Included in Calvin Theological Seminary’s report to the Christian Reformed Church’s Synod 2024 is a faculty statement of confessional commitment, shared in part as a response to a recommendation that was before Synod 2023 but deferred to Synod 2024. But “the topic,” says the report, “had already been considered by the CTS faculty and the CTS Board of Trustees before being presented at Synod 2023.”
In part, the statement reads, “We profess the teachings of Scripture summarized by the Reformed confessions as interpreted by the decisions of synod. We commit to teaching, preaching, counseling, and writing within these covenantal bounds, whether in the classroom, church, or beyond.”
The statement was adopted by the seminary’s board of trustees in October after the faculty provided the board with a draft statement from its Feb. 3, 2023, business meeting.
The encouragement for “Calvin Theological Seminary to clarify its position on synod’s decision regarding the confessional status on same-sex marriage” (Acts of Synod 2023, p. 1037) was suggested in light of Synod 2022’s decision to declare as confessional the understanding that homosexual sex is among sexual behaviors to be considered unchaste and a violation of the seventh commandment. Synod 2023 upheld that decision.
The seminary faculty’s statement of confessional commitment acknowledges that they hold a variety of opinions and ideas on matters addressed by synod and that “we are encouraged to express these views via official channels such as through overtures or communications from congregations and classes to which we belong, through raising thoughtful questions for the church to ponder in future deliberations, or through theological conversations as a faculty, with the understanding that such communications will not undermine our good standing with one another as faculty.”
Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Calvin Theological Seminary, an institution of the CRCNA with its own governing board and synodical mandate, reports each year to synod.
At its Oct. 27, 2023, meeting, the seminary board of trustees voted to “affirm, endorse, and adopt the ‘Statement on our Confessional Commitments by the CTS Faculty’ as that of Calvin Theological Seminary,” according to the meeting minutes.
Admissions Policy Update
At that same meeting, the board of trustees deliberated over “three different proposals for an updated Admissions policy for CTS” and adopted the following by a paper ballot vote: “That Calvin Theological Seminary will not admit individuals in same sex marriage relationships in contravention of the beliefs of the Christian Reformed Church.”
A communication from the board of trustees to the seminary’s staff and faculty Nov. 16 informed the seminary community that the decision was made “as one in keeping with the statements, doctrine and teachings of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.”
The board decision affected the status of one Doctorate of Ministry applicant who was not named. “Today, CTS Board Chair Dave Morren communicated the recent decision of the CTS Board of Trustees with the DMin applicant whose application had been ‘paused,’” the communication said.
The communication also noted two items approved by the board’s executive committee, one titled “Admissions Policy / Notice on Website &Applications” and one titled “Handbook / Code of Conduct Statement.”
The admissions policy/notice reads:
As the seminary of the Christian Reformed Church of North America, Calvin Theological Seminary exists to serve the Church by forming Christian leaders for biblically faithful and contextually effective ministry of the Word of God. As such, faithfulness to Scripture and the broader Reformed tradition are essential elements of a Seminary education.
The Christian Reformed Church believes that marriage is an institution created by God to be “a covenant relationship established by mutual vows between a man and a woman united by God.’1 The Church also believes that sexual activity between individuals of the same sex “is incompatible with obedience to the will of God as revealed in Scripture.”2
As a Christian community within the Church, the Seminary must comply with its teachings, including (those) on marriage and sexuality. Therefore, the Seminary will not admit applicants in same-sex marriage relationships or other committed sexual relationships with an individual of the same sex. The Seminary will continue to welcome same-sex attracted persons seeking to live by the Church’s teachings on sexuality.
The code of conduct statement is similar, with the third paragraph reading:
As a Christian community within the Church, students at the Seminary are expected to strive to obey the Church’s teaching in every area of their lives, including sexuality and marriage. Students who demonstrate with their conduct that they are unwilling to live in a manner consistent with the stated beliefs of the Christian Reformed Church will be subject to corrective action up to and including dismissal from the Seminary. Same-sex attracted persons seeking to live by the Church’s teachings are fully welcome at the Seminary.
Before these additions, the student code of conduct articulated that the seminary is “guided by the values and ethical standards of the CRCNA” and included a link to the CRC’s position statements. The section on proscribed conduct did not specifically mention marriage or same-sex orientation but did note the list “is not exhaustive by any means, but is meant to illustrate the types of conduct which are not acceptable,” including “sexual misconduct in its many forms.”
The Banner became aware of the October admissions policy vote in February when a resigning board member, at-large trustee Heather Garretson, shared a copy of her resignation letter “in an effort to keep the institutions of the CRCNA transparent for all of our members,” she said.
In her letter, Garretson contends, “If the goal of the admission policy is to ferret out students who are unwilling to live in a manner consistent with the stated beliefs of the CRC, then the admission policy would exclude students who are actively in same-sex relationships and students who are actively engaging in adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, and pornography. The admissions policy lacks intellectual honesty in this regard.”
Board president Dave Morren told The Banner he does not consider the policy clarification to be selective. “I think it’s very clear that we (the seminary) follow the sexuality report that’s been approved by the denomination, and those are all included,” he said. He said Garretson’s letter was shared with the full board.