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                                                   Highlights

Of the January 23, 2007 meeting of Classis Chatham

• Rev. Fred VanderBerg, Pastor of the host church Westmount CRC, Strathroy extends a welcome to the delegates and leads the opening devotions.

• Rev. Robert Haven was the chairperson and Rev. Robert Hogendoorn the vice-chair.

• Rev. Vic Vandermolen, Mt. Brydges, has accepted a call from First CRC, St. Thomas.

• Rev. John Van Til was approved as counselor for Hope Community CRC, Mt. Brydges.

• Overtures from Hope Community CRC, Mount Brydges and Bethel CRC, London were approved. These overtures request that Synod 2007 not confirm the decision of Synod 2006 to restrict the attendance of women (elders and ministers) as Synodical deputies and delegates.

• Rev. Bruce Adema, Director of Canadian Ministries, was the main speaker for the day.

• Classes incorporation efforts are under way. The CRC is becoming increasingly diverse and thus fully and truly becoming a church in Canada for which we give thanks to God.

• Rev. Richard VanderVaart has retired from the Interchurch Relation Committee and the delegates showed their appreciation for his efforts with a round of applause.

• Rev. John deVries, Chaplain at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance hospital, will be participating in the Boston Marathon to raise funds for CRWRC’s HIV/AIDS work. Anyone willing to support him in this effort please see your Pastor for more info.

• Prayers were offered for William & Diana Steele, missionaries in Guinea, West Africa. Guinea is experiencing much unrest at the present.

• Classis rejoiced with Redeemer CRC, Sarnia in the positive result experienced from their Visioning, Prayer and Worship processes.

• Steve VanMeekeren, youth coordinator, informed the delegates of an “Extreme Retreat” planned for post-high school young adults during May 4-6, 2007.

• Churches in Classis Chatham will be urged to look at avenues to raise $11,000 that is short in the Seminary Student Fund.

• Delegates had the privilege to be present at the examination of George Saylor, Pastor in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Classis declared Rev. Saylor eligible for call in the Christian Reformed Church in North America with an overwhelming majority and the Synodical Deputies concurred wholeheartedly. Rev. Saylor will become D.V. a church planter in North London, his installation will be February 25, 2007 at First CRC, London.

• Elected as delegates to Synod 2007 were Revs. Peter Hogeterp & Jim Poelman and Elders Martin Bosveld & Henk Jagt.

• A discussion on the future of Forest CRC was postponed until the May meeting of Classis to allow sufficient time to evaluate all the information.

• Thanks goes to the host church for their hospitality and great food.

• Rev. Darryl Edgar closed the meeting with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.

• The next meeting of Classis will take place D.V. May 15, 2007.