Ray Buursma: My declaration concerning homosexual marriage

I don’t know how my declaration, presented below, will play out, but I’ve considered possible repercussions and will accept them, whatever form they take.

A month ago, the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church met. Their main topic involved the implications of the denomination’s Human Sexuality Report — particularly homosexual marriage. The denomination’s stance is homosexual marriage violates God’s will. Some of us hoped Synod would change its stance this year, but it didn’t. Not only does opposition to homosexual marriage remain, but the ramifications for supporters have also broadened.

In 2022, Synod declared accepting the CRC’s Human Sexuality Report is a matter of “confessional status.” This means CRC office bearers (clergy, elders, deacons) are required to believe, or at least publicly uphold, this traditional teaching concerning homosexual marriage — that it violates God’s will.

This year, Synod doubled down. It not only confirmed the 2022 teachings, it went further. Several churches wanted the denomination to discipline member churches that “proudly and publicly proclaim acceptance” of homosexual marriage. The Synodical delegates adopted two statements in response.

The first is Synod will instruct all classes — a "classis" is a group of roughly a dozen local churches making up part of the denomination — to guide into compliance the office bearers of constituent churches who publicly reject the guidelines affirmed by Synod 2022 regarding same-sex relationships. This means a pastor, elder or deacon may not publicly reject the denomination’s teaching that homosexual marriage violates God’s will. Those who do might be disciplined — lovingly, of course.

The second is Synod will remind church “visitors” (a visitor is a classis office bearer) to determine church spiritual health throughout the CRC and guide church officeholders into alignment with biblical guidelines, including but not limited to all areas of human sexuality. This means “classis visitors,” or monitors, should lovingly ensure churches and their members adhere to the denomination’s position.

So, no one who holds church office may declare they support homosexual marriage, even if they support homosexual marriage. To ensure no one makes such a declaration, monitors can check for compliance.

In the past, the CRC splintered several times. Issues involved types of music to be sung, schools to which members should send their children, divorce and remarriage, taking oaths, women serving in office and more. These issues threatened church unity.

This situation is different. The others focused mainly on how the church should operate. This issue concerns one’s innate sexual orientation and their relationship with the church. The denomination teaches that, even within the bonds of marriage, homosexualism is incompatible with God’s will.

Those who regularly read my opinions know my stance on homosexuality — it is inherent and immutable; it harms no one; it prevents no one from following God’s command to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God; it prevents no one from loving God with all one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind; it prevents no one from doing unto others as one would have done to oneself; it prevents no one from serving God and his fellow man.

Here is my declaration: Based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, based on science that demonstrates homosexual orientation is innate and unchosen, based on God’s statement that man should not live alone but with a helpmate, I believe married homosexuals who declare their faith in Jesus are part of God’s kingdom and should be wholly welcome in his church, as congregants, officers and clergy.

I understand my declaration conflicts with the denomination’s official teaching. I understand my declaration conflicts with the opinion of others in the denomination who sincerely believe their contrary view aligns with God’s will. I understand the CRC has the right to set its own policies, practices and rules. I understand the denomination has the right to discipline its members, including me, for my declaration.

If the CRC elects to do so, I will explain my position and accept disciplinary actions, but I have no expectation I will recant my declaration.

The Christian Reformed Church isn’t the first denomination to wrestle with this topic. The United Methodist denomination fractured recently and is still sorting itself out. The CRC very much wants to avoid such a schism, and I hope it does. I fear and suspect, however, it will not, and maybe it shouldn’t if the cost is so great.

Most importantly for me, I desire homosexuals to know I and many others believe they, too, are God’s beloved children.

— Community Columnist Ray Buursma is a resident of Holland. Contact him at writetoraybuursma@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ray Buursma: My declaration concerning homosexual marriage