Classis Michigan Classis Michigan 1st Meeting
Minutes Classis Michigan Classis Michigan 1st Meeting
MinutesMarch 3, 1998
at the Grace United Reformed Church of Alto, Michigan
Article 1
Rev. Peter Adams, Chairman of the day, calls the meeting to order and leads the delegates in devotions. He reads Colossians 1:3-14.
Article 2
The Chairman requests the Vice-Chairman, Rev. Brian Vos, call the roll of the churches. The following delegates were present:
Church / Minister Delegate / Elder Delegate
Allendale, Michigan: Allendale URC / / Mr. Lee Dyke, Mr. Don Sall
Alto, Michigan: Grace URC / Rev. Peter Adams / Mr. Dale Suwyn
Caledonia, Michigan: Trinity URC / Rev. Brian Vos / Mr. Bernie Wychers
Eastmanville, Michigan: Eastmanville URC / Rev. Steve De Boer / Mr. Dave Broene
Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zion URC / / Mr. Allen Veurink, Mr. Claude Wierenga
Holland, Michigan: Faith URC / Rev. Wybren Oord / Mr. Neil Jacobsen
Hudsonville, Michigan: Cornerstone URC / Rev. Steve Arrick / Mr. Gary Essenburg
Jenison, Michigan: Bethel URC / Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen / Mr. Willis Van Dyke
Kalamazoo, Michigan: Covenant URC / Rev. Philip Vos / Mr. Henry Knibbe
Walker, Michigan: Walker URC / Rev. Joel Vander Kooi / Mr. John De Graaf
Wyoming, Michigan: Beverly URC / Rev. Art Besteman / Mr. Henry Rubingh
Article 3
The first meeting of Classis Michigan is declared constituted. Eleven churches represented.
Article 4
All the delegates to Classis Michigan sign the Form of Subscription.
Article 5
The Chairman welcomes the guests and visitors. They include:
A. Rev. P. Murphy and Mr. Walt De Lange of Dutton Independent Reformed Church.
B. Mr. and Mrs. Alrick Headley of Walker URC.
C. Mr. D. T. Maurina from the Christian Renewal
D. Dr. Dirk Bergsma from the west coast.
Article 6
Rev. W. H. Oord is elected as the Clerk of Classis.
Article 7
After a motion to shorten the lunch break to one hour is approved, the proposed time schedule is adopted.
Article 8
The Classis proceeds to the Candidacy Exam of Mr. Alrick Headley as requested by the Walker URC.
A. The Chairman reports that the credentials of the prospective candidate are in good order.
B. Rev. A. Besteman presents the Sermon Evaluation.
AMMAS to proceed with the examination - carried.
C. Rev. E. Knott examines the prospective candidate in matters of Practica.
AMMAS to proceed with the examination - carried.
D. Rev. J. Wesseling examines Mr. Headley in matters of Ethics.
AMMAS to proceed with the examination - carried.
E. Rev. P. Adams examines the prospective candidate in matters of Bible Knowledge.
AMMAS to proceed with the examination - carried.
F. Rev. D. Vander Meulen examines Mr. Headley in matters of Biblical Exegesis.
After some questions, AMMAS to proceed with the examination - carried.
G. Rev. W. Oord examines the prospective candidate in matters of Confessional Knowledge.
After some questions, AMMAS to proceed with the examination - carried.
H. Rev. B. Vos examines Mr. Headley in matters of Reformed Doctrine.
Article 9
The chairman interrupts the examination in order to break for lunch.
A. Rev. S. Arrick offers prayer.
B. A delicious ham dinner is served by the women of the Grace URC.
C. Dr. D. Bergsma speaks about the United Reformed churches out west.
D. Dr. Bergsma is asked to convey our greetings to the newly formed Classis West when it meets.
Article 10
Rev. J. Vander Kooi begins the afternoon session with prayer.
Article 11
The Candidacy exam of Mr. Alrick Headley continues.
A. Rev. B. Vos continues to exam the prospective candidate in matters of Reformed Doctrine.
AMMAS to proceed with the exam - carried.
B. Rev. S. De Boer examines Mr. Headley in matters of Church History.
After some questions and comments, AMMAS to enter into executive session to discuss the examination of Mr. Alrick Headley - carried.
C. Executive Session is declared.
1. AMMAS to sustain the examination of Mr. Alrick Headley.
2. After seeking guidance from the Lord in prayer, the delegates vote by ballot concerning the examination.
3. Mr. Headley sustains the examination.
D. Mr. and Mrs. Headley, guests and visitors are invited back into the meeting.
E. Mr. Headley is informed that he has sustained the exam and is declared a Candidate for the Ministry in the United Reformed Churches in North America.
F. Rev. J. Vander Kooi offers thanks to God in prayer.
G. The delegates, visitors, and guests offer their congratulations, greetings, and words of encouragement to Candidate and Mrs. Headley.
Article 12
Overture 1, concerning the rules of procedure for Classis Michigan, is presented to the Classis.
A. AMMAS to adopt the rules of procedure - carried.
B. It is suggested that the clerk put the adopted rules of classis into an attractive booklet form.
Article 13
Mr. Clarence Kamstra is elected as the Classical Treasurer.
Article 14
Classical Treasurer's Report
A. Mr. C. Kamstra reports on the finances left in Classis Mid-West.
B. AMMAS to send the original portion of the money donated to Classis Mid-West by churches outside of our classis to the classis those churches are now in. - Adopted.
C. Mr. Henry Rubingh is voted in as the Assistant Classical Treasurer.
Article 15
The council of the Cornerstone URC asks a hypothetical question concerning discipline and the definition of "resignation" within the URCNA. Advice is given.
Article 16
Correspondence from Rev. Peter Stazen of the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church [OPC] inviting us to send an observer to the Spring meeting of the March 20, 21 Presbytery at the Covenant OPC in Orland Park, Ill. The clerk is instructed to send this correspondence to the calling church of Classis Central URC.
Article 17
The questions of Church Order Article 26 are asked of the churches. No irregularities are reported.
Article 18
Overture 2 is presented to the classis.
The Overture:
The Council of the Faith United Reformed Church overtures Classis Michigan to begin a newsletter for the churches within our classis, with the possible expansion to other URC churches.
The Grounds:
1. As a young growing federation we need some means of
a. identifying ourselves.
b. gathering information about ourselves
2. Our members have a desire to know the news of our federation.
3. Our churches can lift one another up in prayer when concerns are made known.
A. AMMAS adopted the overture - carried.
B. AMMAS to accept Rev. S. De Boer's offer to edit the newsletter - adopted.
C. AMMAS to have Rev. S. De Boer and the Clerk of Classis come up with guidelines concerning the newsletter - adopted.
Article 19
Closing Matters
A. The next meeting will be at the Trinity URC on Kalamazoo Ave.
B. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 1998 at 8:30 a.m.
C. The concept minutes are read.
Article 20
The Vice-Chairman thanks the host church for the use of their facility and closes the meeting with prayer.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rev. W. H. Oord
Clerk of Classis Michigan
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