October 15 Today in OPC History

On this day in 1989 forty four members met for worship at Bethel OPC in Wheaton, Illinois. That was a sober Lord’s Day for God’s people, given what had just transpired. For several years there had been controversy at this thriving church in the Chicago suburbs. The issue at debate was the role of women in the leadership of the church. The Session had created a new office of “Advisor” to the elders and deacons, and women were eligible to serve in this new office. A complaint was filed by several members, which then worked its way to Presbytery and eventually to the General Assembly. When the fifty-sixth General Assembly ruled against this innovation, a majority of the members of Bethel decided to leave the OPC, including the entire active Session and the Pastor. The size of the congregation went from over 300 to a mere 44 – a decline of 85%. The building was retained by the remnant remaining in the OPC, as their bylaws stipulated. The Rev. Doug Clawson, then pastor of Grace OPC in nearby Hanover Park, was the ministerial advisor for Bethel for several years, and his ministry was used by the Lord for the healing and recovery of the suddenly small congregation. In 1991 OP missionary Lendall Smith became Bethel’s fifth pastor, and brought stability and growth to the congregation during his sixteen year ministry. In 2007 Pastor Smith retired and was succeeded by the Rev. Craig Troxel. Bethel OPC has flourished since their ordeal, and has seen God’s favor in their years of recovery.

Thanks to Don and Henry Brinks, charter members of Bethel OPC, for supplying information on the history of Bethel OPC.