Classis Michigan Classis Michigan
10th Meeting
Minutes Classis Michigan Classis Michigan
10th Meeting
Minutes| Chairman | Rev. Art Besteman |
| Clerk | Rev. W. H. Oord |
| Treasurer | Mr. Clarence Kamstra |
Chairman Rev. Art Besteman began the meeting by leading the body in singing #398 from the Psalter Hymnal, "The Church's One Foundation." He also read from Ephesians 2:14ff., and offered prayer.
| Church | Minister | Elder |
| Allendale | Rev. Mark Zylstra | |
| Alto - Grace | Mr. Bob Tjapkes | |
| Byron Center - Covenant | Rev. Steve McGee | Mr. Mark Dykstra |
| Caledonia - Trinity |
Mr. George Jager Mr. Sid Vander Laan |
|
| Dutton | Rev. Paul Murphy | Mr. Rich Buys |
| Eastmanville | Rev. Steve De Boer | Mr. John Van Timmeren |
| Hudsonville - Cornerstone | Rev. Tim Perkins | Mr. Glenn Hop |
| Jenison - Bethel | Rev. D. Vander Meulen | Mr. Marvin Vanden Berg |
| Kalamazoo - Covenant | Mr. Dave Kloosterman Mr. Ken Schoonbeck |
|
| Olive Center - Faith | Rev. W. H. Oord | Mr. Jerry Kuyers |
| Walker | Rev. J. Vander Kooi | Mr. Al Van Vels |
| Wyoming - Bethany | Rev. Casey Freswick | Mr. Jerry Baker |
Classis was declared constituted and first time delegates signed the Form of Subscription.
The chairman welcomed guests and visitors. A special welcome was given to Mr. Mike McGee, son of Rev. S. McGee. Mike is a recent graduate of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and will soon [D. V.] be the pastor of the Harvest Reformed Church [RCUS] in North Dakota. Other visitors included Rev. & Mrs. Ken Anema, Rev. Marion Groenendyk, Rev. Ed Knott, and Rev. Andy Van Schouwen.
The proposed time schedule was adopted.
The chairman appointed the delegates from the Eastmanville URC to the Credentials Committee.
a. The oral report of the clerk is approved by classis.
b. The Treasurer's Report is distributed. Mr. Kamstra explains the report and answers questions from the delegates. The report is then approved by classis.
c. The Chairman reminds the delegates that new Church Visitors need to be appointed.
A motion was made and supported [AMMAS] to accept the oral request from the Dutton URC to examine Rev. Miller provided that they forward the letters of request to the clerk in the near future.
-approved
a. Elder Tjapkes presented an evaluation of Mr. Miller's sermon.
b. Opportunity was given for the delegates to ask questions.
c. AMMAS to accept the work of the sermon evaluator and move to the next area of the interview.
- approved
Rev. Paul Murphy introduced Rev. Rick Miller.
a. Rev. D. Vander Meulen examined Rev. Miller in the area of Practica.
b. Opportunity was given for delegates to ask Rev. Miller questions in this area.
c. A motion is made and supported to proceed to the next area of the discussion.
- Carried
a. Rev. D. Vander Meulen examined Rev. Miller in the area of Church Polity.
b. Delegates were given the opportunity to ask questions.
c. AMMAS to proceed to the next area of the examination.
- Carried
a. Rev. S. McGee questioned Rev. Miller in the area of Confessional Knowledge.
b. The delegates were given opportunity to ask questions.
c. AMMAS to proceed to the next area of discussion.
- Carried
a. Rev. S. McGee examined Rev. Miller in the area of Reformed Doctrine.
b. Delegates were invited to ask questions.
b. AMMAS to proceed with the discussion.
- Carried
a. Rev. Art Besteman examined Rev. Miller in the area of Ethics.
b. Delegates were given the opportunity to ask questions in the area of Ethics.
a. Executive Session was declared.
b. AMMAS that we declare that Rev. Miller may be declared a Minister of the Word and Sacraments in the United Reformed Churches in North America.
c. Rev. Perkins prayed for the Lord's guidance.
d. The delegates voted by ballot.
e. The ballots indicate that Rev. Miller had unanimously sustained his Colloquium Doctum.
f. Executive Session was declared over.
a. The Chairman informed Rev. Miller that the delegates had voted unanimously that he had sustained his Colloquium Doctum.
b. Words of encouragement were offered to Rev. Miller by the chairman.
c. Rev. P. Murphy offered a prayer of thanksgiving.
d. Delegates offer words of congratulations and encouragement to Rev. Miller.
a. The Overture
We, the Council of the Dutton URC, hereby overture Classis Michigan to arrange for the examination of Mr. David Meengs for candidacy for the ministry of the Word & Sacraments.
BACKGROUND:
Mr. Meengs is a member in good standing of the Dutton congregation. He is 51 years old, a father of four grown and married children, and is retired from Steelcase.
Mr. Meengs has served in the offices of Deacon & Elder in the Dutton congregation.
Mr. Meengs is currently engaged in missionary activity as Director of the Biblical Counseling Trust of India. His activities include teaching fellow believers and local Pastors in India in addition to exhorting in local congregations there. The teaching is Biblical Counseling (nouthetic counseling) specifically but covers the range of discipleship in general.
Mr. Meengs has been engaged in activities in India for five years during which time he has gained enormous experience on the field. He has had the Self-Confrontation manual translated into six languages (20,000 copies). He publishes a bi-monthly discipleship/counseling magazine which has a circulation of 30,000 copies in six languages. He has also written a book on marriage and is preparing another one on depression which is due out in October.
The training that Mr. Meengs has received has been from Mr. Ken Smith (OPC) of the Biblical Counseling Center in Jenison, MI as well as the Biblical Counseling Foundation in California.
Mr. Meengs has been examined by Mr. George Scipione of WTSCA for NANC (North American Association of Nouthetic Counselors) certification and has passed the written part of that exam (which covers the six loci of Systematic Theology). We believe that the combination of education and experience qualifies Mr. Meengs according to Article 3 of the Church Order of the URCNA.
The Council of the Dutton URC believes Mr. Meengs possesses the requisite gifts and abilities for ministry. Additionally we believe that his labors require him to be ordained.
The Council further believes that Mr. Meengs can sustain a candidacy exam of the Classis and thus requests one to be arranged.
b. The chairman permits time for general discussion pertaining to the overture.
c. AMMAS that Classis Michigan grant the Dutton request and make arrangements for a Candidacy Exam of Mr. Meengs.
- Defeated
d. Advice was given to the Dutton URC as to what requirements would be necessary for Mr. Meengs to be examined as a candidate.
a. The committee reports that all the credentials were found in good order.
b. Several churches have asked for advice.
a. The Dutton TJRC sought the advice of Cassis in a discipline case.
b. Executive Session was declared.
c. The Dutton delegate explains the discipline case to the delegates.
d. AMMAS to advise the Dutton URC to proceed to the second step of discipline.
- Carried
a. A request for advice came from the Covenant URC of Byron Center.
b. Since this request was not on the credentials, AMMAS to hear the concern from Covenant URC and offer advice.
c. A delegate from Covenant seeks advice on the acceptance of a baptism when the baptizer is not ordained.
d. The advice given to Covenant URC is that the Trinitarian baptism should be acknowledged by the church.
a. The Cornerstone URC of Hudsonville sought the advice of classis in a discipline case.
b. A Cornerstone delegate explained the discipline case to the delegates.
c. AMMAS to advise the Cornerstone URC to proceed to the second step of discipline.
- Carried
a. The chairman reminded the delegates that Church Visitors were still needed.
b. The delegates nominate Rev. Casey Freswick and Rev. Wybren Oord for the position of Church Visitors.
c. AMMAS to cease nominations.
- Carried
d. Rev. Freswick and Rev. Oord are railroaded into the position of Church Visitors.
Church Order Article 26 Questions were asked of each Consistory.
Concept Minutes were read and approved.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 30, 2002 at Grace URC in Alto.
The chairman thanked the host church for their hospitality.
a. Elder Dave Kloosterman closed the afternoon session with prayer and the delegates broke for dinner.
b. Delegates enjoyed a delicious meal.
Chairman Besteman began the evening meeting by leading the assembly in singing #166 "Zion Founded on the Mountains" and #479 "1 Love Thy Kingdom, Lord" from the Psalter Hymnal. He also read John 15:1-17 and offered prayer.
Rev. Besteman introduced the CanRC Study Committee: Mr. Henry Kooistra, Rev. Paul Murphy, and Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen.
Rev. Murphy read the attached report which is divided into three parts:
a. Historical Information
b. Church Order
c. Recommendations
The chairman permits the committee members to make comments and observations.
a. Rev. Vander Meulen reported on the statistics of the Canadian Reformed Churches.
b. Rev. Murphy spoke of the relationship between members of the two federations.
c. Mr. Kooistra gave a brief history of the CanRC.
The chairman offered delegates the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.
Many of the questions and comments centered around the meaning of "Phase Two" in ecumenical relations within the URC; differences between the two federations; and the influence each federation would have upon the other.
The chairman offers opportunity for visitors to ask questions and make observations.
Each member of the committee made some closing statements.
Rev. D. Vander Meulen thanked our chairman for leading us and closed the meeting with prayer.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 30, 2002
Location: Grace URC of Alto, Michigan
Material for the Agenda should be in the hands of the Clerk no later than March
1, 2002
The URCNA Synod Escondido (June, 2001) voted to enter "Phase Two" of ecclesiastical fellowship with the Canadian (and American) Reformed Churches. This decision is intended to . bring our two federations closer together with the stated goal of eventual full union (merger). According to the URCNA Chiuch Order: "The federation may eater into ecumenical relations with other federations by synodical decision. Such a decision must be ratified by a majority of the Consistories." (Article.36) Synod requested that all Consistories respond to the Stated Clerk (Rev. Jerome Julien) by January 1, 2002. In order for the Consistories of our classis to make an educated vote on this matter, Classis Michigan appointed an ad hoc committee to report to classis and provide information about the CanRC.
The CanRC presently has. 50 churches listed on their official web site (www.canrc.org). - 45 churches are in Canada, and five in the US (called the American Reformed Churches). In 1944, a secession (or Liberation) took place under the leadership of Klaas Schilder and S. Greijdanus.The following is quoted from the web site:
"The causes related once again to doctrine and church government. The Synod of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands made particular views regarding covenant. and baptism :binding on all ministers and members. When certain ministers, elders and deacons refused to conform, they were deposed and excommunicated. Those who were expelled and those who departed of their own accord formed the Reformed Churches is the Netherlands (Liberated).
After the Second World War there was a massive immigration from the Netherlands to North America, especially to Canada. When members oŁ the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands arrived in Canada, they first took up contact with already existing churches of Reformed persuasion in the hope that they could join with them. That hope soon disappeared when it became clear that one of those churches, the Protestant Reformed Church, expected the newly arrived immigrants to accept an unbiblical doctrinal statement relating to election and the covenant. This they refused to do.
The other Reformed church under consideration was the Christian Reformed Church; however, joining with it also proved impossible when it became clear that this Church sided with those in the Netherlands who had earlier expelled the newly arrived immigrants.
The consequence was that on April 16, 1950; the first Canadian Reformed church was instituted in Lethbridge, Alberta. It was soon followed by churches in Edmonton, Neerlandia, Orangeville, New Westminster and elsewhere.
As the Canadian Reformed Churches moves unto the 21st century, they are continuing to experience further growth and development. The number of local churches now numbers forty-nine with an additional 3 house congregations."
For a much more detailed description of CanRC history, we recommend the 4-part series of recent articles in Christian Renewal written by J. J Kuntz entitled, "CanRef 101." If you have Internet access, you can also find many articles relating to the CanRC's history and positions on the web site www.spindleworks.com.
After comparing the church orders of our two federations, we did not find areas of conflict that would be insurmountable. The following are some of the more obvious points of differences, all of which we think can be overcome:
1) The CanRC church order states: "The Churches shall maintain an institution for the training for the ministry . . ." (Article 19) This raises the question of whether to have a "denominational seminary." The CanRC presently has a seminary in Hamilton, ON.
2) The CanRC has "Regional Synods" that meet annually as well as a "General Synod" which meets once every three years (Articles 47 & 49, CanRC Church Order).
3) The requirement of the CanRC that visitors from sister churches have a letter of attestation in order to partake of communion (Articles 61 & 62, CanRC Church Order).
4) The CanRC's article on music in the church (Article 55) simply states: "In the worship services the Psalms will be sung in the rhyming adopted by general synod and the Hymns approved by general synod." Their Book of Praise includes anglo-genevan Psalms primarily in settings (one note for each syllable) as well as hymns. The Psalter Hymnal committee of the URCNA was instructed by Synod 2001 to communicate with the CanRC Book of Praise committee regarding a joint venture of publishing a new Psalter Hynmal.
1. Our committee recommends that a time be given at the Classis meeting for personal observations of committee members as well as from all those present.
2. Our committee has also observed that this movement toward union seems to be coming from the top down rather than emerging organically. It isn't local churches calling for union as much as synodical committees. As a response, we recommend that the churches of Classis Michigan actively seek to strengthen their ties with the Dutton American Reformed Church. This could include pulpit exchanges, combined youth group gatherings, invitations to special services (e.g.:Reformation Day services); and an official letter from the Consistories simply stating their desire to increase the relations and strengthen the bonds.
3. We recommend that Classis declare that this committee has fulfilled its mandate and dismiss the committee.
Committee Members:
-Mr. Harry Kooistra - Member of Trinity URC and former member of Dutton
American Reformed Church
-Rev. Paul Murphy - Pastor of Dutton URC
-Rev. Derrick 3. Vauder Meulen - Pastor of Bethel URC .
Information What's New Our Beliefs Sermons Literature U.R. Churches Classis Michigan Links Search Feedback Home