Two or three times each year, Christian Reformed churches send representatives to meetings of classis, a regional grouping of churches. Delegates at those meetings review and make decisions about their shared ministries and practice mutual accountability for their congregations’ individual ministries. Here are the highlights from the most recent classis meetings:
Entering Ordained Ministry
Entry into ordained ministry in the Christian Reformed Church is governed by Church Order Article 6 (candidates with the prescribed seminary training), Article 7 (those without seminary training who are deemed to have exceptional gifts), and Article 8 (ministers from other denominations).
Classes examined and approved the following candidates: Sean Baker and Josh Van Til.
Leaving Ordained Ministry
Classes may end the ordained ministry status of a pastor if the minister has voluntarily left the CRC or has taken up a nonministerial vocation. A classis may also end ordained ministry status if a minister released from a congregation did not receive a call to another church within two years. Mark Scheffers’s status as an ordained minister in the CRC was ended.
Ministry Associates
Ministry Associates are elders called to a specific ministry, ordained by a classis to function in that role within that classis. Ministry associates approved by classes include Mary Bouwma, Yi-ming Kao, Amanda Roozeboom, and Joel Verhoef.
Leadership Issues
Classis Grand Rapids East will begin delegating deacons to classis meetings in September 2010. Classis Grand Rapids South discussed the proposed covenant for officebearers. Classis Toronto held training on leadership in multicultural, multifaith settings.
Outreach
Classis Chatham celebrated 40 years of campus ministry at the University of Western Ontario in London.
Pensions and Finance
Classis Grand Rapids East noted that classis ministry shares were paid in full by all member churches. Classis Georgetown noted that income for classis and denominational ministry shares is way down.
Training
Classis Red Mesa heard a presentation on immigration issues.
Safe Church
Classis Holland approved liability coverage for the Safe Church Team. Classis Kalamazoo offered training for church leaders in safe church policies and practices.
Overtures (Requests) to Synod
Classis Grand Rapids East sent an overture (request) to Synod 2010, requesting appointment of a study committee to review the biblical teachings regarding homosexual orientation and practice in light of current biblical and theological study of the issues. [This overture was received too late for Synod 2010 to consider.]
—Banner News Correspondents
