Classis
of
Classis Minutes
I. OPENING
OF CLASSIS
Opening Prayer: President
Jay Zwagerman opened the Spring 2004 Stated Session at
II.
ENROLLMENT OF DELEGATES, INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
AND GRANTING THE PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR TO GUESTS
·
The Classis
Enrollment Register was passed around for the delegates to register their
attendance. The Register is attached as
Attachment I.
·
Requests for leave
of absence were received from Rev. Jeff Wenke, and Rev. Jerry Davelaar..
·
President
Zwagerman welcomed the delegates and guest and granted the privilege of the
floor to all present.
III. PRAISE,
CELEBRATION, WORSHIP
Dwight Bailey and the Church of the Chimes Praise Team opened the
worship time with singing of several praise songs. Rev. Jeff Kreiser presented a devotional
message based on Isaiah 43:15-21, entitled, “A New Thing – Forget the Past.” Pastor Jeff closed the worship and praise
service with prayer.
IV. PRESIDENT’S
REPORT
Highlights of President Jay Zwagerman of report (full report attached
as Attachment II) included:
·
The classis
is healthy, vibrant, and following God’s call to share his Good News.
·
A strong Servant
Team is in place that works well in unity and love.
·
Reaching
others thru new church plants is really happening in our classis.
·
Today we are
prayerfully seeking God’s will on how we as a classis must respond to his
calling to go forward in pursuing the RCA 10-Year Goal of planting new churches
and revitalizing existing congregations.
Jay presented the following highlights from the 2003 Classis Church
Statistics compared with 2002 figures;
·
Confessing Members: +88 = 2.5% increase over 2002 (just 5 churches
reported an increase in confessing members.
·
Baptized Members: +226 = 4.1% increase over 2003 (8 churches
reported increases in baptized members).
·
Worship Attendance: +122 = 3.3% increase over 2003 (7 churches
reported an increase in worship attendance.
·
Adult Baptisms: 119 adult baptisms which is a 32.2% increase
over 2003 (12 out of 16 churches reported at least one adult baptism).
·
Sunday
School Attendance:
=+240 = +11% over 2003.
·
Christian Education: +381 = 12% increase over 2003.
Other positive “happenings in our classis” included:
·
Several
churches have completed the 40 Days of Purpose program and several others are
scheduled to begin the program in the coming months.
·
·
Tim Vink will
be sharing “Christ’s Healing Ministry” at
Jay closed his report with a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing.
ACTION #1: M/S – To approve the President’s Report as
presented. CARRIED.
V. COMMISSION
REPORTS
New Church Development
Commission – Jim Schoon, Moderator
Moderator Schoon called the delegates attention to the NCD Commission
Report dated
·
Apostolic Regional Missionary (ARM). Revised
copies of the ARM proposal were distributed (Attachment III). Moderator Schoon reminded the delegates that
the ARM proposal is an outgrowth of the “20/20 Vision Review—Beyond What We
Could Imagine” that was approve in concept by the classis at the Fall
2003 meeting. Schoon emphasized that the
key to an Apostolic Regional Missionary is that he/she would based out of a
particular church, while extending the church multiplication vision to the
whole region. Financial support for the
ARM would come primarily from the participating churches, in a manner similar
to congregations supporting foreign missionaries. Schoon reviewed the Ministry Position
Description that describes the ARM as “acting as a catalyst in coordinating
congregations on a regional level to be active in a church multiplication
movement by providing vision, strategy, foundational teaching, practical
training, and ongoing coaching. The
outcome would be sending out teams to plant new churches and revitalize
existing churches resulting in the evangelization of the people groups of the
entire region.”
ACTION #2 M/S – To accept the ARM ministry position as
a designation and to empower the NCD Commission to recognize and provide
accountability to persons that the Lord of the harvest raises up for this
work. CARRIED.
·
Churches Under NCD Care.
The Journey – God continues to bless this ministry in
The
Churches in Dialogue
with the Classis. The following fellowships continue to be in
dialogue with the NCD regarding possible affiliation with the RCA:
Congregational Development and Renewal Commission – Beryl Banks, Moderator
Moderator Banks referred the delegates to the
CD&R Commission Report dated May 27, 03.
He expressed a need for developing a more coherent functional
relationship between the classis commissions, the Servant Team and the task of
planting new churches and developing leaders.
He pointed out that although each commission has a defined ‘focus area’
there appears to be some overlap as well as gaps in critical areas. Banks directed the delegate’s attention to a
“functional structures diagram” which suggests how the commissions, the servant
team and the classis minister might relate to new churches and development of
new leaders. He suggested that the
“functional structure” issue needs further thought, input, and discussion prior
to development of a workable and user-friendly model.
Moderator Banks reminded the delegates of the
“Continuing-Ed” day scheduled for Saturday, October 18, at
Banks provided an update on the bell tower
reconstruction project at Miraloma. He
reported that the rust and corrosion damage to the steel superstructure is much
more extensive than first thought and stated that it is a miracle that the
weight of the bell hadn’t caused a collapse of the entire tower. Banks pointed out that this is an example of
how delayed or ignored preventive maintenance could have very serious
consequences. He suggested that perhaps
the classis should be involved in ensuring that maintenance issues are being
addressed in the local churches.
Leadership Development Commission – Jerry
Davelaar, Moderator
Keith Poppen, Chairperson of the Candidate Care
Committee, presented the Leadership Development Commission Report. Keith directed the attention of the delegates
to the Commission Report dated March, 2004.
He urged the delegates to carefully read the material in the report
regarding Commissioned Leaders, Pastors, and Missionary Pastors. Exciting things are happening in this area
with many people coming under the care of churches and the classis in these
various categories.
Keith reported that Tim Arensmeier and Tim Voogd
had successful completed their classis examinations for Commissioned
Pastor. Tim Voogd will be installed as
Commissioned Pastor of Lighthouse Community Church of Lathrop on
Requests to come under the care of classis as
students of theology have been received from Dwight Bailey (CotC), and Martin
Mora (
Keith reported that Classis Vice President Rev.
Earle Hall is unable to assume the role of Classis President due to
health-related concerns. Vice
President-elect Ben Sweet has consented to have his name placed in nomination
to serve as classis president.
ACTION
#3: M/S To affirm
the successful examination process for Commissioned Pastor for Tim Arensmeier
and Tim Voogd. CARRIED.
ACTION
#4: M/S To approve
the nomination of Ben Sweet to serve a two-year term as President of Classis,
beginning at the conclusion of the Spring 2004 Stated Session. CARRIED.
ACTION
#5: M/S To take Dwight Bailey and Martin Mora under the care of
classis as Students of Theology. CARRIED.
ACTION
#6: M/S To approve
the nomination of Martin Mora, elder at Sunrise Community Church to a
three-year term as Classis Delegate to the Regional Synod of the Far West. CARRIED.
ACTION
#7: M/S To approve the nomination of Rev. David Chu, Pastor at
Christ Church of the Bay Area to a second 2-year term as classis pastor
representative on Word of Hope Board. CARRIED.
Relationship Development Commission – John Oldenburger, Moderator
John called the delegates attention to
the Commission’s Report dated
He introduced Rev. John Foster who recently accepted a call to
John also introduced Tim Boeve and Warren Bovenkerk, both minister currently without charge. They each briefly told of their recent employment activities.
Examination of Consistory and Elder Minutes: John Oldenburger reported that the
consistory and elder minutes from the following churches were examined and
found to meet acceptable standards:
Christ Community,
Classis Minister Tim Vink reported that Rev. John Oldenburger’s term as Moderator of the Relationship Development Commission has expired. He thanked John for his three years of service and his leadership through some difficult issues during that time. Jim also asked for nomination of candidates for the position of Moderator of this commission.
Prayer was offered for the Commission Reports that were presented and the recommendations that were passed as well as thanksgiving for Pastor Olderburger’s service as Moderator of the Relationship Development Commission.
VIII.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Don Werkhoven distributed copies of the Balance Sheet Report and
Profit and Loss Budget vs. Actual Report for the period Jan. 1 thru
Don called the delegates attention to the Servant Team action of
approving a 5-months severance package for Rev. Jeff Kreiser (Feb. 1 through
June 30, 04) in the amount of $4,921.32 per month. This severance pay will cease if Rev. Kreiser
obtains full time employment prior to June 30.
Don noted that the action of the Servant Team follows classis policy of
6-months severance for ordained pastors.
LFCC was able to provide 1 month of severance and 6 months of health
insurance. Don also noted that this is
an unbudgeted expense that could total $24,960.66 if the entire 5 months of pay
is required.
ACTION #8: M/S – To approve the
Servant Team’s action which provides severance pay for Rev. Jeff Kreiser at
$4,921.32 per month for a maximum of five months. CARRIED.
Don reported that the Servant Team approved a consolidation of two
classis loans with
ACTION #9: M/S – To approve the
Servant Team action of consolidating two classis loans with
Don called the delegate’s attention to Salary Equity/Classis
Assessment Committee that Rev. Beryl Banks is recruiting members for. Don pointed out that it is becoming
increasingly more difficult for smaller churches to keep pace with the classis
salary minimums for pastors and to pay the competitive salaries to new pastors
coming into our classis. Don encouraged
pastors to submit names to Beryl of people from their congregation who have
experience in salary negotiations, and the personnel and human resources. Their report is due to the Servant Team by
July 30, 04.
VIII. GENERAL SYNOD
AMENDMENTS
Stated Clerk Don Werkhoven reported that six amendments to the RCA Constitution where adopted by the 2003 General Synod and referred to 46 classes for approval. Don explained that 2/3 of the 46 classes must approve each amendment for that amendment to take effect. A simple majority is required to pass each amendment at the classis level. After discussion of each of the six amendments, ballots were distributed to the voting delegates. The following results were recorded:
1. Federated Churches – Passed
2. Process for a Church to Leave the Denomination – Passed
3. Commissioned Pastors – Passed
4. The Object of a Complaint – Passed
5. Time Period for Filing a Complaint – Passed
6. Medical Insurance for Ministers of Word and Sacrament -- Passed
VI. APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
ACTION #10: M/S – To approve the
minutes of the 2003 Fall Session of Classis.
CARRIED.
VII. ELECTION OF CLASSIS PRESIDENT
Because of a serious
medical condition, Rev. Earle Hall announced that he will be unable to serve as
President of Classis. Ben Sweet has
consented to place his name in nomination.
ACTION #11: M/S – To nominate Ben Sweet to a 2-Year term as
President of Classis. CARRIED.
Prayer was offered for
Ben as he takes over in the role of president and for healing for Earle.
Classis Minister Tim
Vink, on behalf of the Classis, expressed his gratitude to Jay Zwagerman for
his service as Classis President the past two years. Tim noted that the “worship work” model that
Jay established has served to streamline the meeting process and to focus our
attention on grace and goodness.
X. ADJOURNMENT
AND CLOSING PRAYER
ACTION #12: M/S -- To
adjourn the 2004 Spring Session of Classis.
CARRIED.
Rev. Earle Hall closed the 2004 Spring Session of
Classis with prayer at
/s/ Ben
Sweet
President Date
/s/ Don
Werkhoven
Stated
Clerk Date
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