wfn.org | CRC NEWS: Borgdorff Appointed to Lead CRC

["Henry Hess" <hessh@crcna.ca>]

Aug. 8, 2005 -- Peter Borgdorff will serve as the executive director of
the Christian Reformed Church in North America, pending the search for a
new executive director (ED).

The executive committee of the Board of Trustees (BOT) made the
appointment on Aug. 3.	It takes effect Aug. 22, 2005 - the date on
which Borgdorff was scheduled to retire as executive director of
ministries (EDM) - and will continue until a new ED is appointed by
synod. That is expected to happen in 2006.

BOT chairman W. Wayne Leys said the appointment of Borgdorff, who has
served the CRC in his current position since 1992, will bring stability
to the denomination in the aftermath of the sudden resignation of
ED-designee Calvin L. Bremer.

Bremer, the executive director of the Back to God Hour, the CRC's
electronic media ministry, was to have assumed the new position later
this month. He resigned from both positions on July 29.

Borgdorff said the resignation was precipitated by information received
last week about a relationship that existed between Bremer and a female
colleague from Racom Associates, an organization that raises funds for
the BTGH.

Borgdorff said the information raised serious questions about Bremer's
ability to meet the leadership requirements that are inherent in the
position of executive director.  After reviewing the material with a
lawyer and a psychologist, representatives of the executive committees
of the Board of Trustees and of the Back to God Hour (BTGH) met with
Bremer and later on the same day he resigned.

In his letter of resignation Bremer writes: "I regret that my lack of
good judgment to maintain appropriate boundaries with a colleague in
ministry has caused pain to the church of our Lord Jesus Christ and to
many of you both personally and professionally.

"Please forgive me for the pain and injury that my actions have caused
to you and to the witness of the church."

Borgdorff said the development is sad and painful for all concerned.
"Please pray for Dr. Bremer and his family, the board and personnel of
the Back to God Hour, and for the Board of Trustees of the Christian
Reformed Church as it seeks to guide the denomination through these
regrettable circumstances," he said.

Synod 2005 had appointed Bremer to be executive director of the
Christian Reformed Church effective Aug. 22, 2005.   The position is a
new one that combines aspects of the responsibilities previously
fulfilled by the EDM and the general secretary.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Peter Borgdorff
(616) 224-0832
borgdorp@crcna.org

---------------------------------
Henry Hess
Director of Communications
Christian Reformed Church
905-336-2920 ext.236
hessh@crcna.ca

To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church, visit www.crcna.org