theology. "Rev. Van Hoeven was denied the opportunity to prove any of the points of his complaint because he was denied a hearing," said De Koster. Even some well-known RCA evangelicals came to Van Hoeven's defense. "I was troubled when I read this the first time in the workbook, I was troubled when I read it the second time," said Rev. Tom Stark of University Reformed Church of East Lansing. "There is nothing to be lost if we send this back to the regional synod; there is a lot to be lost if we deny this man a hearing." Speaking after the vote, Van Hoeven said he was very surprised by the decision. "One of my colleagues said to me that he doesn't know if ever before a decision of regional synod has been reversed in a judicial case," said Van Hoeven. Nevertheless, Van Hoeven said he was pleased by the general synod decision in light of strong evangelical opposition to his views within his own classis and regional synod. "These intimidations are brought against any person who does not agree with the sentiments toward exclusivism that certainly predominate in this geographic segment of the church," said Van Hoeven. "Will the synod provide relief to those who are disciplined through bias and prejudice?" asked Van Hoeven. "The local ethos and the narrow view of the Southwest Michigan Classis do not, I believe, reflect the broad RCA." Van Hoeven said he wouldn't be calling for a special meeting of the Regional Synod of the Great Lakes, without which his case can't come back to General Synod until at least the year 2000. Regional synod stated clerk Rev. Howard Moths said he was also surprised by the general synod decision. "The General Synod wanted to protect its right to debate the issues in general synod vote rather than granting classis its rights over pastoral discipline without an obligatory review," said Moths. "They have essentially decided that any case gets to the supreme court; if that happened in our American system of jurisprudence it would shut down tomorrow." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1997-007: Appeal of Charges Against Rhem Sent Back to Committee by RCA's Regional Synod Executive Committee; Van Hoeven Appeal to Proceed with Recommendation of Dismissal #1998-033: Three Reformed Denominations to Hold General Assemblies or Synods this Year in West Michigan #1998-047: RCA General Synod to Begin Main Business Monday Morning 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 * E-Mail: ewantworth@worldnet.att.net Elder John De Koster, Classis of West Sioux 1218 Division St., PO Box 498, Hull, IA 51239 Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America 49 Yawpo, Oakland, NJ 07436 O: (212) 870-2845 * E-Mail: wes_granbergmichaelson.parti@ecunet.org Rev. Robert Luidens, Pastor, Altamont Reformed Church 129 Lincoln Ave., Box 671, Altamont, NY 12009 O: (518) 861-8711 * H: (518) 861-8108 Rev. Howard Moths, Stated Clerk, Regional Synod of the Great Lakes 2795 Rosewood St., Jenison, MI 49428 O: (616) 669-6690 * H: (616) 669-1983 Rev. Tom Stark, Senior Pastor, University Reformed Church 231 Oakhill, East Lansing, MI 48823 O: (517) 351-6810 * H: (517) 351-7164 Rev. Charles Van Engen, President, RCA General Synod 1998 948 S. Bradish Ave., Glendora, CA 91740 O: (818) 914-3038 * H: (818) 963-9399 Rev. Donald Van Hoeven 1024 Westfall, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 H: (616) 381-8586 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive98: nr98-051.txt .