Synod Addresses Issue of Sexual Abuse by Officebearers
Rev. Heidi De Jonge: “I hope this will also address emotional abuse and other ungodly conduct.”
Karen Huttenga
Synod 2015 identified an urgent need to change the way the Christian Reformed Church’s Church Order addresses sexual misconduct and sexual abuse by officebearers.
Synod agreed that Church Order Articles 83 and 84, which deal with special discipline for officebearers, should highlight the power differential between officebearers and those they serve. It acknowledged that those hurt by such abuse have not been adequately served and supported by the current process.
Synod instructed the Board of Trustees to have the CRC’s Safe Church Ministry, in concert with other denominational offices and agencies, review the rules and to recommend revisions.
The instructions include differentiating sexual misconduct from sexual abuse and providing guidelines for how graduations in severity and victim impact would affect decisions regarding reinstatement.
Further, in consultation with legal counsel and referencing other denominations’ policies, the committee is to “address matters of resignation of office bearers in situations of abuse.”
Rev. Heidi De Jonge, Classis Quinte, expressed appreciation for synod’s action, but said she hopes it will also address emotional abuse and other ungodly conduct.
Recognizing the urgency of the need for this work, synod asked that recommendations be brought to Synod 2016.
For continuous coverage of Synod 2015 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.
