Classis of Central California

Classis Minutes

Spring Stated Session 

 

March 10, 2001 – Calvary Reformed Church -- Ripon

 

 

 

I.          OPENING OF CLASSIS

 

Worship & Celebration:  President Dwayne Decker called the Spring Stated Session of Classis to order at 9:05 a.m. with an opening prayer, followed by the singing of four praise songs led by the Calvary Praise Team.  President Decker gave a devotional message entitled: “Worship as a Lifestyle” based on Hebrews 13:10-16.  He emphasized three major points contained in this passage of Scripture: Worship is Personal; Worship is Gratitude; Worship is Service.  Following the devotional message President Decker led the delegates in singing “I Surrender All.”     

 

II.        ENROLLMENT OF MEMBERS, INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS,

            AND GRANTING THE PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR TO GUESTS

 

·        The Classis Enrollment sheet was passed around for those present to register their attendance.  The register of enrollment is attached as Appendix A. 

 

ACTION #1:  M/S -- To grant the privilege of the floor to all guests present.  CARRIED.

 

III.       APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY COMMITTEES

 

·         Tellers – Calvary Reformed Church Delegates.

·         Resolutions – Rev. Jim Schoon.

·        Leave of Absence – Rev. Tim Boeve.

 

IV.       PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

ACTION #2:  M/S -- To accept the President’s Report as presented.  (See Appendix B for text of the report).  CARRIED.

 

Singing of the doxology followed the very positive report of the “State of the Classis” presented by President Decker.  Prayers of thanksgiving were also offered for the positive 5-year gains revealed by the Church Statistical Report.

 

V.        SERVANT TEAM REPORT

 

  • Proposal: Developing Healthy Churches that Multiply – Tim Vink

 

Tim Vink, Classis Minister, presented a proposal for the consideration of classis which focuses on a method for developing healthy churches and healthy leaders who are equipped to multiply.  (See the description of Phase I of this proposal, dated April, 2001-March, 2001, in Appendix C).

 

A time was provided for offering prayers of gratitude to God for entrusting the classis with the challenge of “fields ripe for harvest” and for the 20/20 vision that He has laid on the heart of the classis.  Prayers were also lifted up for strength and courage to be equal to the task that God has entrusted to the classis and for the leadership that Pastor Tim has provided as the “Steward of the Classis Vision.”

 

ACTION #3:  M/S -- To adopt the proposal “Developing Healthy Churches that Multiply.”  CARRIED.

 

  • Conflict Resolution/Mediation: Pastor Renewal and Care – Don Werkhoven & Keith Poppen

 

Don and Keith shared their experiences in taking the 5-day Mediation Skills Training provided by the Mennonite Peace Center.  They indicated that they are available and prepared to assist churches in developing communication systems and tools which is an essential ingredient for developing healthy churches.  They emphasized that conflict is inevitable in the complex world in which we find ourselves; therefore, developing skills to deal with conflict is imperative.

 

  • Honduras Partnership Project – Don Werkhoven

 

Don reviewed the contents of the minutes of two meetings of the Honduras Partnership Steering Committee, which is composed of eight members representing seven classis churches.  Although the Servant Team was charged with the task of presenting a proposal for the global partnership at the Spring Stated Session, the Steering Committee felt that they lacked important first-hand information about the Honduran field to develop specific goals for the proposal.  Two of the Steering Committee members were among a delegation of six people from three classis churches who visited Honduras Feb. 19-27.  The Steering Committee is scheduled to meet again on March 17 when they will debrief the members of the delegation to obtain the necessary information for the proposal.  Don estimated that the proposal will be ready for Servant Team review by April 1.

 

·        Words of Hope – Howard Anderson reporting 

Copies of a Words of Hope newsletter were distributed to the delegates.  Mr. Anderson reported that the long-awaited Words of Hope promotional video is now available for use by churches to stimulating interest and support for Words of Hope.  The video was played for the delegates to view.  Charles Wagner, elder from Community Reformed Church, Oakland, has consented to serve as the alternate classis representative to the Words of Hope.

 

  • Audio Scriptures International – Jim Wray reporting

Mr. Wray briefly explained the work of A.S.I. and its effectiveness.  He called the delegates attention to the display he had set up.

 

  • Nomination of Jay Zwagerman for Vice President and Jerry Davelaar for Moderator of the Leadership Development Commission.

 

ACTION #4:  M/S -- To approve the nomination of Jay Zwagerman as Vice President and Jerry Davelaar as Moderator of the Leadership Development Commission.  CARRIED.

 

      President Decker adjourned the morning session with prayer. 

 

 

ADJOURNED FOR LUNCH

 

 

Reconvened for the afternoon session with prayer offered by President Decker.

 

 

VI.     COMMISSION REPORTS

 

 

Relationship Development – John Oldenburger, Moderator

 

The attention of the delegates was directed to the Relationship Development Commission report that was included in the mailed packet.

 

Retired ministers, Carl Vogelaar and Pete Mondeel, were introduced and spoke briefly about their current activities.  Ministers Without Charge, Warren Bovenkerk and Tim Boeve also spoke of their activities.  Janet Mahrle, Associate in Ministry, told of her activities at Christ Community Church. 

 

First-time delegates to classis were also introduced.

 

Rev. Oldenburger also reported that a 1-year interim pastor contract was approved for Rev. Tim Arensmeier who will be serving 30 hours per week at Sonoma Valley Community Church.

 

ACTION #5:  M/S -- To approve the Relationship Development Commission Report as presented.  CARRIED.

 

New Church Development – Dave Schutt, Moderator

 

Copies of the NCD Commission meeting minutes, dated Feb. 8, 2001 were distributed.  Rev. Schutt highlighted the activities at Sunrise Community Church and the organization service at Celebration Life Ministries, which was held on Feb. 4, 2001.

 

NCD Commission members will visit the consistories of Calvary Reformed Church and Christ Community Church to challenge them about the possibilities of planting new churches in the Tracy and Reno areas.

 

The NCD Commission redirected $2,500 of its budget to help finance the Healthy Church proposal.

 

ACTION #6: -- To approve the New Church Development Commission report as presented.  CARRIED.

 

Leadership Development Commission – Jerry Davelaar, Moderator

 

The attention of the delegates was directed to the Leadership Development Commission report dated Feb. 1, 2001.  Rev. Davelaar reviewed how he proposes to organize the L.D. Commission around the following focus areas:  Leadership Development of Children; Leadership Development of Youth; Leadership Development of those seeking Seminary Ordination to the Ministry (Candidate Care Committee); Leadership Development of those seeking Non-Seminary Ordination; Leadership Development of Men and Women not seeking Ordination.  Each of these focus areas will have a coordinator/consultant who will be responsible for recruiting persons to serve with them.  The committee coordinators/chairpersons will meet with the commission moderator for the purpose of formulating commission strategies, recommendations for consideration by classis, and budget preparation.  Three of these focus area, Candidate Care (Michael DeRuyter) Christian Education (Don Hammond) and Youth (Ron Kaulen) already have leadership in place.

 

ACTION #7: M/S -- To approve Don Hammond as Classis Christian Education Consultant and Ron Kaulen as Classis Youth Consultant.  CARRIED.

 

·        Candidate Care Committee – Michael DeRuyter, Chairman.

 

Rev. DeRuyter reported that the committee examined Dan Kruse on Feb. 2, 2001 and was pleased to announce that Dan had successfully met all of the requirements for ordination.  He will be ordained and installed as Minister of Family Life at Calvary Reformed Church on March 25, 2001, at 5 p.m.  Classis members are invited to attend this service.

 

Rev. DeRuyter reported that the only seminary candidate under care of classis, Laura O’Shea, is doing well in her studies at Fuller Seminary.

 

ACTION #8: M/S -- To accept the Leadership Development Commission Report as presented.  CARRIED.

 

 

Congregation Development and Renewal -  No report

 

 

VII.  REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES

 

Regional Synod of the Far West - John Oldenburger informed the delegates that two classes, Central California and California, have filled their Classis Executive positions.  Two other classes, Rocky Mountains and Cascades are close to identifying persons to serve these classes as Classis Executive.  He also reported that Rev. Bob Myers is the newly elected President of RSFW and Don Werkhoven is the new Vice President. 

 

General Synod Council – A written report from our GSC representative, Tammy DeRuyter, was distributed to the delegates.

 

Northwestern College – Board Member Dave Schutt distributed copies of the latest Northwestern College newsletter.  He reported that the new college president is now in place.

 

Reformed Church Women – No report

 

 

VIII.    CONSULTANT REPORTS

 

Christian Education – No report

 

Youth – No report

 

 

IX.       TREASURER’S REPORT

 

Copies of the 2000 year-end budget statement were distributed (see Appendix D).  Don Werkhoven reminded the delegates that the Stated Clerk and Treasurer positions were combined as a result of action taken at the 2000 Fall Stated Session.  He reported that he took over the classis financial records beginning January 1, 2001.  He is in the process of converting the records to QuickBooks.

 

Mileage reimbursement claim forms were distributed to the delegates.

 

ACTION #9:  M/S -- To approve the 2000 year-end budget report as presented.  CARRIED.

 

 

X.        APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

 

ACTION #10:  M/S -- To approve the minutes of the September 30, 2000 Stated Session and the February 4, 2001 Special Session.  CARRIED.

 

XI.       AMENDMENTS TO THE RCA CONSTITUTION                                            

 

The results of the vote of the classis delegates on the amendments to the RCA Constitution are as follows:           

 

1.

Suspension Pending Complaint

YES

2.

Admonition and Rebuke-1

YES

3.

Admonition and Rebuke-II

YES

4.

Discipline of a General Synod Professor of Theology

YES

5.

Alternate Means to Fulfill Certificate of Fitness

 

 

    Fitness Requirements for Master of Divinity Candidates

YES

6.

Ministers of Equal Standing (Co pastors)

YES

7.

Moral Standards for Holders of Church Office

NO*

8.

The Order of Profession of Faith

YES

9.

The Order for Ordination of Minister of Word and Sacrament

YES

10.

The Order for the Ordination and Installation of

Elders and Deacons

YES

 

*This no vote is registered because of concern that the wording seems to imply that the Standards of the Reformed Church in America carries equal weight to that of Holy Scripture.

 

XII.     LEAVE OF ABSENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

 

Leave of Absence Committee chairperson, Rev. Tim Boeve, reported that his committee reviewed and recommended the approval of the following requests for leave of absence:  Ray DeDoes, Earle Hall, Jeff Kreiser, and Ronald Spence. 

 

ACTION #11:  M/S -- To approve the request for leave of absence as recommended by the Leave of Absence Committee.  CARRIED.

 

XIII.    RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE REPORT

 

Resolution Committee Chairperson, Rev. Jim Schoon, recommended the following resolutions:

 

  1. Be it resolved that the Classis of Central California extends thanks and appreciation to the congregation of Calvary Reformed Church and Pastor Laman for hosting the Spring Session of Classis; to the Praise Team who led the opening singing; and to those who provided refreshments and the noon meal.
  2. Be it resolved that the Classis of Central California makes a quality effort to fulfill their commitment to assist all churches in the classis to become healthy churches.
  3. Be it resolved that the Classis of Central California continue to pray for the Honduras Partnership Project and all it means to the Kingdom of God.
  4. Be it resolved that the Classis of Central California continue to pray for God to raise up and develop leaders in His Church.
  5. Be it resolved that the Classis of Central California continue to pray for Rev. Earle Hall as he waits for a kidney transplant.
  6. Thanks be to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, who holds the Classis together with grace and truth.

 

ACTION #12:  M/S -- To accept the Resolution Committee Report as presented.

CARRIED.

 

 

XIV.    DELEGATES TO 2001 GENERAL SYNOD

 

Minister Delegates: Rev. Dwayne Decker and Rev. Duane Laman. 

Elder Delegates: Harold Kuyper, Hope Community Church and George Walker, Church of the Chimes.

 

 

XV.      ADJOURNMENT

 

ACTION #13:  M/S -- To adjourn the 2001 Spring Stated Session of Classis at 2:50 p.m.  CARRIED.

 

 

XVI.    CLOSING PRAYER

 

Rev. Jim Schoon closed the session by leading the delegates in prayers of thanksgiving that were identified by the resolutions committee.

 

 

 

 

 ________________________________________  Date: _____________________

              Don Werkhoven, Stated Clerk

 

 

_________________________________________  Date: _____________________

             Rev. Dwayne Decker, President

 

Web posted:  May 18, 2002

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