Christian Reformed Church allows Women into Leadership

[VidaEterna!]

June 13, 2007

Following other historic organizations such as the Presbyterian (USA), Episcopal and Methodist Churches, the CRC drops "male" requirement for church office. The Christian Reformed Church's biannual synod voted 112 to 70 to remove the word "male" from its requirements for church office. The denomination had earlier allowed its regional bodies (called classes) to "declare that the word male in … the Church Order is inoperative" and allow the ordination and installation of women as elders, ministers, and ministry associates. More than half — 26 of 47 — of its regional bodies had done so. Last night's vote essentially reversed this local option; while the national body has no gender restriction on offices, classes may "set restrictions on women serving as delegates" to their meetings. A separate vote this morning allowed women to serve as delegates to CRC synods.

For more info: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... -31.0.html