NR #1995-026: For Immediate Release Lake Erie Tables Motion to Allow Delegation of Deacons to Classis Meetings by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service TOLEDO, Ohio (March 8, 1995) RBPS - For many years, synods have debated questions regarding the delegation of deacons to classis and synod. The Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada has allowed diaconal delegation for a number of years, and a study committee report on ministry in Canada will recommend that the practice of the Canadian Council be implemented by all classes in both the United States and Canada, as well as by synod. Historically, Reformed churches have delegated only ministers and ruling elders to their broader assemblies for a number of reasons, the most important being the concept that the role of deacons is to assist the ministry of the elders, not to rule the church. In more recent years, another reason has become important: since 1984, synod has allowed women to serve as deacons and allowing deacons to be delegated to classis and synod would almost inevitably allow the delegation of women to those assemblies. That is especially true for Classis Lake Erie: all but three of the classis' 19 organized churches allow women deacons and the chairman of the classical diaconal conference is a woman deacon. A study committee report to Classis Lake Erie recognized these concerns but still advocated the delegation of deacons to the broader assemblies, at least in its own classis. After studying various methods by which the work of deacons could be integrated into the ministry of classis, including having the diaconal conference meet at the same time as classis and having the deacons meet with the elders but dividing the agenda between the work of deacons and elders, the report concluded that full delegation of deacons to classis was the best solution. The major objection voiced at classis was the concern that Classis Lake Erie, long known as a stickler for observing rules and regulations, would be viewed as violating the church order if the report was adopted. "With due respect to my brothers when they say the church order prohibits this, it surprises me that they do not do what we have all been urged to so, send an overture to change the church order," said Rev. Tim Brown of Dearborn (MI) CRC. "This will put the classis even farther outside the church order than we already sometimes are. This will further accentuate distance, brokenness, it would possibly cause problems for some of our local churches in sending delegates to classis." Responding to Brown, Pastor George Vander Weit of North Hills CRC in Troy, Michigan, argued that it was acceptable to delegate deacons to classis on a trial basis. "We're going to run an experiment," said Vander Weit. "It's like synod saying to us, here's a new form, try it for a few years, and if you like it, it will be formally adopted." The debate may have been affected by the preceding discussion, a protracted dispute over classical strategic planning. Some delegates questioned whether deacons would want to come to a classis meeting which did not emphasize actual ministry of churches. "We don't even know if deacons will want to come," said study committee chairman Deacon Jon Jipping. "I've been here for I don't know how many hours and I'm not sure I want to come back." Other delegates who supported the idea of delegating deacons also echoed the concern about obedience to church order. "When we decide that we're going to go against the church order, we'd better have a really important reason," said Dr. Clayton Libolt of River Terrace CRC in East Lansing. "We know that if we pass this synod is going to really, really look down on this." "When we go to synod they will look at us as if we have no respect for the church order," continued Libolt. "I have a very high respect for the church order and don't want to go against it unless we really, really believe this is a moral issue and we can do no other." Libolt also expressed concerns that delegating women deacons to classis would place an unnecessary burden of conscience on several churches in classis which oppose women in office, and raised the possibility that synod could declare overtures from Classis Lake Erie out of order if deacons were allowed to vote on them. Libolt then introduced a motion which would prohibit deacons from voting on matters of discipline, classical examinations, or overtures being sent to synod. After extended discussion, Rev. Bill DeVries of First CRC in Detroit moved to postpone action on the proposal until the next meeting of classis in October. DeVries' motion carried, and classis will continue to debate the issue at its next meeting. Cross-References to Related RBPS Articles: #1995-002: Christian Reformed Study Committee Recommends Delegation of Deacons to Classis and Synod, Scrapping of Canadian Council Contact List: Rev. Tim Brown, Pastor, Dearborn (MI) Christian Reformed Church 21383 Audette, Dearborn, MI 48124 * O; (313) 563-1030 * H: (313) 563-5606 Rev. William C. De Vries, Pastor, Detroit First Christian Reformed Church 1444 Maryland, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230 * (313) 824-3511 Dr. Clayton Libolt, Pastor, River Terrace Christian Reformed Church 2210 Moores River Drive, Lansing, MI 48911 * H: (517) 371-4018 * O: (517) 351-9059 Pastor George Vander Weit, Stated Clerk, Classis Lake Erie 2901 Waterloo Dr., Troy, MI 48084 * O: (810) 645-1990 * H: (810) 649-5388 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-026.txt .