Christian Reformed Expands Women’s Role

Overturning a century and a half of tradition, the small Michigan- based Christian Reformed Church has begun the process of opening all offices of the church to women, including those of elder and minister.

Meeting this week at the 314,000-member denomination’s 1990 Synod in Grand Rapids, Mich., delegates voted 99 to 84 to “permit churches to use their discretion in utilizing the gifts of women members in all the offices of the church.”

However, because opening those offices to women involves changes in the denomination’s Church Order--striking the word “male” in all references to church office bearers--women cannot officially be ordained until the changes are ratified at the 1992 synod.