Two or three times each year, Christian Reformed churches send representatives to 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 of the most recent classis meetings:
New Ministries
New ministries approved:
New Hope in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Holy City in Corona, Calif.
Hispanic ministries in Wenatchee and Toppenish, Wash.
Salem, Ore.
Vancouver, Edmonds, North Whatcom County, and Aurora/Licton Springs, all in Washington.
Eastern Van Buren County, Mich.
Ministry Changes
An emerging church does not have its own council and is under the care of a neighboring Christian Reformed church’s council. An organized church has its own council. Changes to a congregation’s status as emerging or organized must be approved by the classis.
The following churches moved from emerging to organized:
Northern Lighthouse Community CRC in Lincoln, Neb.
Living Water Community CRC in Orange City, Iowa.
The following churches have affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA):
Shim Community Church (Irvine, Calif.)
Reno Hana Church (Reno, Nev.)
Hope International Chinese Congregation (Arcadia, Calif.)
Word of Truth International Ministry (Seattle, Wash.)
The following church has withdrawn from the CRCNA:
Trinity CRC in Visalia, Calif.
Ministries Ended
The following ministries have ended:
Bethel CRC in Tucson, Ariz.
West Forty-Fourth Street CRC in Wyoming, Mich.
Family of Faith ministry in Wyoming, Mich.
Paw Paw (Mich.) CRC
Epicenter CRC, Parrish, Fla.
Leadership Issues
Classis British Columbia North-West invited emerging churches to delegate two ordained persons to classis meetings.
In Classis Alberta North, an examination for a minister of the Word was halted when it was discovered that the sermons presented were plagiarized.
Classes Illiana, Northern Illinois, and Chicago South are developing a tri-classis team to coordinate the recruiting and developing of church planters, pastors, and ministry associates within the CRC.
Classes Hudson and Hackensack established a joint multiethnic team to facilitate racial reconciliation and crosscultural ministry. The two classes also formed a team to help men and women pursue ordained ministry in the CRC.
Classis Minnkota formed a committee to recommend how classis can “redemptively” participate in Synod 2009 now that women are being seated as delegates.
More news from the classes is available in this month’s online Banner at www.thebanner.org.
—Banner News Correspondents
