Report of the September Meeting of Classis East 2024
Session ONE September 18, 2024
Morning Session
Classis East convened at Georgetown PRC at 8:00 a.m. Rev. Spriensma, chairman of the May meeting, read the credentials of the 38 delegates from the 19 member churches. These credentials were approved, and Rev. Spriensma declared classis properly constituted. He turned the chair over to Rev. Nathan Decker.
Some of the opening acts of the meeting included, first time delegates to classis signing the Formula of Subscription, asking and answering of the questions of Article 41 of the Church Order, approving the minutes of the May meeting of classis, welcoming the synodical deputies from the West (Revs. Allen Brummel, Joshua Engelsma, and Daniel Kleyn), and approving reports from the Stated Clerk and Classical Committee concerning their work.
Classis granted the request of one consistory to concur with the consistory’s decision to proceed to the erasure of a baptized member who continues to live in sin despite the efforts of the consistory to call the member to repentance.
Rev. Decker appointed seven committees of pre-advice. I will explain the work of these committees in the rest of the report.
Committee 2 brought the first report to the floor of classis regarding the emeritation request of Rev. Spriensma (emeritation basically refers to retiring from full time ministry as a pastor of a congregation). Classis approved the request and declared Rev. Spriensma Emeritus effective November 1, 2024. The synodical deputies from the West were present because approval of the emeritation of a minister requires the concurrence of synod. Representing synod the deputies informed Classis East that they concur with the decision to approve Rev. Spriensma’s emeritation. Chairman Decker expressed thanks to God for Rev. Spriensma and his wife, Alva, for their work in the churches and wished God’s continued blessing upon them and their family. Elder Howard Pastoor, a brother-in-law to the Spriensmas, offered a prayer of thanksgiving and Classis sang Psalter 49.
Classis appointed Rev. Spriensma as Cornerstone’s moderator during its time without a pastor.
Committee 1 presented advice recommending that classis declare an overture of Providence PRC, proposing that a special committee of elders be appointed to provide accountability for how consistories have handled Guidepost reports on child sexual abuse, be declared legally before the classis. Classis approved the recommendation.
Committee 6 presented advice recommending that Rev. Justin Smidstra’s overture, proposing that classis adopt a rule that protestants and appellants be allowed to speak on the floor of classis when the legality of their case is discussed, be declared legally before classis. Classis adopted the recommendation.
Committee 4 presented advice to declare a protest that was handled in closed session legally before classis. Classis approved this recommendation.
Afternoon Session
Committee 3 presented a Classical Appointment Schedule for five congregations that do nothave pastors (Cornerstone, Hope, Hudsonville, Southwest, and Zion). These appointments are for the months of October through January. Most of the ministers have an appointment every month. Please do not weary of praying for pastors!
Committee 4 presented advice on the sexual abuse case. The advice was recommitted.
Committee 5 presented advice on a Lessons Learned Report that was submitted by a special committee to classis in May. A previous classis gave the special committee a mandate to “bring a special report…highlighting important lessons that the churches and consistories can learn”from a specific case of child sexual abuse “concerning how better to handle disclosures and child sexual abuse.” Classis voted to recommit the recommendations of committee 5.
Classis appointed Rev. David Noorman (soon to be installed as pastor of Georgetown PRC) as the moderator of Southwest PRC during its time without a pastor (where he formerly served).
Evening Session
Committee 1’s advice on the overture of Providence PRC was recommitted.
Committee 4’s advice on a protest was treated in closed session. Classis adopted arecommendation that classis respond to the protest by declaring that it erred in its May decision that the protest contested. If this looks like not much was done during the evening session, it must be remembered that time had to be given for the committees of pre-advice to prepare recommendations and that discussions on the floor of classis are often lengthier than can be conveyed in a report.
Classis ended session 1 with a motion to recess until 10:00am the next day.
Session TWO September 19, 2024
Morning Session
Classis East approved Committee 1’s recommendation: “That Classis appoint a Special Committee of elders from the churches to assist the Church Visitors in Classis East to provide accountability, ensuring that consistories respond rightly to the reports from Guidepost.” Committee 1 brought further recommendations regarding the implementation of this decision that were recommitted for reformulation.
Transition from the Morning to the Afternoon Session
Classis ended the morning session and began the afternoon session with deliberations on advice from Committee 2. The chairman assigned Committee 2 to provide advice on a sensitive report from a special committee to assist a consistory on a sexual abuse case. Committee 2 brought three recommendations that were all approved.
Classis approved three recommendations from Committee 5 regarding the Lessons Learned Report. I highlight two of these recommendations. First, Classis East approved the distribution of this report to the councils and members of churches in Classis East. It will take a little time to prepare the report for publishing, but when it was ready, the stated clerk will make the report available. Secondly, Classis East approved a cover letter that is to be distributed with the report.
Classis East failed a recommendation of Committee 6 not to approve of Rev. Smidstra’s overture. What happens when a recommendation fails? Often, as in this case, it means thecommittee has to go back and prepare new advice.
Evening Session
Classis adopted advice from committee 6 to approve of Rev. Smidstra’s overture. This means Classis East now has a rule that states: “Protestants and appellants shall have the right to speak on the legality of their own protest or appeal while the assembly is deliberating on the question of whether their protest or appeal is legally before the assembly.” This overture will be sent with the approval of First Holland PRC and Classis East to Synod 2025 as a proposal to add this rule to the Rules of Synod.
Classis discussed in closed session recommendations from Committee 4. One recommendation failed. The other recommendation was recommitted.
At around 10:00 pm classis determined to recess until 8:00 am on October 1, 2024 for Session 3.
May God grant safe travels to delegates from near and far, wisdom for committees that continue to work, and His care for all who are affected by the decisions of classis.
In Christ’s Service,
Rev. Clayton Spronk
Stated Clerk, Classis East