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“The 123-53 vote at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, caps a process begun in 2016 when a previous synod voted to form a study committee to bring a report on the ‘biblical theology’ of sexuality.” - RNS

Discussion

Thu, 06/16/22

Anyone familiar with Calvin University and its associated denomination understands that 1) this doctrinal statement will not last since younger members oppose the statement and will simply wait until the older people die off; 2) Calvin University doesn’t deserve the name “Evangelical”. A homosexual student body president is all you need to know.

Wally Morris
Huntington, IN

Fri, 06/17/22

Anyone familiar with Calvin University and its associated denomination understands that 1) this doctrinal statement will not last since younger members oppose the statement and will simply wait until the older people die off; 2) Calvin University doesn’t deserve the name “Evangelical”. A homosexual student body president is all you need to know.

I’m very familiar with Calvin college since Calvin and the headquarters of the CRC are located in my city. I am in regular contact with several CRC churches and ministry colleagues. Also, a young guy in my small group from church graduated from Calvin in 2020. He was the editor of the Campus newspaper (Chimes) from 2018-2020 so he’s got his finger on the pulse of the college and the alumni. It’s not just a younger vs. older battle. The younger folks within the CRC are split 60-40 for the Historical Biblical position on Sexuality while the older folks are about 80-20. The Dutch CRC culture is interesting. I really didn’t know how this would turn out because many CRC folks I know often desire the unbelieving world’s approval, especially those at Calvin because it is a very prestigious college. So we should be rejoicing that the CRC actually drew a theological line in the sand! Now that they’ve made their decision, (which would take decades to reverse) it wouldn’t surprise me if several of the affirming churches leave the CRC for the RCA, which has a large segment of churches that are affirming and a college (Hope) and a seminary (Western Theological Seminary) that are more liberal than Calvin.

But for many skeptical fundamentalists, what happened within the CRC doesn’t fit the slippery-slope narrative that they’ve been taught all their lives. That is, if you don’t hold to the same level of separation as them, it’s inevitable that they will eventually go apostate, which is a misnomer.