Synod Declares Sexual Abuse by Officebearers Will Not Be Tolerated
Dr. Kathy Smith: “An officebearer deposed on grounds of a pattern of abuse or abuse of a minor is not eligible for reinstatement to any office.”
Karen Huttenga
Synod 2016 added specific information to the Church Order Supplement regarding church officebearers who confess to or are determined to be guilty of sexual misconduct. The changes were in response to a request to Synod 2015 to differentiate sexual misconduct from sexual abuse and to address the matter of the resignation of officebearers in situations of abuse.
The Church Order will now note that a key dynamic in considering abuse of office is the power imbalance between an officebearer and a parishioner. Another addition is a more specific listing of behaviors considered to be sexual misconduct, including unwelcome touch, sexual activity, or emotional intimacy.
John Meiboom, delegate from Classis Toronto, asked if a deposed minister can serve as an elder. Faculty advisor and specialist in Church Order Kathy Smith said that an officebearer deposed on grounds of a pattern of abuse, or abuse of a minor, is not eligible for reinstatement to any office.
Another change addressed the situation of ministers who resign to avoid discipline. Church Order Article 84 details situations under which an officebearer may or may not be reinstated. Synod 2016 decided that those same details now apply to a minister who resigns under discipline or to avoid discipline (Article 14).
The Church Order is the set of rules that all Christian Reformed Churches agree to abide by. The Supplement flows out of the Church Order as explanatory material adopted by synod. Special discipline of officebearers (suspension and deposition) falls under Church Order Articles 82-84.
For continuous coverage of Synod 2016 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.
