c. 1997 Religion News Service
RCA rejects demand for statement on salvation
(RNS) Members of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) have rejected a move that would have required all ministers and congregations to annually reaffirm their belief that salvation is only possible through Jesus.
With just one of the denomination’s 46 classes, or regional jurisdictions, still to vote, the measure trailed 23 to 22. Approval by two-thirds of the classes was required for passage.”I guess this just shows the Reformed Church in America is a lot more liberal in its theology than we probably have a reputation for being,”the Rev. Patrick Shetler of Grant, Mich., told the independent United Reformed News Service.
Shetler drafted the amendment to the 313,00-member denomination’s church orders, or constitution, in response to a dispute that erupted when the Rev. Richard Rhem, pastor of the Reformed Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Mich., stated publicly that faith in Jesus was not necessary for salvation.
The uproar prompted Rhem and his congregation to leave the denomination in 1996, although the action has not been formally recognized by the church. A retired pastor _ the Rev. Don Van Hoeven of Kalamazoo, Mich. _ who supported Rhem, was formally rebuked by the RCA.
Van Hoeven, who is appealing the sanction, welcomed the outcome of the vote.”For those of us who are asking the church to open up the envelope and allow for all of us to be honest to the fullness of Scripture and the confessions, this is good news,”he said.”It is the moderate inclusive voices of the church which shall prevail within our denomination.” The amendment would have required ministers and congregations to agree annually that”the doctrines of the gospel (are) preached in your church in their purity in conformity with … the truth that divine redemption from sin is only by grace through faith in the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, the only mediator between God and humankind.” The vote of the classes was part of a three-step process required to change the denomination’s church orders. Delegates to the denomination’s annual General Synod are required to also approve the measure in two different years, the first by a simple majority and the second by a two-thirds margin. First approval was given at the 1996 synod. The Dakota Classis is the only jurisdiction that has yet to vote on the measure, but its decision cannot affect the final outcome.
Maine legislature approves ban on gay marriages
(RNS) Maine is expected to become the 18th state in the nation to ban gay marriages after the state legislature voted this week to prohibit official recognition of marital unions between same-sex couples.
The Maine Senate approved the measure Wednesday (March 26) in a 24-10 vote, one day after the bill cleared the state House of Representatives by a wide margin. Gov. Angus King has announced he will not veto the bill.”The people of the state of Maine, now represented by their political leaders, have wisely moved to protect the institution of marriage from the marauding of opportunistic gay activists,”said Carolyn Cosby of the group Concerned Maine Families, according to the Associated Press.
Concerned Maine Families led a grassroots petition drive bringing the issue to the legislature. Under state rules, if Maine lawmakers had not approved the bill, the measure would have been put before voters in a November referendum.
Democratic Sen. Susan Longley opposed the measure, arguing that the definition of marriage is changing. She said parental fitness”has nothing to do with sexual orientation,”according to AP.
Under the Defense of Marriage Act signed by President Clinton in September, individual states can decide not to recognize same-sex marriages. In Hawaii, the issue has led to a protracted judicial battle.
Vatican denounces fiery execution in Florida
(RNS) The official Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano Wednesday (March 26) denounced the Florida execution of convicted killer Pedro Medina, saying he had been”burned alive like a torch.” Medina, who was sentenced to death for the 1982 murder of Orlando teacher Dorothy James, was executed Tuesday (March 25) in Florida’s electric chair. Witnesses reported that during the execution, flames up to a foot high burst from beneath Medina’s face mask.
Although Florida’s medical examiner insisted Medina had died a”very quick, humane death,”Gov. Lawton Chiles said the incident is prompting him to reconsider the state’s method of execution.
Pope John Paul II was among those who had asked Florida officials not to execute Medina.
A Cuban refugee, Medina came to the United States on the 1980 Mariel boatlift.
Update: Austalian leader formally overturns euthanasia law
(RNS) Australian Gov. Gen. William Deane has signed a bill overturning a controversial euthanasia law that had led to four assisted suicides in the Northern Territory.
Deane, Queen Elizabeth’s representative in Australia, is the nation’s official head of state. His signature was required for the anti-euthanasia law to take effect.
Deane signed the bill Thursday (March 27), following earlier votes by Australia’s federal Senate and House of Representatives to overturn the Northern Territory law, which had been in effect since last September.
The law, which only applied to the Northern Territory, allowed the terminally ill to commit suicide with the aid of medical personnel if three doctors, including one psychiatrist, gave their approval. Four individuals took advantage of the law, and two more had asked to be allowed to die.
Greek Orthodox leader visits Clinton
(RNS) Archbishop Spyridon, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, presented President Clinton with a book about the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate complex in Istanbul during a visit to the White House Wednesday (March 26).
The visit marked Greek Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation of Mary, which commemorates the day that tradition says Mary was told by the Angel Gabriel she would give birth to Jesus. Both holidays fell on Tuesday (March 25).
During the meeting, Spyridon gave the president a book about the icons and architecture of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”You know we love icons, thank you very much,”President Clinton told Spyridon, according to a statement from the Greek Orthodox archdiocesan press office.
The president and Spyridon also discussed the upcoming October visit to the United States of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Bartholomew. Orthodox Christians consider the Ecumenical Patriarchate the”first among equals”among church leaders.
Referring to both the Greek and American declarations of independence, Spyridon told the president,”may the spirits of 1776 and 1821 mingle together to inspire all of us to ever serve our nation with self-sacrifice.”
Arkansas lawmakers outlaw”partial-birth abortion” (RNS) Arkansas legislators have approved a bill outlawing a controversial form of late-term abortion. Lawmakers called the move a message meant for President Clinton.
Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee said he would sign the bill that outlaws the procedure called by its opponents”partial-birth abortion”because the fetus is partially extracted through the birth canal before it is killed by collapsing the skull. The Arkansas House Thursday (March 27) approved the measure by a vote of 78-3, the Associated Press reported.”I hope this sends a message to President Clinton that the people of his home state are opposed to this procedure,”said state Rep. Jim Hendren.”He needs to consider this when they put a bill on his desk very similar to what we just passed.” The president has threatened to again veto any congressional bill outlawing the measure, as he did last year.
Quote of the Day: Jackie Lewis on the Via Dolorosa
(RNS) Despite the threat of Palestinian-Israeli clashes in Jerusalem’s Old City, thousands of Christian pilgrims and onlookers walked the Via Dolorosa _ the path tradition says Jesus took on his way to the crucifixion _ on Good Friday (March 28).
The Associated Press noted that among those participating in the festive atmosphere was Jackie Lewis, a 20-year-old American from Gainsville, Fla. Her comment on the experience:”I feel like I’m at a rock concert.”
MJP END RNS
