Classis Michigan Classis Michigan
9th Meeting
Bulletin Insert Classis Michigan Classis Michigan
9th Meeting
Bulletin InsertClassis Michigan
June 26. 2001
Bulletin Insert
Twenty-four delegates representing twelve churches met at the Covenant United Reformed Church in Kalamazoo for the ninth meeting of Classis Michigan. Chairman of Classis, Rev. Art Besteman began the meeting by leading the group in singing, reading Scripture, and offering prayer.
The twenty-four delegates spent the bulk of the day examining Mr. Harold Miller, a member of the Eastmanville URC who recently graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Mr. Miller was examined in the areas of Practica, Bible Knowledge, Biblical Exegesis - Old and New Testament, Confessional Knowledge, Reformed Doctrine, Church History, and Ethics. One of the twenty-four delegates broke with tradition and also asked Mrs. Miller a couple of questions.
Upon the completion of the exam, prayer was offered, and all twenty-four delegates voted in favor of Mr. Miller sustaining the exam so that he might be declared a candidate for Minister of the Word and Sacraments in the URCNA. After the chairman informed Mr. Miller of the unanimous decision, he offered words of encouragement to Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Rev. S. De Boer, pastor of the Millers’ home church, offered a prayer of thanksgiving.
In other matters, the Faith URC of Olive Center asked for a discussion about the Canadian Reformed Church. This request came in light of Synod’s decision to move to Phase Two in Ecumenical Fellowship with the CanRC, a decision that must be ratified by the individual churches. The delegates decided to form a committee to look into the history of the CanRC as well as the similarities and differences they have with our federation. That committee is scheduled to report at the next classis at Faith URC on October 16. It was suggested that this be an evening meeting open to all Council members interested in this discussion.
It is always a very special blessing to be a part of a classis meeting where a person seeking the ministry does well in his exam and receives a unanimous decision in his favor from the body. Such an exam illustrates not only the wisdom and ability of the individual being examined, but it reminds us of the promise of God that He will always raise up men filled with the Holy Spirit who have a desire to proclaim His glorious truth.
It was a joy to witness a retired pastor hand the Classical Diploma to a young man just beginning his journey into the ministry. It seemed as if the mantle was being passed from one generation to the next. And, there was the assurance felt by the twenty-four delegates to classis that the mantle was being placed in good hands.
Rev. W. H. Oord, Clerk of Classis
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