Is the RCA a hierarchical church?
The civil court case by the Classis of Central California against the Consistory of the Miraloma Community Church (founded in 1942 as Grace Reformed Church in San Francisco) resulted in a ruling on September 15, 2009 by a California Court of Appeal that affirmed the decision of a lower court. In 2008, in a 21 page (6886 word) decision, the San Francisco Superior (lower) court had upheld a decision of Classis to supersede the Consistory because the proper procedures as set forth in the RCA Book of Church Order were followed. Ergo: without classis’ explicit approval the Miraloma Consistory as such was ruled as having no authority to dis-fellowship from classis and to incorporate itself as an independent body identical to the original body, including its assets, except for the existing by-laws. Read more…