The CREC On Women

  • We, as delegates, acknowledge that there are a multitude of perspectives and opinions represented among us. We recognize that on the issue of allowing women to serve in the offices of deacon, elder, minister, or commissioned pastor that “there are two different perspectives and convictions, both of which honor the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God” (Acts of Synod 1995, p. 731). Some object that there are women seated as delegates; others lament that there are not more women among us. We choose to work together despite these differences.

It’s also worth noting that the CREC also affirms the tradition-bound view on homosexuality.

So — what they are saying here is that they all accept the tradition bound view on homosexuality — which understands the word “natural” to mean “heteronormative,” & “against nature” as “homosexual” — and reject the stated views on women articulated by John Gill, Doug Wilson, & any number of Calvinist complementarians?


How does that work?  On the one hand, the CREC universally affirms that the Bible anathemtizes homosexuality regardless of the motives of the moral agents involved, yet on the other they state that Complementarianism & Egalitarianism are both biblically faithful positions.  


Romans 1:18 - 32 states that the purpose of the created order is to testify to God’s existence, attributes, & authority.    It does this as part of indictment against humanity for suppressing the truth about God’s image & authority & supplanting it with the human image (and others) then doing worship ethics & sexual ethics accordingly.   


The CREC, instead of looking to God’s image & authority, looks to the human image (its anatomy, physiology, & physiology) for its sexual & ecclesiastical ethics relative to homosexuality.   Afterall, God has no sexual characteristics/attributes.   The only road to the CREC view on homosexuality runs through the suppression of God’s image & authority relative to ethical reasoning & substitutes the human image & is alleged heteronormativity. 


The CREC speaks out of both sides of its mouth about women.   In 1985, women were forbidden to hold ecclesiastical office.  By 1995 that changed.  Now, “The CRC recognizes that there are two different perspectives and convictions on this issue, both of which honor the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God.”


They are looking to their own image in part or in whole.  God has exactly one view of this issue - Egalitarianism.    In the CREC, it’s a local church issue, yet theyr spokesmen on CNN seemed mighty convinced about their view.  


The CREC looks to the human image to do sexual & ecclesiastical ethics relative to homosexuality, yet they are a divided people when comes to women.   God’s image & ethics are univocal in all things.  There is no such thing as two different views.  


The Bible does teach that churches ought to debate issues in good faith & cooperate across party lines (I Corinthians).  However, that’s a temporary measure while they grow up & out of the need for such measures — but that isn’t what CREC documents read.   Rather, they indicate that - unlike the LORD - the CREC upholds two views on women elders & deacons as biblically faithful while the issue is divisive within their classes & synod.  


That’s what happens when people are taught:

  1. That the Immanent Trinity is a hierarchical structure as well as the Economic Trinity
  2. That the human image provides a sufficient warrant to do ethical reasoning relative to sexual & ecclesiastical ethics
  3. Their public spokesmen behave as they have.

Christus Victor!  Amen!  

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