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Race Relations

The following overture addressed to Classis Pella at its January meeting is taken from PELLA ONE, a monthly publication of the First Christian Reformed Church of Pella, Iowa.

The Consistory of the Pella I Christian Reformed Church wishes to inform Classis:

1. That it has taken note of the decisions of the Synod of 1971 to appoint a new Committee on Race Relations, and to establish a quota of $1.40 per family.

2. That we readily concede:

a. that racism is a sin which we as a church must confess to be real among us.

b. that the sin of racism among us deserves the sincere, pastoral concern of all in the church and demands the use of our best resources to eradicate this evil.

3. That we are altogether convinced that Synod erred in the appointment of this Committee with its mandate. Our conviction that this was an error is based on:

a. Our belief that this is not the Reformed way of dealing with sin in our midst. Secularism, materialism are also grievous sins of our time but who would suggest the appointment of a committee to eliminate these sins? Rather the Synod should call upon the Church to exercise more vigorously and faithfully the Keys of the Kingdom in opposing this sin of racism among us.

b. Our belief is that the mandate of the Committee is too vague for a Committee of Synod to function properly. In 1968 the Race Commission was appointed to “design, organize and implement programs . . . to eliminate racism . . .” (p. 18, Acts, 1968); in 1971 this mandate was reassigned to the new Committee on Race Relations and among other things, the Committee is to serve as “agents of reconciliation, in consultation with ecclesiastical and related agencies . . .” (p. 112, Acts, 1971).

Such a vague mandate will only tempt the Committee to pursue a course of ferreting out supposed (or real) racist tendencies with the result that we may expect a dangerous case of meddling with all the attendant results. An illustration of such meddling and erroneous conception of Synodical action is already evident from the report (cf. The Banner, Nov. 26, 1971, as well as Chicago and Grand Rapids press reports) that the present Committee was providing funds for the suit filed in Chicago against the Cicero-Timothy Christian School Board.

c. Our belief that resorting to a Synodical Committee will not eliminate such sins among us but may in fact promote further polarity and prejudices among our people. Witness the history of the previous race commission which, in spite of a large sum of money expended, proved ineffective and altogether unproductive in healing the sinful racial tension existing among us. Furthermore, the action taken to provide financial assistance in the court case in Chicago can be expected to produce diminishing returns.

4. Because of our convictions expressed above, we want Classis to know that we have genuine conscientious objections to the payment of the quota of $1.40 per family.

Therefore, the Consistory of Pella I requests Classis to overture Synod to retire this Committee on Race Relations and to admonish the churches pastorally to exercise the Keys of the Kingdom in combatting the sin of racism among us.

Grounds:

1. According to sound Reformed Church polity, Synod should be involved in adjudicating specific matters which have come to Synod by way of Classes and Consistories and not be involved in a hierarchical eradication of sins which are common among all of us.

2. This would point the way for a more effective dealing with the problems and sins of racism, recognizing the autonomy and responsibility of the local church in applying the discipline of the Word of Cod and in the exercise of the Keys of the Kingdom.