CLASSIS ILLIANA ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIRST SESSION Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, Illinois September 17, 2008

Transcription

1 CLASSIS ILLIANA ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIRST SESSION Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, Illinois September 17, 2008 Article 1 Article 2 President Richard Vanderwal welcomes the delegates and calls classis to order. He reads from Philippians 1 and reflects on God s recent blessings including additional pastors who recently filled vacant positions. He leads in prayer and classis delegates sing I Love Your Church, O Lord. The credentials are presented. Roll call indicates the following have been delegated to attend this session of Classis by their respective councils. CHURCH MINISTER ELDER Crown Point, IN - First Joel Sheeres Jeff Postma* DeMotte, IN - Bethel Rick Vanderwal Larry Ouwenga DeMotte, IN - First Laryn Zoerhof John DeKoek Gary, IN - Beacon Light Jim Groen Harold Scheeringa Hammond, IN John Kostelyk James Severa Highland, IN - First Randall Bergsma Hank Balkema* Highland, IN - Second Indianapolis, IN - Hope Com. Gary Schipper Howard Bell Lafayette, IN Lafayette, IN - Sunrise Robert Lyzenga Ken Kaufman Lansing, IL - Bethel Calvin Aardsma Gene Eenigenburg Lansing, IL - First (New Hope) Ildefonso Torres Richard Smits Monee, IL - Family of Faith Henry Reyenga Jr David Feddes Marquette Heights, IL - Family of Faith Jesse Powell* Munster, IN - First Herman Schutt Jerry Hoogewerf Nashville, TN - Faith Jerry Hoek Tony Langeland Roselawn, IN - Community Joel Zuidema Jeff Terpstra* Sauk Village, IL - Emmanuel Timothy Koster Milt Mulder Schererville, IN - Crossroads Kris Vos Jerry Panozzo* South Holland, IL - Cottage Grove Richard Zekveld* Douglas Van Til South Holland, IL - First Ben Tol Bill Lenting* South Holland, IL - Peace* Heino Blaauw Larry Van Drunen St. John - Pathway Rob Knol* (First time delegates, having read the Formula of Subscription prior to the meeting, are indicated by * above.) Article 4 A motion is made, supported, and passed to seat pastors from emerging churches as delegates at this session of Classis as well as all subsequent Classis meetings. Jesse Powell from Family of Faith CRC -Peoria and Rob Knol of Pathway CRC are seated as delegates. Article 5 Classis is constituted A. The following serve as officers for the day:: President -Richard Vanderwal Stated Clerk - Robert Jipping Minutes Classis Illiana, September 17, Vice President - Laryn Zoerhof Ass t Stated Clerk - Laryn Zoerhof

2 B. First-time delegates and the following visitors are welcomed: Peter Oh, pastor-elect of Beacon Light CRC and Arturo Olguin of Hispanic Ministries of DeMotte, IN. C. Motion was made, supported and passed to seat the elder and pastor delegates from the First CRC of Crownpoint, IN. (Credentials not available.) D. Chairman makes the following appointments: 1 Opening prayer for afternoon Session Jerry Hoek 2. Credentials/Article 41 Committee (First Highland CRC) 3. Financial Screening Committee - Andy Balkema, treasurer 4. Nominating Committee for March Richard Vanderwal, Rob Knol Article 6 Article 7 Heino Blaauw, President of March 4, 2008 meeting of Classis, declares the minutes of the March 4, 2008 meeting are in order. Report of Nominating Committee. No nominees are present from delegates A. Kris Vos, chairman of Classical Home Committee, will present nominee(s) for vacant position on CHMC to the next meeting of Classis.. B. Joel Zuidema presents his name as nominee as a regional delegate to the Calvin College Bd. of Trustees. (Voting at the March, 2009 Classis meeting.) C. Barbara Leep is approved for a second term to the Classical Home Missions. Committee. Article 9 Report of Stated Clerk Received for information. A. It was moved, supported and passed to change Rule VI, 1. B. a. of Classis Rules to read they may continue to a second term unless objections are raised. (Rule in reference to membership on Standing committees of Classis) B. A motion made, supported and passed to approve the work of the Stated Clerk. Article 10 Article 11 Report of Classical Treasurer, Andy Balkema...Received as information - A motion was made, supported and carried to approve the work of the Classical Treasurer. Report of Classical Interim Committee Received as information A. Herman Schutt reviews the report of the Classical Interim Committee. B. It was moved, supported, and passed that Classis Illiana authorize the Crosspoint Strategic Network to explore and develop a tri-classis (Chicago South, Illiana and Northern Illinois) Classical Ministerial Leadership Team (CMLT) that would coordinate the recruiting and developing of church planters, pastors, and Ministry Associates within the Christian Reformed Church in the three classes. C. It is moved, supported, and passed that there is a need for an available pastor from another denomination to serve as a new-church developer and to provide indigenous leadership in a[n] ethnic minority church. ( Fr. Acts of Synod, 1984,p.575) Article 12 It was moved, supported and passed to accept Rev. Ed Rockett as a Minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church. Rev. Rockett will serve as a church planter in the south suburbs of Chicago and will be called by Bethel CRC of Lansing, IL to this position. Grounds Minutes Classis Illiana, September 17,

3 A. The approval of the Candidacy Committee of the CRC to proceed has been given. B. Rev. Rockett has sustained a theological conversation with Classical delegates for admission to this office. (Randall Bergsma, examiner.) C. Questions from synodical deputies and classis delegates were satisfactorily answered. D. Synodical deputies Michael Winnowski (Classis Wisconsin), Michael Kooy (Classis Chicago South) and Richard Ver Kaik (Classis Kalamazoo) confirmed this decision of classis.. - A time thanks to God was held for this provision for a pastor to begin a multiethnic church and that God s blessing and power will be with Rev. Rockett. - Bethel CRC of Lansing will proceed with the installation of Rev. Rockett to this position and task. Article 13 Article 14 Article 15 Article 16 Article 17 Article 18 Article 19 It was moved, supported, and passed to declare the position of Ministry Associate as requested by Crown Point CRC fits the guidelines adopted by Synod 2001 (Fr. Supplement Article 23-a General Regulations) Church Order and Rules for Synodical Procedure Grounds: A. The appropriate documents describing the position have been received and accepted. B. Synodical deputies Michael Winnowski (Classis Wisconsin), Michael Kooy (Classis Chicago South) and Richard Ver Kaik (Classis Kalamazoo) confirmed this decision of Classis. Classical Home Missions -- Kris Vos, Chair. reporting..received as Information A. It was moved, supported, and passed to approve the 2009 budget as proposed. B. Motion was made, supported and passed to approve the work of the committee. Chicago Home Missions Regional Leader, Peter Kelder, reports. Rec d as Information. - The staff of Crosspoint Strategic Committee is introduced. - Bethany Dudley, Ruth Kelder, Peter Aviles and Tim Hoekstra - Each addressed classes pertaining to their particular area. Classical Missionary and pastor, Jesse E. Powell of Family of Faith Church of Peoria, IL, an emerging church, reports..received as Information. Rob Knol, pastor of Pathway Church, an emerging church. reports.rec d as Information Arturo Olguin, pastor of the Spanish ministry in the DeMotte area, reports. Received as Information Student Fund Committee - Tim Koster reporting...received as Information - No applicants have applied since last meeting... - Motion was made, supported and passed to lower ministry share support for Budget year 2009 to $5.00. Minutes Classis Illiana, September 17,

4 Article 20 Church Visitors Report... Received as Information A. Laryn Zoerhof & Cal Aardsma - Cottage Grove CRC. South Holland, IL B. Laryn Zoerhof & Cal Aardsma - Peace CRC, South Holland, IL C. Robert Lyzenga & Don Dykstra - First CRC, DeMotte, IN - Motion was made, supported and passed to approve the work of the Church Visitors. Article 21 Article 22 Article 23 Article 24 Article 25 Church Counselors Reports..Received as Information A. John Kostelyk - Beacon Light CRC B. Gerrit Veenstra - 1st Lansing CRC C. Laryn Zoerhof - II Highland CRC -Motion made, supported, and passed to approve the work of the church counselors Financial Screening Committee - Andy Balkema reporting A. Motion made, supported, and passed to continue to recommend Roseland Christian Ministries for offerings in the churches. B. Motion made, supported, and passed to recommend Multiplication Network for special offerings in the churches. (The Mission of Multiplication Network is to foster growth and planting of healthy churches, currently in Latin America, and eventually worldwide.) C. Motion made, supported, and passed to set ministry share for Trinity Christian College at $ A. Chicago Christian Counseling Center Received as information. - A representative of classis on the CCCC Board is no longer necessary. Classis will be requested to confirm an appointment made by the Board of CCCC. B. Roseland Christian Ministries...Received as information - Joel Huizenga of RCM addresses Classis. C. Self Help Jobs Program Received as Information D. New Leaf Resources Received as information Report on Synod Laryn Zoerhof reporting Received as information Denominational Boards and Agencies Ministry Reports Received as Information A. Regional Boards a) CRCNA Board of Trustees e) Calvin Theological Seminary b) Calvin College f) Back to God Hour c) Board of Home Missions g) Faith Alive Resources d) Board of World Missions B. Christian Reformed World Relief Committee Minutes Classis Illiana, September 17,

5 Article 26 Article 27 Additional outside speakers addressing Classis A. Jan Visser of the Christian Service Ministries - Workshop: Rev. Mark Stephenson, Director of Disability Concerns Ministry of the CRC. Based on book A Compassionate Journey by John G. Cook; November 13, 2008 at Trinity Christian College 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. B. Reverend David Breems of the Leadership Renewal Institute - Retreats for Church Leaders: Tuesdays: September 30, 2008; October 21, 2008; November 11, 2008; Trinity Christian College, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. C. Rev. David Koll of the Synodical Candidacy Committee - A review of recent decisions pertaining to the process for ordination into the offices of Ministry of the Word and Ministry Associate of the CRC. Adjournment: Acknowledgements & Closing Prayer - Laryn Zoerhof NEXT MEETING LOCATION: TO BE ANNOUNCED MARCH 3, 2009 President, Laryn Zoerhof Agenda Deadline -January 26, 2009 Minutes Classis Illiana, September 17,