Gay marriage and the Reformed Church
Browsing my fl, I came across an article posted by ladysisyphus:
Reformed Church Seminary President Faces Dismissal for Performing Daughter's 'Gay Marriage'
On one level, this pisses me off. My heart breaks to see anyone faced with the choice between their faith and their heart, and I think that person or organization A telling person B that B's relationship with God is invalid - especially in Reformed traditions which profess the Priesthood of All Believers1 - is utter bullshit.
Admittedly, this is tempered by the fact that I voluntarily left the Church nearly a decade ago, in part because of the theological and political posturing, and it often takes a lot for me to work up a good ire over internal Church squabbles.
On another level, however, the article gives me hope.
As a brief caveat, I am not an official student of theology, Reformed or otherwise; I have never been a member of the RCA. I did, however, grow up in the CRC,2 and did an extensive personal study of the tenants and theology before leaving.
Neither the CRC nor the RCA are quick to change, despite social pressures. The fact that the issue of same sex marriages has come up with regard to such a prominent member of the RCA is astounding, to say the least. While the decisions themselves may provoke anger, same sex marriages being addressed publicly at all within these churches now - instead of a decade or two down the road - is a major step in the right direction.
In DRC history, these issues are often debated for years or decades within individual churches or classis3 before being brought before the General Synod, then taking further years to come to a decision, only to be brought up time and again over the next decades with efforts to repeal or amend, before a final resolution. Seeing it come before Synod while it is still a relevant social issue in the larger national context gives me hope that acceptance may not be as far away is I had previously thought.
1. The Priesthood of All Believers is, in a nutshell, the teaching that all people can have a direct relationship with God, without requiring the intercession of the clergy. A minister's role is (among other things) to guide and direct, based on calling and education, rather than to act as a conduit between God and the congregation.
2. A bit of history:
The Reformed Church in America (RCA) and the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) were originally known as the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC). In 1857, several West Michigan congregations split off and formed the CRC. Ten years later, in 1867, The Dutch Reformed Church officially changed its name to the Reformed Church of America.
Originally, the CRC split off on the ground that the DRC was becoming too liberal, citing as reasons "the use of hymns, open communion inviting people of all religious views except Roman Catholics to the Lord's Table, neglect of preaching from and instruction in the Heidelberg Catechism, neglect of home visitation by the elders, and the opinion of some in the RCA that the 1834 Secession from the RCA's mother church in the Netherlands was unnecessary."
By the late 1950s, these roles have reversed, with the CRC becoming by far the more liberal of the two churches. In the past twenty years or so, however, the two denominations have become more or less indistinguishable.
Both Churches tend to be mired in tradition, oftentimes debating changes for decades before a decision is reached. An example of this is the ordination of women, within the CRC. This issue was first raised before Synod - the Church's governing body - in 1970. It was resolved, allowing the ordination of women, in 1996.
3. Does anyone know if that's correct as the plural, as well as the singular? I know that they're pronounced differently ('class - ease' and 'class - iss,' respectively), but I haven't got a clue on the spelling.
Sources:
NR #1995-044: United Reformed News Service, by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer.
RCA Historical Highlights; Reformed Church in America.
Christian Reformed Church and Homosexuality; by Bruce A. Robinson, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolernace.
The CRC and You; The Christian Reformed Church in North America.
The Christian Reformed Church; Presbyterian Church History, The American Presbyterian Church.
Women in Ecclesiastical Office; The Christian Reformed Church in North America.
Women as Clergy; by Bruce A. Robinson, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolernace.
Reformed Church Seminary President Faces Dismissal for Performing Daughter's 'Gay Marriage'
On one level, this pisses me off. My heart breaks to see anyone faced with the choice between their faith and their heart, and I think that person or organization A telling person B that B's relationship with God is invalid - especially in Reformed traditions which profess the Priesthood of All Believers1 - is utter bullshit.
Admittedly, this is tempered by the fact that I voluntarily left the Church nearly a decade ago, in part because of the theological and political posturing, and it often takes a lot for me to work up a good ire over internal Church squabbles.
On another level, however, the article gives me hope.
As a brief caveat, I am not an official student of theology, Reformed or otherwise; I have never been a member of the RCA. I did, however, grow up in the CRC,2 and did an extensive personal study of the tenants and theology before leaving.
Neither the CRC nor the RCA are quick to change, despite social pressures. The fact that the issue of same sex marriages has come up with regard to such a prominent member of the RCA is astounding, to say the least. While the decisions themselves may provoke anger, same sex marriages being addressed publicly at all within these churches now - instead of a decade or two down the road - is a major step in the right direction.
In DRC history, these issues are often debated for years or decades within individual churches or classis3 before being brought before the General Synod, then taking further years to come to a decision, only to be brought up time and again over the next decades with efforts to repeal or amend, before a final resolution. Seeing it come before Synod while it is still a relevant social issue in the larger national context gives me hope that acceptance may not be as far away is I had previously thought.
1. The Priesthood of All Believers is, in a nutshell, the teaching that all people can have a direct relationship with God, without requiring the intercession of the clergy. A minister's role is (among other things) to guide and direct, based on calling and education, rather than to act as a conduit between God and the congregation.
2. A bit of history:
The Reformed Church in America (RCA) and the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) were originally known as the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC). In 1857, several West Michigan congregations split off and formed the CRC. Ten years later, in 1867, The Dutch Reformed Church officially changed its name to the Reformed Church of America.
Originally, the CRC split off on the ground that the DRC was becoming too liberal, citing as reasons "the use of hymns, open communion inviting people of all religious views except Roman Catholics to the Lord's Table, neglect of preaching from and instruction in the Heidelberg Catechism, neglect of home visitation by the elders, and the opinion of some in the RCA that the 1834 Secession from the RCA's mother church in the Netherlands was unnecessary."
By the late 1950s, these roles have reversed, with the CRC becoming by far the more liberal of the two churches. In the past twenty years or so, however, the two denominations have become more or less indistinguishable.
Both Churches tend to be mired in tradition, oftentimes debating changes for decades before a decision is reached. An example of this is the ordination of women, within the CRC. This issue was first raised before Synod - the Church's governing body - in 1970. It was resolved, allowing the ordination of women, in 1996.
3. Does anyone know if that's correct as the plural, as well as the singular? I know that they're pronounced differently ('class - ease' and 'class - iss,' respectively), but I haven't got a clue on the spelling.
Sources:
NR #1995-044: United Reformed News Service, by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer.
RCA Historical Highlights; Reformed Church in America.
Christian Reformed Church and Homosexuality; by Bruce A. Robinson, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolernace.
The CRC and You; The Christian Reformed Church in North America.
The Christian Reformed Church; Presbyterian Church History, The American Presbyterian Church.
Women in Ecclesiastical Office; The Christian Reformed Church in North America.
Women as Clergy; by Bruce A. Robinson, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolernace.