CLASSIS ILLIANA of the CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
146th Session Convening at Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014 8:30 am
Schedule: Morning – 8:30am – 9:50 am ; Afternoon -- 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Officers: President: Tim Koster; Vice-President: Kris Vos
Stated Clerk: Laryn Zoerhof; Alternate Stated Clerk: Cal Aardsma
First time delegates are asked to sign their agreement to the covenant for office-bearers when they arrive for this meeting of classis.
1. The President of the day, Tim Koster, welcomes the delegates to Classis. He reads from Ephesians 3:7-13 and comments on the awesome task we have of taking the gift of the gospel and making it known to our communities and our world through the ministry of the church. He leads us in an opening prayer for God’s blessing.
2. The credentials are presented and the roll call of the churches indicates that the following have been delegated to attend this session of classis by their respective councils.
CHURCH MINISTERS ELDERS
Cedar Lake, IN Pathway delegates not present
Crown Point, IN - First Joel Sheeres Jim Hollendoner
DeMotte, In - Bethel Rick Vanderwal Jerry Recker
DeMotte, IN - First Laryn Zoerhof Tom Post
Gary, IN - Beacon Light John Hoffmaster Jim Groen
Hammond, IN John Kostelyk Kenneth Leep
Highland, IN - Faith Rick Brouwer (elder) Larry Bolt
Highland, IN – New Life Bill Sytsma Sam Van Til Indianapolis, Hope Community delegates not present Lafayette, IN Mark Bonnes Stan Poelstra
Lafayette, IN - Sunrise Randy Bergsma Tony Vyn
Lansing, IL - Bethel Calvin Aardsma Jack Elzinga
Lansing, IL - New Hope Daniel Roels Bruce Hoekema
Monee, IL - Family of Faith David Feddes Marc Zumhagen
Munster, IN - First Jeff Bulthuis Rodger Maatman
Nashville, TN - Faith Jerry Hoek George Garden
Roselawn, IN - Community Joel Zuidema Butch Zandstra
Sauk Village, IL - Emmanuel Tim Koster Gary Dykstra
Schererville, IN - Crossroads Com. Kris Vos Ken Schoon South Holland, IL - Cottage Grove Richard Zekveld Herbert Potts
South Holland, IL - First Ben Tol Dan Hanenburg
South Holland, IL - Peace Larry Van Drunen (elder) Nick Zandstra
3. First time delegates are requested to sign the covenant for office bearers if they have not done so before the meeting.
4. The president declares classis constituted, and welcomes first-time delegates and visitors to classis.
5. Appointments by President
A. Devotions: Opening of Afternoon Session -- John Hoffmaster
B. Credentials – Article 41 Committee – Delegates from Cottage Grove, South Holland
C. Balloting Committee -- New Life Highland
6. Joel Zuidema, President of March 4, 2014 meeting, reports that the transcribed minutes of the March 4, 2014 meeting of Classis Illiana are accurate. A motion to approve the transcribed minutes is ADOPTED.
7. Overture from Emmanuel CRC, Sauk Village
The council of Emmanuel Christian Reformed Church overtures classis to authorize the Classical Interim Committee (CIC) to create a realistic budget for Classis and realistic expectations for denominational ministry shares that can be communicated to the denominational agencies to better equip them to steward their funds and ministry. This budget should be constructed after frank discussion with the local deaconates about how much they are willing to commit to contributing to the ministries we share and what they hope to contribute. It can also be constructed with an eye to those items which are essential as a cost of doing business and the varying levels of priority. The conversation can also include discussion of alternate funding models going forward (i.e. A congregational “tithe” on their collections towards shared ministries, a classical/denominational faith-promise model). The goal is to have a sustainable model for joint ministry going forward.
Grounds:
1. The ministry share system is broken with worthwhile causes being endorsed but not funded with programs and people being impacted by poor planning. A realistic small contribution is more helpful than a large promise that remains undelivered.
2. We have chronically been unable to have frank discussions about what we are capable of contributing and we need to.
3. Unless we come up with a sustainable model of funding classically and denominationally before the ministry share system completely collapses, our joint ministries and the people working for them are likely to suffer intensely.
The above overture is ADOPTED.
8. Reports of Classis Functionaries and Standing Committees
A. Nomination Committee
1) Regional Boards
Calvin College --- both clergy and non-clergy nominations will be considered.
Glen Porter and Jonathan Persenaire are interested in serving on the Calvin Board
representing Region 9. A motion that we submit their names to Calvin College for consideration is ADOPTED.
2) Classical Positions that need to be filled
Alternate Classical Treasurer: Mike Hoeksema is reelected for a three year term..
Classical Home Missions
Kyle Sanford and Gary De Vries are elected to 3 year terms.
Roseland Christian Ministries
Jim Van Zyl and Tom Stallinga are elected to 3 year terms.
B. Stated Clerk – Laryn Zoerhof
Since the last meeting of Classis Illiana, I have…
1. Prepared and sent minutes of the March 4, 2014 meeting of Classis Illiana to the churches and others on the mailing list.
2. Sent the names and addresses of the delegates to Synod to the Executive Director’s office.
3. Forwarded the minutes of the May Board of Trustees meeting to the churches of classis.
4. Sent a notice to the churches announcing this meeting of classis and the deadline for agenda items to be submitted.
5. Prepared the agenda for this meeting of Classis Illiana.
6. 2014 Ministers’ Compensation Survey and Ministry Shares, Minister’s Pension and Other Resources for 2015 can be found on the CRCNA website.
7. Received the Summer and Fall Reports from the Ministry Agencies of the CRC and forwarded them to the churches of Classis Illiana.
8. Handled correspondence on behalf of classis.
A motion to approve the work of the stated clerk is ADOPTED.
C. Classical Interim Committee – Laryn Zoerhof
1. Church Visiting: Two years ago we began a new model for church visiting in which almost all of the churches in our classis were visited by church visitors from a neighboring church. We want to thank our church visiting teams for taking the time to encourage the leaders of a neighboring church as they seek to faithfully carry out their ministry for Christ. Last year we asked our church visiting teams to contact the church you visited last year and schedule a brief checkup visit between September and December. Many of those visits have not yet been made. We encourage all church visiting teams to contact their assigned church this call. If your church is currently without a pastor, two elders are encouraged to make this visit to a neighboring church. The visit does not need to be long -- 30 minutes can be adequate to communicate your interest and concern for the healthy functioning of the church to which you have been assigned. We believe that shorter and more frequent visits are a more effective way to build the relationship between church visitors and their assigned church than lengthy sporadic visits. Here are a few model questions that you might want to consider for a checkup visit with your church:
1. What blessing have you experienced as a church during the past year?
2. What have been some of the most challenging/frustrating aspects of your work during
the past year?
3. Are there any creative or new ministries that you have initiated this past year?
4. What are some of the issues that we as church visitors can pray about with regard to
your church?
5. What has your congregation been able to do to advance the Racial Reconciliation
initiates encouraged by Classis Illiana?
6. Do you have any ministry ideas that you would be willing to share with the churches
of classis?
Remind the church council that you are always available to consult with as the need arises, and offer a prayer for God’s blessing on the church and its varied ministries. Send ministry ideas to the stated clerk by the January agenda deadline for classis so that ministry ideas can be shared with the other churches of classis at our March meeting.
A list of churches and assigned visitors follows:
CHURCH VISITORS
Crown Point Roselawn
DeMotte, Bethel Crown Point
DeMotte, First Bethel, DeMotte
Roselawn First, DeMotte
Highland, Faith Munster
Highland, New Life Bethel, Lansing
Lansing, Bethel Highland, Faith
Munster Highland, New Life
South Holland,Cottage Grove Lansing, New Hope
South Holland, First South Holland, Cottage Grove
South Holland, Peace Sauk Village
Sauk Village, Emmanuel Beacon Light, Gary
Schererville, Crossroads Family of Faith, Monee
Hammond Peace, South Holland
Lansing, New Hope Hammond
Gary, Beacon Light Pathway, St. John
Monee, Family of Faith First South Holland
St. John, Pathway Crossroads, Schererville
Nashville, Faith Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Hope Nashville
Lafayette, First Sunrise, Lafayette
Lafayette, Sunrise First, Lafayette
2. At our March 4 meeting, a motion that the eligibility of Jesse Powell for a call be extended for another year was adopted. This motion needs the concurrence of the synodical deputies. We will ask the deputies present at our fall classis meeting to concur with this decision.
3. Swartz, Retson & Co. Certified Public Accountants reviewed the financial records of
Classis Illiana for the years 2012 and 2013. They write: “Based on our review, we are
not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying
financial statements in order for them to be in conformity with accounting standards
generally accepted in the United States of America.”
4. Arrangements were made for the examination of Candidate Kyle Sanford and James
Hollendoner.
5. A letter was received from David Feddes informing us that the Family of Faith Church
in Marquette Heights, IL. has decided to disband and the members are seeking out other
churches in the area.
6. Rev. Dan Bloesch is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and he and his family are joining Bethel CRC of Lansing. He is in agreement with the doctrinal standards of the CRC, and is planning to attend the fall meeting of Classis Illiana so that he can be introduced to the delegates in attendance. He would welcome the opportunity to serve the churches in our classis by way of pulpit supply and may also available for temporary service to our churches. His address is 30 Geneva Court, Crete, IL. 60417. Telephone: (765)762-6382 Email:
7. Don Jabaay is a Commissioned Pastor originally from Munster CRC. He has served churches in Montana, Iowa, and Michigan. He recently retired and is living in Winfield, IN. He would like to be on the pulpit supply list for Classis Illiana and perhaps available for temporary service in a congregation. Contact information: (219) 226-4755
Classis Yellowstone, at its March 6-7 meeting, approved the following motion: “That Classis Yellowstone recognizes the retirement of Commissioned Pastor Don Jabaay, effective April 30, 2014; in thanks for his effective service, Classis confers on him the status of “Commissioned Pastor emeritus” upon his effective retirement date. By this status we allow him to serve congregations in our Classis with a ministry of pulpit supply and leading of sacraments, parallel to the ministry of Ministers of the Word emeritus. By this Declaration we also recommend Donald to churches and Classes in the rest of the CRCNA where Donald may live in retirement, encouraging them to offer Don these privileges and responsibilities, under the supervision of whichever local CRCNA holds his membership papers.”
Ground:
1) Mr. Jabaay has reached retirement age and announced intent to the Stated Clerk.
2) Mr. Jabaay has requested of Bethel CRC to accept his retirement and their council has
acceded to the request.
3) Since the CRCNA does not specifically provide for “Commission Pastor emeritus” at
this time -- Rev. David R. Koll, Director of Candidacy, suggested Classis make this
motion to encourage the Classis where Mr. Jabaay moves to confer the status to him
also. A motion that Classis Illiana confer on Don Jabaay the status of “Commissioned
Pastor emeritus” with gratitude for his years of faithful service in the Christian Reformed
Church is ADOPTED.
8. Herm Schutt attended the Safe Church Conference in Grand Rapids, MI April 25-26.
9. Marc Zumhagen has been appointed to a new chaplaincy position at Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The job description will be included in the agenda
for the approval of classis and the concurrence of the synodical deputies.
10. James Martin is a commissioned pastor serving as Dean of Students for Christian
Leaders Institute. He is available for pulpit supply in the churches of Classis Illiana.
Telephone: (708) 941-7900 Email
11. A letter was received from Ron Meyer about an informal survey he is conducting
with regard to classical reimbursement for Elder delegates to Synod.
12. A letter from Michael Vander Berg was read informing us of reasons why they would
not be present for today’s classis meeting.
A motion to approve the work of the Classical interim Committee is ADOPTED.
We break away from our classis agenda to attend a chapel service with Dr. Chap Clark and Trinity students. This is followed by a presentation by Dr. Chap Clark on Sticky Faith, lunch in the Grand Lobby, and a presentation by the Back to God Hour celebrating 75 years of media ministry.
John Hoffmaster opens the afternoon session with a reading of Psalm 23 and prayer.
Lois Ooms speaks on behalf of World Missions. Eight new missionaries have recently been sent out to serve with World Missions. She reports on a recent trip to various countries in the far east and the mission efforts taking place there.
D. Classical Home Missions Committee – Harley Ver Beek
CHMC: Kris Vos, Cal Aardsma, Barbara Leep, Jamie Bogaard, Peter Kelder, Joel Zuidema, Jeff Bulthuis, Harley VerBeek, and Marj Kooy.
Harley expresses thanks for the role that Kris has played in classical home missions. Kris has accepted a call to serve Lake Worth CRC in Florida.
Harley expresses concern about the shortfall of funds that have been received for the work of classical home missions.
As a team our mandate is to work in conjunction with denominational Home Missions in our region. Here are the priorities we passionately pursue together: