November 11, 2020
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Status Confessionis
Is the issue of homosexual sex a confessional issue?
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August 9, 2017
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Church Order Article 73
Church Order Article 73 (along with many others) was amended by Synod 2015. See Acts of Synod 2015 pp. 663-668 (available at the CRC website under Synod Resources).
May 27, 2015
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From Scripture to Elders and Deacons Today
The choice, therefore, is whether at broader assemblies we have full representation of all the ordained or whether we continue the notion that deacons simply don't have the authority to "rule".
July 15, 2014
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Could a Deacon Be Clerk of Council?
This question is from a real-life situation which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order.
June 27, 2014
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Can My Church Council Prevent Me From Accepting a Call to Another Church?
This question is from a real-life situation which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order.
May 27, 2014
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Is It Appropriate for Council or Classis to Instruct Their Delegates How to Vote?
This question is from a real-life situation which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order.
May 6, 2014
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Shouldn't Deacons Be More Than "Elders in Waiting"?
In our church, deacons are very little more than “elders in waiting.” Is this true elsewhere in our denomination?
April 22, 2014
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Why Do We Have a Judicial Code?
Soon after his promotion from lecturer to professor of Old Testament studies at our Theological School in 1914, Ralph Janssen was to face growing suspicions of "liberalism."
April 9, 2014
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During the Installation Service for Elders and Deacons, Should There Be a Vow of Confidentiality?
We've just had a service in which elders and deacons were installed. I noticed that nothing was said about officebearers keeping inviolate all that has been entrusted to them in confidence. Any thoughts?
March 24, 2014
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Is a Pastor Released by Way of Article 17 Still Authorized to Preach and Administer the Sacraments?
This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order.
March 3, 2014
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Does Synod’s Declaration of Candidacy Make Official That These Graduates of Our Seminary Are Now Ministers of the Word?
This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order.
February 4, 2014
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What Should One Do in the Case of a Tie Vote When Electing Officebearers?
What should one do in the case of a tie vote when electing officebearers ?
December 20, 2013
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How Should We Define “Minor” and “Major” Assemblies?
Article 28 speaks of “minor” and “major” assemblies. What is actually meant by these adjectives, and is this the best way to refer to the council, the classis , and the synod?
November 25, 2013
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Why Must We Endure the Torture of Learning the Hebrew and the Greek?
This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order.
November 5, 2013
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Who Should Participate in the "Laying on of Hands"?
Some of us on council believe that only other ministers of the Word who may be present should be invited to join the officiating pastor in the laying on of hands; others believe that the council executive or even all the elders and the deacons ought to be involved as well. Who’s right?
October 15, 2013
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Does the CRCNA Use a System of "Ratification" Like Other Denominations?
I have observed that a number of denominations work with a system of “ratification” whereby a significant decision of the synod or general assembly must first be approved by the classes or regional assemblies before it is deemed to be in effect. Does the CRCNA have similar procedures?
July 9, 2013
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Can Two Pastors Exchange Pastorates?
At our Classical Interim Committee meetings, we have been musing for some time about two pastors, both of whom have served their respective churches for more than a decade. We're thinking of having them simply exchange pastorates. Is this possible?
July 2, 2013
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CRC Principle for Having a Separate Seminary
Does the CRC have a principle for having a separate seminary where theology is pursued apart from other academic disciplines?
June 25, 2013
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May Grandparents Present a Grandchild for Infant Baptism When the Parents Are Not Professing Member of the Church?
May grandparents present a grandson for infant baptism? The parents have no intention of joining, have no objections to the baptism, but won't be attending.
June 18, 2013
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What are the "licensed to exhort" boundaries?
As an EPMC student at [a seminary in Canada] now licensed to exhort, I find it very difficult to know where the boundaries are in terms of what I am permitted to do and what I am not permitted to do. I would like to do only that which is appropriate and to be humble enough in my conduct so as not to give offense. Please provide some guidance in this area. This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order...
June 10, 2013
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What to do when you have been abused by a pastor?
I am writing you anonymously for good reason. Please call me "Karen" and use the P.O. Box I have supplied. I have been sexually abused by a pastor. I don't want to get into the details of him doing this to me right now. I'm probably to blame too. But I feel so cheap, so used, and so depressed. I don't think I can keep living with this without doing something about it. I don't know where to turn -- if and when I do get up the courage. Can you help? If so, please share with me all the ins and outs of what I should do. I want to know what I might be getting into. This question is from a real-...
June 4, 2013
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Should ministers (who are essentially "paid employees" of the church) chair council meetings or be members of the council?
This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary written by Dr. DeMoor. We encourage you to share your own questions, comments, opinions as well.
May 28, 2013
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What is proper for a classis to declare when a minister resigns?
In the Supplement to Article 14b, synod calls for "a proper resolution of dismissal" when a minister resigns and asks classis to "make a declaration reflecting the resigned minister's status that is appropriate to the way and spirit in which the minister acted during the time leading up to and including the minister's resignation from office." From what I've seen in practice, this seems to give classes every opportunity to be vindictive and "fire a parting shot." What are we to make of these four options: "honorably released," "released," "dismissed," and "in the status of one deposed"? This...
May 21, 2013
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What can be done about the high turnover rate for elders and deacons?
We’re becoming increasingly disillusioned about Reformed polity dictating a high turnover rate in the offices of elder and deacon. It seems like people are just “warming up” to the job when they must leave in favor of others. In the case of one of our deacons, frankly, we were glad to see him go. But most of the time we seem to be trading in our “gifted performers” for “bungling novices.” What’s to be done? This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has...
May 14, 2013
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Do you have any good ideas for a meaningful and better-attended second service?
This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary written by Dr. DeMoor. We encourage you to share your own questions, comments, opinions as well.