The Christian Reformed Church's governing synod has voted tentatively to allow the ordination of women as ministers and elders.
The vote followed eight hours of debate between progressive and conservative factions of the 314,000-member church.The action would allow individual congregations to "use their discretion in utilizing the gifts of women members in all areas of the church," church spokesman Bob Meyering said.
But the action remains subject to ratification by a 1992 meeting.
"It distresses me that we have damned the work of the Holy Spirit and not allowed our mothers, our sisters, our daughters to utilize the gifts God has given them," the Rev. William Buursma, a Kalamazoo, Mich., pastor said in the debate.
The Rev. James Cooper of Zeeland, Mich., argued that there are "no assurances that this won't be thrust on the churches in violation of their consciences."