November 11, 2020
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Status Confessionis
Is the issue of homosexual sex a confessional issue?
Community Builder
Henry DeMoor
Church:
About Me:
Retired from the seminary on August 31, 2010. Served 24 years as Professor of Church Polity, eight of those with the additional responsibility of VP for Academic Affairs. Served at Synod of the CRCNA for two years as a delegate and for twenty years as an adviser.
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.
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Jeff,
No, I don't believe that was the point in 1975. The point was that whatever authority synod claims on a particular issue, the wording of the decision should speak for itself. So it'...
posted on: Status Confessionis -
Everyone,
On this Thanksgiving weekend I want to express to all of you my gratitude for your insightful contributions responding to my "challenge."
I believe that what we need from...
posted on: Status Confessionis -
Josh,
It looks like we will need to agree on what "respecting" a decision means. It does not mean obeying what a synod has declared. If it did, our having a negative vote recorded means...
posted on: Status Confessionis -
Yes, Dan, but only if a synod of the CRCNA has made this a confessional issue. Currently it is a position that we have adopted and synod has called that "pastoral advice" to the churches. So the...
posted on: Status Confessionis -
No, Dan, I'm not saying that at all.
If you believe and express the belief that all people are saved, your belief would be in conflict with our confessions, namely, the Canons of Dort (e.g...
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Dan,
That is not my premise.
My premise is that no synod thus far in CRC history has insisted that officebearers at the local level apply discipline.
posted on: Status Confessionis -
Yes, Paul, thanks. That is exactly how this thread began. My challenge on the church political dimension of the much larger issue. Because, again, synod itself declares how authoritatively it...
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No, it is not a matter of original intent. How Ursinus thought about these things is irrelevant. What is relevant is what the Christian Reformed Church's synods have said about the Q&A of...
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An old man making space for sin.
Just a tad ad hominem and slightly overboard among brothers in Christ, don't you think?
Let's keep this respectful please.
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Appreciate the honest question, so I'll give you an honest answer.
I think it would be best to allow everyone to interpret the two words in the Heidelberg Catechism as they see fit and give...
posted on: Status Confessionis