|
|
|||||||
 |
|
||||||
Highlights of Classis
Chatham meeting on January 20, 2009
at Fellowship CRC in St. Thomas, Ontario
· Rev. Tom Baird of the host church opened the proceedings with a moving and thought-provoking devotion and the praise team led us in vibrant singing.
· All churches, with the exception of London-Forest City, were present.
· A licensure to exhort within the boundaries of Classis Chatham for one year was granted to Mr. Steve Baarda.
· Rev. William Koopmans, Rev. Rich deLange, Elder John Claus and Elder Sara Stelpstra were voted as Classis Chatham delegates to Synod 2009.
· An overture from Blenheim CRC requesting synod re-evaluate the participant assessment in the minister's pension fund was adopted.
· An overture from Woodstock-Covenant encouraging emerging churches to send delegates to classis was adopted.
· Separate decisions were made to study the effectiveness of the positions of Classical Ministry Developer and Classical Youth Coordinator before a decision is made about the future of those positions.
· Deacon delegates voted to provide additional funding to "The Mess", a ministry to street level kids in London.
· Delegates were reminded that the Classis Chatham Spring Day of Encouragement is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28 at Forest City Community Church in London. (note different location from previous years) Pastor Dwayne Cline of Hughson Street Baptist Church, Hamilton will be the guest speaker.
· Chatham-First extended an invitation to attend the installation service for Rev. Jack Kerkhof on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 at 10 a.m.
· Rev. Syd Hielema and Mrs. Irene Bakker updated classis on the work of the Faith Foundation Committee, with a special focus on nurturing faith in children and youth.
· Jack Tacoma of Classical Home Missions introduced classis to the new Healthy Church Index survey.
· Peter Schuurman updated classis on the work at Calvin College.
· The next classis will be held at Dresden CRC on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 D.V.
