“On October 23 and 24, a consistorial conference of about twenty churches, called by the consistories of Lynwood, Illinois; Dutton, Michigan; and First Rock Valley, Iowa, met to discuss and evaluate trends in the Christian Reformed Church and to propose a positive plan of action to call the denomination to faith and obedience to the Word of God.

The evening session on October 23 was devoted to fellowship and committee assignments. The morning of October 24 was devoted to committee work dealing with five specific areas of concern.

The afternoon meeting was a discussion of the issues and a presentation of recommendations to the various churches. Those recommendations are as follows:

The Consistorial Conference affirms that the Holy Scriptures are the authoritative Word of God for all times and that believers are unconditionally bound to submit to their supreme authority. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20–21; Belgic Confession, Articles 5 & 7)

Further. we affirm the Three Forms of Unity to be the clear and faithful exposition and expressions of the inspired and infallable Word of God; and that these define the historic Reformed Faith, and are our guide for all ecclesiastical decisions.

Particularly, we affirm, without reservation. the doctrine of Scripture, Church, and Office, as specified in the Belgic Confession (as published in the 1959 edition of the Psalter Hymnal) since these are in complete harmony with Scripture.

Therefore:

1. We reject any method of Biblical interpretation which allows the culture of any age to determine the meaning of Holy Scripture and thus undermine its authority. (Cultural considerations illuminate the meaning of a text, but may never determine the meaning.) 2. We reject recent synodical decisions which contain elements that have eroded the historic Reformed Faith and represent the result of a process which compromises the nature and extent of Scripture’s authority, such as:

a. Ordination of women to ecclesiastical office (Acts of Synod 1973, Report 44; Acts of Synod 1984),

b. “The Contemporary Testimony” (Acts of Synod, 1986),

c. The definition of homosexuality (Acts of Synod, 1973),

d. The recent guidelines on divorce and remarriage (Acts of Synod, 1980).

3. We call upon all consistories to overture synod to state clearly the Reformed view of Scripture and to reverse the decisions which have shown a weakening the authority. 4. We encountered consistories to withhold financial superior those Synodical agencies which determine our confessional integrity. Ground: God alone is Lord of the conscience and no one may be forced to support causes which violate his conscience.

5. However, we encourage consistories to continue to support those agencies which are worthy of their support.

Ground: Participation in the denomination obligates a congregation to contribute toward the services it receives from the denomination.

6. We urge all consistories to monitor the policies and programs of those church and mission agencies, both denominational and other, which they are considering for support to assure themselves that they can recommend the cause to their congregations in good conscience.

Throughout the conference a spirit of cooperation and holy excitement prevailed. It is our prayer that the King of the Church bless the efforts of this conference. The next conference will be held in early 1987.”

Sincerely,

Rev. Stuart C. Pastine Recording Secretary of the Consistorial Conference