CLASSIS ILLIANA
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SECOND SESSION
Peace Christian Reformed Church, South Holland, Illinois
March 4, 2008
Article 1
President Heino Blaauw welcomes the delegates and calls classis to order.
Article 2 Harley Ver Beek of the CHMC leads with Scripture reading from Ephesians 2. The
delegates separate into prayer groups for a time of thanks and petition on behalf of the
churches and denomination. The prayer time began and concluded with singing.
Article 3 The credentials are presented and the roll call indicates the following have been
delegated to attend this session of Classis by their respective councils.
CHURCH
Crown Point., IN - First
De Motte, IN - Bethel
De Motte, IN - First
Gary, IN - Beacon Light
Hammond, IN
Highland, IN - First
Highland, IN - Second
Indianapolis, IN - Hope Com.
Lafayette, IN
Lafayette, IN - Sunrise
Lansing, IL - Bethel
Lansing, IL - First
Monee, IL - Family of Faith
Munster, IN - First
Nashville, TN - Faith
Roselawn, IN - Community
Sauk Village, IL - Emmanuel
Schererville, IN - Crossroads
South, Holland, IL - Cottage Grove
South Holland, IL - First
South Holland, IL - Peace
MINISTER
ELDER
Joel Sheeres
Jeff Postma*
Rick Vanderwal
Scott Van Vlyman
Laryn Zoerhof
Rudy Tolkamp*
---------------Jim Groen
John Kostelyk
Kenneth Leep
Randall Bergsma
Wayne Scheeringa
John Leegwater (Elder)
Arie Swets
Absent due to weather conditions
Absent due to weather conditions
Absent due to weather conditions
Calvin Aardsma
Dennis Oostman*
Henry Huitsing (Elder)*
Ed Mulder
Henry Reyenga Jr.
Jerry Lorenz
Herman Schutt
Henry Van Proyen
Jerry Hoek
Jeff Dykstra
Joel Zuidema
Don Scholte
Timothy Koster
Rick Dykstra
Drew Brown (Elder)
Jay Huitsing
Carl Smits*
Luke Schaap
Bern Tol
Jeff Dekker*
Heino Blaauw
John K. Bengle*
(First time elders, having read the Formula of Subscription prior to the meeting, are indicated
by * above.)
Article 4 The first time delegates are welcomed along with Peter Kelder, Regional Team
Leader, Dr. Bruce Frens from Chicago Christian Counseling Center, Laura Vande
Werken of Self Help Ministries and visitors.
Article 5
Classis is constituted and the following serve as officers of the day:
President Heino Blaauw
Vice President Richard Vanderwal
Stated Clerk Robert Jipping
Ass’t Stated Clerk Laryn Zoerhof
Article 6 Chairman makes the following appointments
A. Prayers & Devotions
- Closing prayer of the morning session - James Groen
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- Beginning afternoon session - Racial Reconciliation Committee
B. Credentials Committee - Delegates from II Highland CRC
C. Advisory Committees as needed.
1. Balloting - Visitors from Peace CRC
2. Financial Screening Committee - Andy Balkema, treasurer
3. Nominating Committee for September 2008: Richard Vanderwal, Rob Knol,
Article 7 Ben Tol, president of October 30, 2007 meeting of Classis, declares the minutes of the
October 30, 2007 meeting are in order.
Article 8 Report of Classis Functionaries and Standing Committees
A. Nominating Committee - election of those whose terms expire or vacancies
1. Classical Interim Committee - Regular member - Herman Schutt (third term)
2. Classical Interim Committee - Alternate - Laryn Zoerhof
B. Student Fund Committee
C. Denominational Regional Board of Calvin College - Results of voting: Dr.
William De Rose - 4; Dr. Richard Vanden Berg - 26
D. Delegates t Synod - 2008
1st Minister Delegate - Henry Reyenga, Jr.; 2nd Minister Delegate - Laryn
Zoerhof; 1st Alternate Minister Delegate - Herman Schutt; 2nd Alternate Minister
Delegate - Richard Vanderwal
1st. Elder Delegate - James Clousing; 2nd Elder Delegate - Arie Swets
Article 9
*Motion, made, supported and passed to solicit for elder alternate delegates and the
first 2 who are willing to be alternate delegates will be appointed to serve.
Article 10
Overture from Cottage Grove CRC .. Form of Subscription
Agenda p. 27
A. Committee on Pre-Advice, Joel Sheeres reporting.
B. Motion made and passed not to forward the Overture to Synod 2008 in light of
several significant changes which will be in the final report of the “Form of
Subscription” Revision Committee of Synod of 2008.
Article 11 Overture from First CRC of DeMotte, IN
- The overture as it appeared in the agenda for this March meeting is being withdrawn
in light of significant changes which will be in the final report of the “Form of
Subscription” Revision Committee at Synod 2008.
Article 12 A motion is made and supported to overture Synod 2008 regarding the revision of
Church Order Article 23.
Agenda p. 24
A. Committee of Pre-Advice Reports - Randy Bergsma reporting.
1. A motion is made to amend Article 23b
a. Change “period of up to 3 years” for “reasonable period of transition”
b. Change “The ministry associate in consultation…” to “The council in
consultation with Classis”.
2. A motion is made to amend Article 23c y substituting “shall” with “may”.
3. Add as a supplement to this C.O. Article as follows: “The SMCC shall be
consulted by the council and classis at some point in the process.”
B. Following the amendments the final overture to Synod 2008 the overture to Synod
is approved as follows:
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Overture from Family of Faith Church to Classis Illiana
January 23, 2008
Synod 2007 created an excellent track for ministry associates. This track respected the authority
of the local congregation and classis in recruiting and mobilizing leaders to plant new churches
and serve existing churches. This overture addresses two issues. First, for ministry associates
who are church planters of a new work, this overture changes the current church order Article
23b. Second, this overture adds another path for ministry associates serving in an existing church
to be ordained as ministers of the Word. This will be designated Article 23c.
Currently Article 23b and Article 23c read:
b. Ordinarily, the office of ministry associates who serve in emerging congregations will
terminate when a group of believers becomes an organized church. However, upon
organization and with the approval of the newly formed council and the classis, ministry
associates may continue to serve the newly organized church until an ordained minister
of the Word is installed or until they have served the newly organized church for a
reasonable period of transition.
c. Ministry associates may also serve in organized congregations along with a minister of
the Word and may serve as chaplains in institutional settings in the community. Ministry
associates who have served an organized congregation along with a minister of the Word
may, in exceptional circumstances, with the approval of classis and the concurrence of
synodical deputies, continue serving that congregation as a solo pastor after the minister
of the Word has left.
We propose the change in Article 23b and Article 23c to read:
b. A ministry associate who gathers a group of believers and helps it to become an
organized church may continue to serve that church for a transition period of up to three
years. The ministry associate, in consultation with the council and classis, will consider
the likelihood that the ministry associate has demonstrated the exceptional qualities
needed for eligibility to be ordained as a minister of the Word under article 7. If so, the
newly organized church may call the ministry associate to become a minister of the
Word, subject to examination by classis and the concurrence of the synodical deputies.
Otherwise, the office of the ministry associate will end after the transition period or after
an ordained minister of the Word is installed.
c. Ministry associates may also serve in organized congregations along with a minister of
the Word and may serve as chaplains in institutional settings in the community. Ministry
associates who have served an organized congregation along with a minister of the Word
may, with the approval of classis and the concurrence of synodical deputies, continue
serving that congregation as a solo pastor after the minister of the Word has left. A
ministry associate who has served an organized congregation effectively for five years
shall be considered to have demonstrated the exceptional qualities required by Church
Order Article 7 and is eligible to be ordained as a minister of the Word upon the
acceptance of a call, successful examination by classis, and the concurrence of synodical
deputies.
Background History of this Article:
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The Christian Reformed Church struggled for many decades with what to do with nontheologically trained members of their congregations who felt the call to engage in evangelism
and missionary work, whether domestically or abroad. The issue first came to a head when
Synod 1976 voted to defeat both the majority and minority report which called for the ordination
of evangelists as a distinct office or as a subset of minister of the Word.1 But the issue came up
again in 1978, when synod decided to approve the creation of a fourth office of the church,
evangelist. At that time very precise restrictions were placed on the office of evangelist to help it
to pass after being defeated in 1976. One of these restrictions was to limit the office of evangelist
to emerging congregations only until organization.2 The limitations of the office of evangelist
were clarified in 1979.3 Synod 1979 wrote this segment of Article 23b: “the office of ministry
associates (then evangelists) who serve in emerging congregations will terminate when a group
of believers becomes an organized church.” By 1986 it was obvious that it was not advisable to
evict evangelists from the churches they had planted on the day that their church organized, so
the current form of this article was drafted.4 Synod 1994 expanded the responsibilities of
evangelists to include ministry workers who work under a minister of the Word in an established
congregation in the work of evangelism. And in following years the responsibilities evangelists
could take up came to include ministers of education, chaplains, youth workers, and music
ministers. These developments were approved by succeeding synods. It was at Synod 2003 that
the office of evangelist was changed to ministry associate to reflect this broader meaning.5
While this article has not changed since 1979 with the exception of the name of the office
changing from evangelist to ministry associate, the fourth office of the Christian Reformed
Church has come to be a very different office than the office created in 1978. The current
wording of this article reflects a different time in the CRC when there was a fight to just get the
office of evangelist approved in the first place. It reflects the history of ministry associate which
was designed exclusively for the work of planting new churches and establishing mission
stations. Since then, ministry associates have evolved considerably from such a narrowly defined
position in the Church. Article 23b is antiquated by the evolution of the office of ministry
associate. It addresses a situation that only some ministry associates are in, that of organizing a
church plant in the CRCNA. Synod 2000 attempted to address how evangelists may at some
point enter ministry as ministers of the Word, but it was sent back to be studied further, leaving
Article 23b as an ordinary ending point for experienced church planting ministry associates who
have demonstrated that they are well prepared for ministry.6
The trend established at last year’s Synod has broadened our understanding of ministry
associates. This new trend seems to be giving the congregation and classis the authority and
responsibility to raise up grassroots leaders from the churches who can be ordained as ministry
associates, whether that be in a new church planting situation or an existing church staffing
situation. Therefore, Article 23 needs to be updated to reflect this new reality with completion of
this process, the ordination of these leaders to full ministry of the Word via Article 7 if their
calling, character, experience and gifts warrant such a designation. A local congregation and
classis shall make this determination.
Recommendations:
1. Ratify Synod 2007 decisions regarding ministry associates Article 23d.
2. Change Church Order Article 23b to read:
b. A ministry associate who gathers a group of believers and helps it to become an
1
Acts of Synod 1976, p. 60-63.
Acts of Synod 1978, p. 74-78.
3
Acts of Synod 1979, p. 17.
4
Acts of Synod 1986, p. 601-602.
5
Acts of Synod 2003, p. 609-613
6
Acts of Synod 2000, p. 704-705.
2
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organized church may continue to serve that church for a transition period of up to three
years. The ministry associate, in consultation with the council and classis, will consider
the likelihood that the ministry associate has demonstrated the exceptional qualities
needed for eligibility to be ordained as a minister of the Word under article 7. If so, the
newly organized church may call the ministry associate to become a minister of the
Word, subject to examination by classis and the concurrence of the synodical deputies.
Otherwise, the office of the ministry associate will end after the transition period or after
an ordained minister of the Word is installed.
3. Change Church Order Article 23c to read:
c. Ministry associates may also serve in organized congregations along with a minister of
the Word and may serve as chaplains in institutional settings in the community. Ministry
associates who have served an organized congregation along with a minister of the Word
may, with the approval of classis and the concurrence of synodical deputies, continue
serving that congregation as a solo pastor after the minister of the Word has left. A
ministry associate who has served an organized congregation effectively for five years
shall be considered to have demonstrated the exceptional qualities required by Church
Order Article 7 and is eligible to be ordained as a minister of the Word upon the
acceptance of a call, successful examination by classis, and the concurrence of synodical
deputies.
4. Inform the classes and the Synodical Ministerial Candidacy Committee of this change in
the Church Order
5. Make changes in Article 7 to reflect this change in Article 23.
Grounds:
Currently successful church planters who are ordained ministry associates have no incentive
to bring their self-sufficient church to organization as it could jeopardize their job as pastor
of their church. Depending on the classis, the current reading of Article 23b could result in
their removal from office after a “reasonable” period of time. Thus many emerging
congregations, while self sufficient, are still not requesting organization after ten or even
twenty years of emerging status.
1. Emerging congregations do not pay ministry shares or participate in the full life of the
denomination. Creating an incentive for ministry associates to bring their churches to
organization benefits the denomination by having these congregations participate in the
work of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Christian Reformed Church and its
ministries, both financially and administratively.
1. Emerging congregations often do not feel as much denominational loyalty as organized
congregations. Encouraging the organization of emerging congregations that are selfsufficient and ordaining their pastor as Minister of the Word would increase
denominational loyalty in a congregation of people that are typically coming from a nonChristian Reformed background.
2. Ministry associates can often feel that they have a vicarious hold on vocational ministry.
Once their current charge ends, they often wonder where they will go next. By offering
ministry associates who have demonstrated their effectiveness for ministry the prospect
of ordination as a minister of the Word, we give ministry associates the prospect that their
hard work for the Christian Reformed Church and their sacrifice of their former career
may result in a lifetime of ministry.
3. These proposed changes do not weaken the Christian Reformed Church’s commitment to
theological education as the ordinary route to ministry. Most Article 7s in recent years are
already ministry associates; this proposal merely streamlines what is already happening
and creates a more level playing field for ministry associates seeking ordination,
regardless of which classis they are in. It is much more risky and indeterminate for a
ministry associate to embark on planting a church that will make it and become organized
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than for someone to take the required education to become a minister of the Word
through Article 6. It also takes much more time at a lower pay scale for a ministry
associate serving an organized church to become eligible to become a minister of the
Word than it would have take to get the three years of education required for a Master of
Divinity degree. Not everyone is eligible to be ordained as ministry Associates, only
those who show considerable promise and knowledge for ministry are selected. Ministry
associates becoming ministers of the Word through a revised 23b and Article 7 would
have acquired much of the theological knowledge and practical experience through years
of service to the Church. Ministry associates whose work was not considered effective by
their classis would not be eligible to pursue ordination as ministers of the Word through
Article 7.
4. These proposed changes could help our churches better recruit leaders for planting
churches.
5. These proposed changes remove the last provision of the Church Order that presumes a
very narrowly defined office of ministry associate.
These proposed changes keep local congregations and local classes as credentialing entities
of the CRC along with the SMCC. These proposals address many of the concerns of the
church and the SMCC concerning qualified and called article 7 pastors.
Article 13 Overture from Crossroads Church Council dated February 25, 2008 re. Article 8
Agenda p. 28
A. Committee of Pre-Advice reports
B. It is moved and supported that Classis Illiana overture Synod 2008 to overturn
the decision of 2006 which empowers the Candidacy Committee (CC) to
control the process for Article 8 --ministers who are entering the CRC from other
- Grounds
1. The current “Journey of Affiliation” under the control of the CC lacks any
relational element..
a. A potential candidate currently in the Article 8 process has made it clear that
there are no individuals from the CC or seminary who have a meaningful
relationship with him (During one phone conversation the seminar staff did
not know the process he needed to follow and gave him incorrect
information about the EPMC program.)
b. The relational element is left to the local church and classis while all the
power is in the hands of the CC who have no relationship with the
candidate.
2. The classis is the logical and most effective provider of both educational and
relational requirements needed for orientation and ordination. is two year
period would be accompanied by a mentoring relationship with a
local CRC pastor.
a. The mentor would meet monthly with the potential candidate to determine
sound doctrine and spiritual maturity.
b. The mentor would submit quarterly reports to the SMCC regarding the
candidate’s progress and potential pitfall.
c. The potential candidate would be required to attend local classis meetings.
3. The CC should serve in an advisory role to the classis not in an authoritative
role.
a. The CC’s short history has proven its inability to effectively ordain gifted
individuals through Article 8. Those who might be considering entrance into
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the CRC who are being recruited for ministry in the CRC are reconsidering
when they understand the process and expectations involved.
b. The question still remains since the decision of Synod 2006 shut the door on
so many pastors of ethnic diversity and reformed diversity: “Who and what
are we afraid of that we need such a rigorous approval process?”
c. We have made the requirements so burdensome and unfriendly for the
privilege of being one of us.
4. “The best predictor of future behavior is past success.” The current “Journey
of Affiliation” provides little or no opportunity to discover the candidate’s past
behavior.
a. The CC has outlined a process that could potentially ordain pastors who
have no effective pastoral skills. The may test well but lack the gifts
necessary to pastor a church effectively.
b. The classis has the opportunity and the desire to make the “Journey of
Affiliation” a “win-win” proposition. Under a newly empowered classis there
could be a two year process for ordination while the candidate is employed by
the calling church. The church and classis then has a better idea of the
candidate’s giftedness for ministry as opposed to their ability to finish classes
and jump through hoops. The candidate has two years of work experience
and pay to show for his time instead of a rubber stamp or a letter of rejection.
c. Paul Borden in his book Hit the Bulls Eye: How Denominations Can Aim the
Congregation at the Mission Field identifies the best way to select effective
church leaders is by observing proven leadership. The classis can provide the
opportunity for the candidate to prove their leadership in the field.
Article 14 Report of Stated Clerk
A. Received for information
B. A motion made and carried to approve the work of the Stated Clerk.
Agenda p. 4
Article 15 A motion made and approved to accede to the request of Cottage Grove CRC for the
honorable release of James McCune from Ministry of the Word in the CRC as he has
accepted a call to serve as Minister of the Word in the Presbyterian Church in America in
LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Synodical Deputies Julius Medenblik (Classis Chicago South), Dick
Stravers (Classis Holland) and Daniel Roeda (Classis Wisconsin) concurred in this decision.
Classical Credentials
Article 16 Report of Classical Treasurer, Andy Balkema A motion was made and carried to approve
the work of the Treasurer. Classical Treasurer.
Report distributed
Article 17 Report of Classical Interim Committee Gerrit Veenstra reporting. A motion was made and
carried to approve the work of the Classical Interim Committee.
Agenda p. 5
Article 18 A motion was made and carried to accede to the following recommendations by the CIC
regards to Church Visiting in Classis
Agenda p. 6,7
A. The length of term for Church Visitors be changed from one (1) year to three (3).
Furthermore, the terms of office will be staggered so that there is some continuity in the
work of visitors..
B. The process for appointing Church Visitors will be changed from an appointment by the
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president of the March meeting of Classis to a committee (CIC?), which would seek to find
people who are capable and willing to commit themselves to this ministry.
C. Instead of appointing a two-man team with an alternate that a three-man team be appointed.
This would give greater possibility to at least two being available for meetings. The first
named would serve as chairman.
D. The church visitors will maintain a written record of their visits which, in addition to the
report sent to Classis, could include questions, concerns, highlights and/or other pertinent
information about the visit, if they desire; and that this material be given to succeeding
visiting teams. This practice would assist the teams in following up on relevant issues,
continue a dialogue from visit to visit and inform a new visiting team members of previous
discussions.
Article 19 A motion made and carried that classis again join other two Chicago area classes to meet at
Trinity Christian College on September 17, 2008 for education, fellowship and for our
September meeting..
Agenda p. 7
Article 20 Classical Home Missions Harley Ver Beek reporting.
- Calvin Aardsma reports on the partnership of Bethel CRC, Lansing, with Classical Home
Missions to utilize a grant for studying their community in consideration evangelistic
efforts.
Agenda p. 8
Article 21 Chicago Home Missions regional lead, Peter Kelder reports.
Article 22 Classical Missionary, Jesse E Powell of Fm. of Faith Church, Peoria, IL reports.
Article 23 Student Fund committee
No Report
Article 24 Church Visitors Tim Koster & John Kostelyk report of their visit at II Highland CRC
Agenda p. 9
Article 25 Church Counselors report
Gerrit Veenstra - I Lansing CRC
Agenda p. 10
John Kostelyk - Beacon Light CRC, Gary
Agenda p. 11
Laryn Zoerhof - II Highland CRC
Report distributed
Article 26 Regional Pastor, Herm Schutt
No report
Article 27 Related Funded Agencies
A. Roseland Christian Ministries - Herman Schutt
Agenda p. 13
B. Self Help Jobs - Laura Vande Werken, Director
Oral Report
C. New leaf Resources - Terry Top, Exec. Director
D. Christian Counseling Center - Dr. Bruce Frens, Exec. Director
- A request from Emmanuel CRC, Sauk Village is presented for a ministry
share of $2.00 to be continued until $50,000 has been contributed to
support Chicago Christian Counseling Center in their building construction
efforts in Schererville.
Classical Credentials
Article 28 Motion made and defeated to support the Chicago Christian Counseling Center to help that
ministry build a new expanded ministry center in Schererville. This would be supported by a
$2.00 ministry share which would be diverted from the present Student Fund for 2008 since
there are no applicants presently and in 2009 this would be established as a independent
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ministry share. This would continue until such time as the $50,00 ahs been raised.
Article 29 Denominational Boards and Agencies - Ministry Reports
Agenda p. 15
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
d) Board of World Missions
B. Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
Article 31 External Speakers - Bryan Bruxvoort & Jill Feikema (Sea-to-Sea Bike Tour)
Laura Vane Werken (Self Help Jobs)
Article 32 Adjournment: Acknowledgements & Closing prayer - Richard Vanderwal
NEXT MEETING
TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
SEPTEMBER 17, 2008
President, Richard Vanderwal
Agenda Deadline - Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Joint Worship with Classes Chicago North & Classis Chicago South
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