We as an individual church distance ourselves from our home denomination, the Christian Reformed Church of North America, on the following issues:
1. Women in office.
We hold that the Christian Reformed Church has sold out to political correctness in the arena of church leadership. We strongly disagree with the idea that women may be ordained to the office of elder or teaching elder in the church. Such a view is contrary to the clear teaching of scripture (1 Timothy 2:12) which forbids women from taking a leadership role in the specific context of a public worship service.
Immediately, this might sound like male chauvinism. But it isn't. We believe that men and women are equal in value in the sight of God. We also agree that the talents of men and women must be used in the church for His glory. But the question here is not one of "value" but of "position." From the very beginning of history, God estabished men as the spiritual leaders in the church. The argument from the creation order in Genesis is valid (1 Tim. 1:13) -- Adam was formed first, then Eve. It's an argument of position, not of value in the sight of God. In the specific context of the public worship of God, the men must lead.
Our politically correct world demeans and flattens both men and women when it insists that they can and should occupy identical roles. Instead of holding such an "egalitarian" view, we believe that the Bible consistently teaches a "complementary" view -- that is, men and women complement each other with their different gifts and talents. While women cannot serve as pastors or elders, they can do many other things which are of a great benefit and blessing to the church (For example, Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18).
We believe that on this issue, the Christian Reformed Church of North America is denying the clear teaching of the Bible in the name of political correctness and expediency. The church has set a dangerous precedent for future decisions as well.
We bring up this issue because we as a church desire to be unapologetically Biblical. In other words, if the creator God says something, we better listen and submit to it. God's word must shape us -- we must not try to shape it! He is the potter and we are the clay. (Rom 9:21).