First Christian Reformed Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Opens Leadership to Practicing Homosexual Members Despite Denominational Ban

The First Christian Reformed Church in Toronto has opened church leadership to practicing homosexual members “living in committed relationships,” a policy the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) expressly prohibits. The church council announced the change in an October 10 letter.

David Engelhard, the CRC’s general secretary, told Christianity Today that the council’s decision “seems to go contrary to the Christian Reformed Church’s established position, and contrary to biblical teaching.” The denomination has 279,000 members in the United States and Canada.

According to the report, the CRC’s policy was set by the 1973 North American Synod. Under that policy, people who are homosexual in orientation may be eligible for church offices, including pastor, elder, and deacon, but those who are actively homosexual are ineligible. The synod reaffirmed the policy in 2002.

First CRC pastor Nick Overduin said the vote “was not an act of rebellion against the Christian Reformed denomination.” Church leaders said that confession of Christ, not sexual orientation, is the key factor in whether a person can hold a church office. In its letter to the classis, the council said its goal was to make First CRC “an inclusive congregation.” Church leaders said they wish to retain the church’s denominational ties, but added, “We are actually not very interested in debating the subject any longer or delving into it on some repeated basis.”

The classis, the representative body for the Toronto area’s two dozen Christian Reformed churches, is scheduled to consider the matter in January. Engelhard said other churches in the region were asking the classis to act. Possible responses range from a letter of admonition to the suspension or removal of First CRC’s officers. Engelhard also said that “six to eight” dissenting members of the congregation were circulating a letter to other area churches expressing their concern, and that the synod might take action next year.

Hendrik Bruinsma, pastor of Maranatha Christian Reformed Church in Woodbridge, said the decision worried him. “Our deepest concern is that the very salvation of people is at stake, because people will be misled about the basics of a new life in Christ and the nature of sin, repentance, and salvation,” Bruinsma said. His concern is that the church’s teaching be communicated faithfully, which the report links to speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Engelhard said the process concerning First CRC could be lengthy, but acknowledged that the denomination might decide to remove the congregation. “If you look at the end game, certainly that is a possibility.”

Source: Read the original report