Wednesday, June 21, was a historic day for the Christian Reformed Church. That afternoon, before a full house of observers, a decision with many implications was made by the Synod of our denomination. It was decided by a majority, but not unanimously, “That consistories be allowed to ordain qualified women to the office of deacon, […]
This completes the “Testimony” of which the first half was printed in October. The “Testimony” is the result of long discussion and a year of work by a committee and has been endorsed by over 40 Christian Reformed ministers who say that it expresses substantially their convictions on major issues that confront our churches today. […]
At the last meeting of Classis Orange City a decision was taken which is of extreme significance to the life of the Christian Reformed Church. Unfortunately, many of the delegates, and perhaps many of you who read this, view the decision as the proper means of bringing a “naughty” congregation back into line. But other, far […]
A HANDBOOK OF CRC ISSUES 1968–1978; 600 pages; published by Association of Christian Reformed Laymen, P. O. Box 1303, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49501; $7.95. Reviewed by Rev. John Vander Ploeg. By all means don’t buy or read this book or even get anywhere near it, unless you are willing to be disturbed and possibly also stung […]
Every Christian Reformed Consistory member has again received a copy of the 1978 Synod Agenda. One wonders how many even of the delegates to that meeting will work through its 496 pages. To help consistory members as well as other readers to get acquainted with the synod’s coming business, THE OUTLOOK, as it has done […]
Should the CRC now decide to make the office of deacon available to women? This is not merely a theoretical or abstract question, but rather it is practical and very urgent right now. Why? Because the 1978 CRC Synod is faced with a recommendation from a study committee that this now be done. The committee on Women […]
Harlan G. Vanden Einde is pastor of the Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. A Canadian reader would like to know whether we should use the word “consistory” or “council” when referring to the local governmental body of the congregation in the Christian Reformed Church. I’m not sure whether there is a […]
Some months ago my editorial on “Desideratum A United Reformed Church” called forth a measure of response including a misunderstanding which, in fairness to honestly disturbed ministers in the CRC, should be set straight. Writing about disturbing developments in the CRC, one correspondent states: “There are still a goodly number of pastors who arc very unhappy […]
John H. Piersma served as a delegate to the CRC Synod of 1977 from Classis Illiana while he was still pastor of the Bethany CRC of South Holland. Illinois. Since then he has been installed as pastor of the First eRe of Sioux Center, Iowa. His willingness to write this day-by-day review of Synod is truly appreciated. […]
Readers who have access to the 1977 Agenda for the CRC Synod will find that Report 41 (pp. 399 ff.) is about “A Proposed Judicial Code” which the 1977 eRe Synod will have to consider. First presented by attorney Charles L. Zandstra as an address at last September’s annual meeting of Reformed Fellowship, this article […]