The deputies for representation of the Christian Reformed Churches express deep sorrow over the developments surrounding the General Assembly called by the Rijnsburg church council. The formation of ‘classes-in-construction’, they say, creates a new church structure alongside the existing one.
Although the deputies acknowledge the perceived need, they argue that the church law of the CGK does not allow for building a new ecclesiastical structure within the same denomination. This effectively creates a new denomination, even if it is not so named.
Because no formal judgement has been made that unity of confession has been broken, deputies say the principled ground for a final separation is lacking. As a result, the current development leads to church ambiguity and brings congregations into loyalty conflicts.
Deputies remain willing to talk, but stress that only a general synod can make binding statements for the church body.
Notes
Saturday 21 March was a day of great sorrow for the Christian Reformed Churches. The deep schism was given formal confirmation in a second synodal structure. Now still without a general synod, but with ‘classes-in-construction’, as a first step in that direction. This means a farewell to congregations with which a cordial bond has been experienced so far. Deputies recognise the need, in which they felt compelled to take this step, and with which we are only guilty before the Lord and before each other. But they cannot, in the light of what Scripture and confession teach about the church of Christ, see this path as the way out that the Lord shows us. With a second classic structure, great ambiguity arises about, for example, the status of an emeritus appointment, departure and reception of appointed pastors, or the examination of a prospective pastor. Colleagues who sometimes worked together for years and learned a lot from each other will no longer meet. Even more pulpits will be closed (back and forth). And most seriously: numerous congregations in the centre, which also adhere to Scripture, confession, Church Order and synodal decisions, will find themselves in a conflict of loyalties. Sooner or later they will feel forced to make a choice, which could lead to a split within their own congregation.
Incidentally, the most difficult issue is not what the General Assembly did pronounce, but what it did not pronounce. This concerns the one thing that, in our conviction, would justify a formal definitive separation: that there is no longer unity in confession with the Christian Reformed Churches, which do not commit themselves to the new synodal relationship. It is argued that the authority of Scripture is at stake. Attacking it does indeed touch the foundation of the church. But the General Synod of the Christian Reformed Churches never made that judgment, and it is not substantiated by ‘Rijnsburg’ even now. The General Assembly seems to accept the other part of the churches as a given, with which agreements can be made on cooperation. But as long as one does not join ‘Rijnsburg’ as a participant, the Christian Reformed identity (faithfulness to scripture and confession) of the other churches is at least in question. Tellingly, this was a ‘General Assembly of the Christian Reformed Churches’. All this, meanwhile, leads to diffuse talk about church affiliation. Somewhere people continue to speak of it, but there are now, according to ‘Rijnsburg’, two ‘groups’ of churches within it. This raises the question: where in this is the church of Christ, whose deep way we remember just these weeks to reconcile us sinful people to God and each other? Deputies earlier interpreted this development as effectively creating a new denomination. We cannot see it differently now either. Our church law does not allow for the creation of a new church structure within the same denomination. In the coming time it will also have to become clear whether there can be a spiritual-church basis for activities such as the theological training and missionary work, of which a joint continuation is desired. Deputies for representation remain willing to talk, but only the General Synod of Hoogeveen will be able to make binding statements on one or the other.
Deputates representation CGK
