Highlights of the Classis Chatham meeting held on May 13, 2003

Westmount CRC, Strathroy, Ontario

 (Pictures are at bottom of this page)

Ø       Rev. Walter De Ruiter, chairman pro-tem, led the opening devotions.
25 Churches were represented with Wyoming delegates being absent.

Ø       5 First time delegates signed the Form of Subscription. Deacon Helena Baker
was  seated by special motion.

Ø       Chairman for the day was Rev. Paul Stadt with Rev. Richard Vander Vaart as vice.

Ø       The meeting commenced with a time of fellowship discussion and prayer by the delegates.

Ø       Rev. Eric Groot-Nibbelink was appointed Counselor to the Ingersoll CRC.

Ø       A recommendation that the Classical Ministries Committee appoint a subcommittee for the purpose of organizing a discussion forum on Church Discipline was approved.

Ø       Bob Dieleman Professional Corporation was appointed auditor for 2003.

Ø       The Canadian Chaplaincy office of Rev. Siebert Van Houten will be discontinued and become
part of the Canadian Ministries office of Rev. Wm. Veenstra.

Ø       Financial Statements of January 1 – December 31, 2002 were reviewed by the delegates.

Ø       Inspiring reports were presented by the London Campus Ministry team of Michael Veenema,
Kevin Heeres and Grace Miedema.

Ø       Rev. and Mrs. Gerald Hogeterp have decided to return to the mission field in Nigeria, we wished
them God’s blessings. A request from the Hogeterp’s is that each church in classis donate $500.00 to World Mission for this.

Ø       Our main speaker for the day was Rev. Wm. Veenstra who introduced the Sustaining Pastoral
Excellence program to us. It is intended for groups or organizations that seek to assist pastors in
serving in congregational ministry in the CRCNA.

Ø       During a Sharing of Ministry Joys, Rev. Rob Hogedoorn, pastor of the Forest City Community
Church in London brought exciting news of many new converts and a very successful fundraising effort.
Very positive reports were received form those churches that implemented the Alpha program.

Ø       A Church Plant Proposal for North London was also very exciting. Classis approved this proposal paving the way to begin preparations in the near future.

Ø       A Minister’s retreat entitled “Church Renewal for Mission Effectiveness will be held Nov.18-20.

Ø       Mr. Michael Hoekstra, Chatham was appointed to the Classical Youth Ministry Team.

Ø       Rev. Peter Vander Beek, Pastor of the Forest CRC accepted a call to the Mundy Park Christian
Fellowship CRC, B.C.

Ø       Wyoming and Tillsonburg CRC’s continue to have difficulties attending Classis meetings due to the presence of women delegates.

Ø       Classis’ Synodical delegates are: for elder Mr. Martin Bosveld and Mr. Peter Kapteyn and ministerial delegates Rev. Dirk Miedema and Rev. Richard Vander Vaart.

Ø       Workshops for New Deacons will be held on June 18^th in the Bethel CRC, London and First CRC,
Chatham.

Ø       Rev. Steve Baarda was appointed to the Board of Governors for Redeemer University.

Ø       Rev. Baarda was also congratulated with his upcoming marriage on July 19^th.

Ø      Chairman Rev. Paul Stadt thanks the delegates for their participation and leads in closing devotions.

 

Jack Herder
Classis Chatham, Stated Clerk
 

(Click on picture to enlarge)