Calvin University ordered to examine dissent on LGBT issues

[Michie]

The Christian Reformed Church of North America has instructed Calvin University to examine dissent among faculty and staff on the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

At the CRC Synod 2024, held last month in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the denomination's leadership instructed the Board of Trustees at Calvin to “define the differences in Calvin’s use of ‘confessional difficulties’ in relation to the decisions of synod concerning gravamen.”

A gravamen is an official statement that can be filed by church members and officials to address concerns about a specific part of the denomination's teaching that they believe goes against the Bible.

Continued below.

Calvin University ordered to examine dissent on LGBT issues

The Christian Reformed Church of North America has instructed Calvin University to examine dissent among faculty and staff on the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage

www.christianpost.com

 

[RileyG]

I wonder if they are in the same belt theologically as the PCUSA?

 

[Rescued One]

I wonder if they are in the same belt theologically as the PCUSA?

Possibly. What do you know about PCUSA? I'd really like to know their stance.

"-01, which had been divided into two parts, will amend the Book of Order to include sexual orientation and gender identity among the categories against which this Church does not discriminate. Lengthy discussions took place on this item. The item will be sent to presbyteries for ratification."

I have a feeling that is un-nerving.

 

[okay]

I wonder if they are in the same belt theologically as the PCUSA?

The article makes it clear that the CRC teaches homosexuality is sinful, and rejects same-sex marriage. So it is not at all similar to PCUSA.

To me it looks like there is some CRC inside-baseball nuance that I probably will not properly understand just from the article itself. The order of events seems to be

- prior to 2022, I presume there were faculty at Calvin who did not view homosexuality as sinful

- in 2022 the CRC voted to elevate its teaching around homosexuality to a level that allowed them to "discipline" teachers at church-owned institutions such as Calvin

- a few months later, the Calvin leadership decided to allow faculty to dissent, but still required them to honor CRC doctrine in their behavior and teaching.

- In 2024 the CRC are clearly not happy

It is a private university and the CRC has the right to do whatever they want, but to me it seems like Calvin's response was reasonable if they want to keep academic freedom for their professors.
.

 

[RileyG]

The article makes it clear that the CRC teaches homosexuality is sinful, and rejects same-sex marriage. So it is not at all similar to PCUSA.

To me it looks like there is some CRC inside-baseball nuance that I probably will not properly understand just from the article itself. The order of events seems to be

- prior to 2022, I presume there were faculty at Calvin who did not view homosexuality as sinful

- in 2022 the CRC voted to elevate its teaching around homosexuality to a level that allowed them to "discipline" teachers at church-owned institutions such as Calvin

- a few months later, the Calvin leadership decided to allow faculty to dissent, but still required them to honor CRC doctrine in their behavior and teaching.

- In 2024 the CRC are clearly not happy

It is a private university and the CRC has the right to do whatever they want, but to me it seems like Calvin's response was reasonable if they want to keep academic freedom for their professors.
.

Thanks for the info!