23 March 2022
“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” [Ezekiel 33:6]
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” [Ephesians 6:12]
Presbyterians Week Headlines
[1] Grace Lower Stone Reformed Church to Celebrate 500th Anniversary of Denomination
[2] Baldwin Christian Reformed Church Statement on Abuse Charges
Additional Articles of Interest
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By Kevin D. Sloop
Grace Lower Stone Reformed Church will celebrate the 500th anniversary of its denomination during Sunday’s 9 a.m. contemporary service and 11 a.m. traditional service.
Ulrich Zwingli began the Swiss Reformation in the year 1522 with a sermon he preached defying the Roman Catholic Church’s authority to forbid its parishioners to eat pork during the liturgical season of Lent. This sermon was preached in defense of Christoph Froschauer, who had recently been arrested for serving sausage at a Lenten meal. Zwingli continued to study the Bible, and eventually came to agree on almost all matters of faith with Martin Luther, who had begun the German Reformation five years earlier. The one issue the two reformers did not agree on was Holy Communion.
+ Salisbury Post, 131 West Innes Street, Salisbury, North Carolina 28144, 704-797-7678, john.carr@salisburypost.com
+ United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, 216-736-2100, ogm@ucc.org
[2] Baldwin Christian Reformed Church Statement on Abuse Charges
[Editor’s Note: The following is a response by the Baldwin (Wisconsin) Christian Reformed Church to the situation described in the 2 March 2022 Presbyterians Week article “[2] Hudson, Wisconsin Man to Be Arraigned on Charge of Sex Assault of Teen.”]
Regrettably, the Baldwin Bulletin didn’t contact our church before publishing the article “Former Baldwin Youth Pastor Arraigned on Sexual Assault Charges.” We don’t refute any information in the official criminal complaint, which formed the basis of last week’s article. However, the Baldwin Christian Reformed Church would like to provide additional context for our community.
The Baldwin Christian Reformed Church leadership was aware of the allegations and charges filed against a former youth leader in the community youth group. This youth leader was not part of the Baldwin Christian Reformed Church. However, the victim and her family are connected with our church. Our church leadership has been involved from the day the abuse allegations surfaced, cooperated with authorities, and supported the victim and her family.
The community youth group emerged as a collaboration between the Baldwin Christian Reformed Church, First Reformed Church, and The Village Church around 2010. It met primarily at the Baldwin Christian Reformed Church and our former pastor, Rev. Anson Veenstra, helped lead the group. However, the oversight and decision making were shared by all three churches and their pastors.
When the allegations of sexual misconduct initially surfaced, the pastors of the three collaborating churches reported the misconduct to local police. The community youth group sent letters to the students and parents to inform them of allegations involving a leader and student. Due to both this particular situation and other factors, including each of the three pastors leaving their respective congregations, the community youth group collaboration has since dissolved.
The Baldwin Christian Reformed Church grieves that anyone who participated in the community youth group may have experienced harm. We are hopeful for a fair process that brings justice, peace, and healing to those affected, and we stand ready to support survivors in their journey toward healing.
Of note, the Baldwin Christian Reformed Church has had a Child Protection Policy in place since 1999. We have, as required by our denomination, a Safe Church representative with access to denominational resources and training. Since 2019, volunteers working with youth receive regular background checks and child safety training.
+ Baldwin Bulletin, 990 Hillcrest Street, Suite #104, PO Box 76,
Baldwin, Wisconsin 54002, 715-684-2484, Fax: 715-684-4937, tstangl@theameryfreepress.com
+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org
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– Senator Josh Hawley Slams Ketanji Brown Jackson for Child Pornographers Light Prison Sentences
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