HIGHLIGHTS of the MAY 14^th CLASSIS CHATHAM
            meeting held at the FIRST CRC, LONDON. 

• Rev. Pieter Pereboom, pastor of the host church, calls the meeting to order, welcomes everyone present and leads the assembly in opening devotions. Classis pays tribute to Reverend Peter Nicolai recollecting the special place he held in Classis and personal lives of many.
   

• The Committee on Credentials reports all 26 churches of Classis present, 10 first-time delegates sign the Form of Subscription and one deacon delegate is seated by special motion. Classis is declared constituted and the chair transferred to the chairman for the day, Rev. V. VanderMolen, vice  chair Rev. R. Wigboldus.
   

• Recommendation from Classical Ministries Committee, CMC, to extend the License to Exhort of  Mr. Douglas Bell and Mr. Robert Datema for another year is approved.
   

• Proposed new wording of Overture II (pulpit remuneration) approved.
   

• Proposal to delegate Pastor, one Elder and one Deacon to one classis meeting each year, is moved to the September classis for implementation at the January 2003 classis meeting.
   

• Proposal to set aside one hour at the January 2003 classis meeting for an Achieve, Preserve, Avoid (APA) exercise  is moved to the September classis for discussion.
   

• An auditors report is presented by Mr. John DenHarder  with special attention paid to the lack of Ministry Shares (Quotas) received from the churches. Classis approves the appointment of Mr. Bob Dieleman as auditor for the year 2002. Mr. Bart DeVries is approved to replace  Mr. Richard Veldstra on the Finance Committee. Classical Treasurer, Mr. Oscar DeBoer, presents the Financial Summary of January 1 & December 31, 2001.
   

• Guest speaker Dr. Harry Fernhout, representing the Institute for Christian Studies, relates how the ICS continues to become globally more accessible enabling it to be of service to Christians everywhere. 
   

• Chair extends a thank you to Church Counselors Rev. John Zantingh and Rev. Darrell Edgar for their assistance to Woodstock Maranatha and Essex Churches respectively.
   

• Reports from London Campus, London Forest City Community Church and Church Visits as well as reports from various committee and board representatives are received with praise and thanks.
   

• Classis, through the required examinations, approves the applications for a License to Exhort of Mr. Jerry Roukema and Mr. Randy VanStempvoort giving praise to God in prayer. 
   

• Rev. David Weemhof and Mrs. Ellen Van Til are appointed to the Classical Home Mission Committee.
   

• Revs. Tom Baird, Paul Stadt and  Dan Tigchelaar are re-appointed to their respective classical function positions.
   

• Classis is informed of the upcoming 50^th anniversaries of the Blenheim and St.Thomas-First churches.

• An overture from the Wyoming CRC, requesting Classis Chatham to rescind its previous decision to declare the word "male" from C.O. art. 3a inoperative, is defeated following an extended discussion on this issue.
   

• Request from the Chatham Grace CRC to appoint Rev. Paul Stadt as their Counselor is approved.
   

• Request from the Blenheim CRC to appoint Rev. Fred Heslinga as their counselor is approved.
   

• Pulpit Supply requests from the Blenheim and Chatham Grace churches are approved.
   

• Overture that the Stated Clerk submits a summary report of the classis meetings to the churches is approved.
   

• Invitation extended on behalf of the Essex CRC to attend the installation service of their pastor elect, Rev. Frederick Heslinga on Friday, June 14, 2002.
   

• A special thank you is extended to Rev. Michael Bootsma for his many years of service in Classis Chatham. Pastor Bootsma has accepted a call from the Frankford, On. Community CRC.
   

• Chairman, Rev. Vic VanderMolen, closes the meeting with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
  
  Jack Herder
  Classis Chatham, Stated Clerk