Classis of
Classis Minutes
September 25, 2004 – The Orchard Church,
I. OPENING
OF CLASSIS
Opening Prayer: President
Ben Sweet opened the Fall 2004 Stated Session at 9:10 a.m. with prayer.
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. See Attachment I.
·
Requests for
leave of absence were received from Michael Scott, Dwayne Decker, Warren
Bovenkerk, and Steve Dyst.
·
President
Sweet welcomed the delegates and guests and granted the privilege of the floor
to all present.
III. PRAISE,
CELEBRATION, WORSHIP
The Orchard Church Praise Team opened the worship time with singing
of several praise songs. Pastor Brett Cushing
presented a challenging devotional message based on Exodus 4: 1 & 13,
entitled; “What if….? Pastor Cushing
posed the question, “what are the ‘what if’ questions in your life?” ‘What if’ questions have been around since
the time of Adam and Eve and will continue to be with us until Christ’s
return. Pastor Cushing concluded his
message with the assurance that “God is Good! God is Faithful! Therefore, Be
Strong!”
Host Pastor, Steve With, closed the worship and praise service with
prayer.
IV. SIGNING
OF DECLARATION FOR MINISTERS
Rev. Charley Blom and Rev. Eddy Aleman read the Declaration for
Ministers and signed the Classis Book of Signatures of Ministers. (Rev. Blom
was accepted into classis membership at an earlier meeting).
ACTION #1: M/S --
To accept Rev. Eddy Aleman into membership of the Classis of Central
California. CARRIED.
V.
APPROVAL OF CLASSIS MINUTES
ACTION #2: M/S –
To approve the minutes of the Spring 2004 Stated Session dated March 13,
2004. CARRIED.
VI.
SERVANT TEAM REPORT
President Ben Sweet directed the attention of the delegates to the
Servant Team Report dated Aug. 26, 2004.
Ben reported that he has been able to visit several churches in the
classis the past several months and hoped to visit the remaining churches over the
next six months.
The following recommended actions were presented for classis
approval.
ACTION #3: M/S –
To grant a Provisional License as a Ministry Candidate to Brett
Cushing. CARRIED.
ACTION #4: M/S –
To approve the request for Brett and Laura Cushing to attend Church Planter’s
Boot Camp in November, along with coach Dale Adema. CARRIED.
ACTION #5: M/S –
To approve the request to place Lighthouse Community Church, Iglesia Emmanuel,
and The Greenhouse in the Denominational Plan.
CARRIED.
ACTION #6: M/S –
To approve the request to take Steve and Hope Germoso under the care of classis
as students of theology. CARRIED.
ACTION #7: M/S –
To approve Dale Adema as an Apostolic Regional Missionary. CARRIED.
ACTION #8: M/S – To
approve the Servant Team Minutes as presented.
CARRIED.
VII. CLASSIS
MINISTER REPORT
Classis Minister Tim Vink distributed copies of
his report dated Sept. 25, 2004 (Attachment II). Tim highlighted the challenges and
opportunities being presented in the South Valley, beginning with a possible
church plant in the Bakersfield area later this Fall, and the addition of New
Life Community Church in Tulare to the classis by year’s end by becoming an
organized church.
Tim also distributed copies of The Master’s
Harvest brochure. Master’s Harvest,
under the direction of Apostolic Missionary Pastor Dale Adema, has a team of 30
people ready to assist existing churches in key areas of ministry and in
planting new churches from Merced north.
Tim called the delegates attention to a report
entitled, Apostolic Regional Missionary (ARM) for Tulare Community Church. The leadership team at Tulare C.C. has been
prayerfully studying how to best utilize the gift mix and passion that Pastor
Tim brings not only to T.C.C. but the region as well. It is proposed that Pastor Tim serve T.C.C.
25 hours per week focusing on the harvest of lost people in the South Valley
and equipping T.C.C. to fulfill their 2004 Vision Expansion statement. In addition, it is proposed that Tim also
work 25 hours per week as Classis-based Regional Staff Minister for the
Classis, focusing on church health and a multiplication movement.
ACTION
#9: M/S – To increase the Classis Minister position
to 25 hours per week. CARRIED.
VIII. REGIONAL SYNOD EXECUTIVE REPORT
Regional Synod Executive Bruce Bugbee was
introduced. Bruce called the delegates
attention to his Report to Classis/Fall 2004 that was included in the
delegate packets mailed out earlier this month (Attachment III). Bruce highlighted the 10-Year Mission Giving
Commitment program that challenges each consistory in the Region to commit
10-20% of its missions giving for the next 10 years to multiplying churches in
the classis and region. He directed the
delegate’s attention to the Provision Response Sheet which is to be
completed and be returned to the RSFW office by the end of November.
Bruce envisions a unique window of opportunity in
the next 10 years that the region and denomination must seize if we are to be
obedient to God’s call. The first three
years will be devoted to identifying, developing, and deploying leaders. The next three years will see the first
fruits of vision and provision. The
final four years Bruce sees as revealing the results of church multiplication.
Bruce explained the Regional Roundtables concept
that he has developed to begin the process of developing leaders in the
region. Each Roundtable event will be
limited to 24 people who will interact with national caliber leaders in one of
eight categories of Natural Church Development.
Twelve leaders will be invited who are to each bring one person they are
personally discipling or mentoring to be a leader. The aim is to offer a special learning
environment in which the participants have the opportunity to gain specific and
practical insights for leadership in a specific NCD area.
IX. WORLD MISSIONS REPORT
Jhonny Alicea-Baez presented an update on the
mission activities within his area of responsibility. He highlighted opportunities that are
emerging in Brazil and Chile.
Opportunities for classis-to-classis, or church-to-church relationships
are beginning to emerge, especially in Chile.
Jhonny reported that he has been unable to make
contact with Wincap Cassy in Honduras for the past year. He reported that new elections for President
of the Moravian Church in Honduras are scheduled for March 2005. Jhonny plans to attend the meeting where the
elections will be held so that he might be able to meet with the new president
and board to determine if they are interested in continuing a relationship with
the RCA and the Classis.
X. TRIBUTE TO REV. DAVID LAMAN
The following Classis Resolution was read and
presented to Rev. David Laman on the occasion of his 90th birthday
and to commemorate 65 years of service to the RCA as an Ordained Minister of
Word and Sacrament:
WHEREAS you have
dedicated your life to faithfully spreading the Good News of the love,
acceptance, and forgiveness offered by Jesus Christ wherever God has led you;
WHEREAS your
faithful ministry service began with your ordination by the Classis of Grand
Rapids in 1939. You served as Pastor of
Grant Reformed Church in Grant, Michigan from 1939-1943; Forest Home Reformed
Church in Muskegon, Mich. from 1943-1952; First Reformed Church in Maurice,
Iowa from 1952-1957; Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa from 1957-1964;
New Life Community Church in Artesia, Calif. from 1964-1976; Carmel Reformed
Church in Rock Valley, Iowa from 1976-1980; as Associate Pastor of Emmanuel
Reformed Church in Paramount Calif. from 1980-1993; and Pastor to Seniors at
Calvary Reformed Church in Ripon, Calif. from 1993 to the present. Your sixty-five years of dedicated ministry
has enriched the spiritual lives of the members of these congregations and
equipped them for the work of ministry.
BE
IT RESOLVED,
that the ministers, elders, and members of the Classis of Central California
heartily congratulate you, REV. DAVID
LAMAN, on the occasion of your 90th birthday on Oct. 10, 2004
and your 65th anniversary as Minister of Word and Sacrament in the
Reformed Church in America. We thank God
for your long and faithful service and pray that God will bless you as you
continue to minister to the people that he has called you to lead.
Dated this day,
A prayer of thanksgiving for Rev. Laman’s life and ministry service was
offered by Tim Vink.
Host Pastor Steve With offered a prayer for the morning session and a
prayer of blessing upon the lunch meal.
Adjournment
for Lunch
President Sweet called the afternoon session to order with prayer at
XI. COMMISSION
REPORTS
Congregational
Development and Renewal Commission – Beryl Banks, Moderator
Beryl called the delegates attention to the CDR Commission report. Beryl specifically highlighted the results of
the Pastor Salary Equity Committee study report. This report suggests several foundational and
core values in extending a covenant of care for their pastors. The Relationship Development Commission will
take the recommendations of the Pastor Salary Equity Committee and develop
recommendations for implementation of the core values.
The recommended CD&R Commission budget for 2005 is $18,700.
ACTION #10: M/S –
To accept the CDR Commission Report as presented. CARRIED.
Leadership Development
Commission – Jerry Davelaar, Moderator
Commission Moderator Davelaar directed the delegates attention to the
L.D. Commission Meeting Minutes dated June 8, 2004.
Jerry reported that Russ Swier (Calvary Reformed Church) has consented to
replace Dan Kruse on the L.D. Commission as chairman of Men’s Ministries.
He also reported that Laura O’Shea (The Journey), who was an active
theology student under care of classis, is not currently pursuing her MDiv
studies.
The L.D. Commission is recommending a budget for 2005 of $30,755.
ACTION #11: M/S –
To approve the nomination of Bob Vander Schaaf as Vice President of
Classis. CARRIED.
ACTION #12: M/S –
To approve the nomination of Eddy Aleman as Classis Minister Representative to
the Regional Synod of the Far West. CARRIED.
ACTION #13: M/S –
To accept the L.D. Commission Report as presented. CARRIED.
New Church Development
Commission – Jim Schoon, Moderator
Moderator Schoon called the delegates attention to the NCD Commission
Report dated Sept. 25, 2004. He
highlighted the following items as an indicator of God’s goodness:
·
The
Journey - San Jose has
raised $55,000 for a church planter who they hope will come on staff in early
2005 to begin the process of planting a new church within 15 months.
·
Lighthouse
Community Church-Lathrop is
planning to organize as a congregation on Nov. 14. They hope to move into new facilities in
mid-October on the intersection of Louise Ave. and I-5.
·
The
Orchard Church-Brentwood
celebrated their 1st anniversary on Sept. 12.
·
New
Life Community Church-Tulare
is planning to organize as an RCA congregation and join the classis in
November.
·
Iglesia
Emmanuel-Chowchilla, under
the direction of Eddy Aleman, is meeting in the Cornerstone Community Church
facilities on Sunday afternoons for worship.
Eddy has also started a radio ministry out of a Merced radio station.
·
Master’s
Harvest under the direction
of Dale Adema is coming alongside churches to help plant new churches and
energize existing churches. The NCD
Commission will work in conjunction with Dale to develop a Master’s Harvest
Fund where churches and individuals will be encouraged to invest in kingdom
advancement through church planting.
·
Bakersfield is an area where work is already underway to
plant a new RCA congregation. Preview
worship services are scheduled for January-March 2005 with a grand opening
worship celebration scheduled for Palm Sunday 2005.
The NCD Commission recommends a 2005 budget of $52,000 from assessments
and $47,500 from the NCD 20/20 Vision Fund.
Moderator Schoon pointed out that with the 2004-05 allocation of funds
from the 20/20 Fund, a balance of $9,994 remains in this fund. Additional funds will be sought through the
Master’s Harvest Fund to replenish the 20/20 Fund for future church planting
efforts.
ACTION #14: M/S –
To accept the NCD Commission Report as presented. CARRIED.
Relationship
Development Commission Report
No report was available from the R.D. Commission as a Moderator has not
yet been selected.
Stated Clerk Don Werkhoven reported that Rev. Daniel Kruse accepted a
call to New Life Community Church in Sioux Center, Iowa and requested his
membership be transferred to West Sioux Classis.
ACTION #15: M/S –
To dissolve the classical relationship with Rev. Daniel Kruse and to transfer
his membership to the West Sioux Classis.
CARRIED.
Elder and Consistory
Minute Review: The following Elder and Consistory Minutes
were review and found to be acceptable:
Calvary Reformed, Church of the Cross, Hope Community, New Hope
Community, Sonoma Valley Community, and Sunrise Community. The following minutes were not available for
review and will be rescheduled for review at the Spring 2005 Stated Session:
Celebration Life Ministries, Living Faith Community.
The Classis Salary Scale Committee is a sub-committee of
the R.D. Commission and Don Werkhoven presented the following report and
recommendations (see 2005 Salary Scale Committee Report for full details). Mr. Werkhoven reported that it has come to
the attention of the committee, that in most cases, the minimum salary
recommendations were misinterpreted in the past to include both base salary and
housing allowances. He emphasized that
the recommended minimum salaries were meant to represent base salary only! What this means is that the total
compensation packages of most of the classis ministers lags far behind their
counterparts in every other region of the RCA.
He also reported that the vast majority of the RCA classes establish
housing allowances based on the average rental cost of a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home
within a 5-mile radius of the church, plus utilities. Mr. Werkhoven reported that the Classis Servant
Team is of the strong opinion that this discrepancy must be rectified at the
earliest possible date. He encouraged
churches to begin planning for this change, beginning with their 2005 budget
year.
Mr. Werkhoven pointed out that prior salary reports did not include
recommendations for Commissioned Pastors.
Since the functions, duties, and responsibilities are identical to those
of Ordained Ministers, the Servant Team is recommending the classis minimum
salary recommendations include Commissioned Pastors.
ACTION #16: M/S –
To include Commissioned Pastors in the minimum salary recommendations beginning
with the 2005 salary recommendations. CARRIED.
Mr. Werkhoven reported that the committee recommended continuing to base their
salary adjustments on the Consumer Price Index for the past 12-month
period. The 12-month period ending July
2004 indicates that the Western Region average CPI rose 2.8%. The following salary adjustments are
recommended for 2005:
Years
of Ordination/Minimum Base Salary
Geographical Area
|
0-2 Years |
3-5
Years |
6-10
Years |
11+
Years |
S.F.
Bay Region
|
$41,895 |
$45,205 |
$46,540 |
$48,245 |
|
Sacramento Valley Region |
$41,300 |
$44,555 |
$45,880 |
$47,555 |
|
San Joaquin Valley Region |
$40,700 |
$43,915 |
$45,220 |
$46,870 |
Recommended Auto Mileage Allowance remains at $.36 per mile or $4,143
annually. All other benefits are to meet
RCA compensation standards.
ACTION #17: -- To
approve the recommended 2005 minimum salary adjustments recommended by the
Classis Salary Committee. CARRIED.
XII.
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 Sept.
23, 2004. Don pointed out that expenses
exceeded income by $24,960.66 due largely to an unbudgeted severance package
for Jeff Kreiser. He reported that
assessment income is very close to being on schedule.
Don distributed an updated proposed 2005 budget which calls for a 9.7%
increase over the 2004 budget. Much of
this increase ($14,982) is due to increasing the hours for the Classis Minister
to 25 per week. G.S. assessments increased
4.9% and Regional Synod 10.7%. (See
Attachment IV).
ACTION # 18: M/S -- To
increase the Stated Clerk/Treasurer stipend by the same percentage as ordained
ministers and commissioned pastors (2.8%), representing an increase to the
budget of $614. CARRIED.
ACTION #19: M/S – To approve the
2005 proposed budget of $347,588.00 or $95.82 per member. CARRIED.
NOTE: Subsequent to the Fall Stated Session the
Servant Team approved an additional $1,500 to the 2005 budget to purchase
liability coverage for the classis. The
new budget figure is now $349,088 or $96.25 per member.
XIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stated Clerk Werkhoven announced that the Spring 2005 Stated Session will
be hosted by Sunrise Community Church in Tulare on March 12, 2005.
Delegates to the 2005 General Synod: Ministers — John Oldenburger and
Michael Scott. Elders – Cornerstone
Community and Sunrise Community.
Stated Clerk Werkhoven also announced that future classis packets will be
sent to ministers via email and will be available on the classis website
(www.svccrca.org/classis).
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
AND CLOSING PRAYER
ACTION #20: M/S -- To
adjourn the 2004 Fall Stated Session of Classis. CARRIED.
Rev. John Foster closed the 2004 Fall Stated
Session with prayer at
______________/s/Ben Sweet______________________ _____September 25, 2004_____
President Date
____________/s/Don Werkhoven______________________ _
September 25, 2004____
Stated Clerk Date
Web posted:
Return
to Classis Minutes Page