Church Government

Classis East

Classis East currently consists of 16 congregations and a total of 5,143 members (baptized and communicant). Classis East is a broader assembly of the PRC and meets three (3) times per year: the second Wednesdays of January, May, and September. The Classis is made up of two (2) delegates from each church, usually the pastor and an elder.

Report on Classis East Meeting, May 14, 2014

TrinPRC2012Classis East met for its next regularly scheduled session on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI.

The Stated Clerk of Classis East submits his official public report of the meeting below. It is also attached here in pdf form.

Report of Classis East

May 14, 2014

Trinity Protestant Reformed Church

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at the Trinity PRC, Hudsonville, MI.  Each church was represented by two delegates.  Rev. M. VanderWal was the chairman of this session.

The main item of business for classis consisted in dealing with the report from its committee of pre-advice concerning an appeal from a brother concerning a consistory’s decision to change the date of the annual Prayer Day service.  The committee of pre-advice submitted a majority and a minority report.  The majority report prevailed as classis decided to sustain the appeal of the brother that the consistory’s decision to change the date of the annual Prayer Day service should be sought by way of overture to the broader assemblies.  The grounds given by the committee of pre-advice were adopted by the classis.  The grounds (summarized) were 1) The decision of the consistory is not merely a change in a practice that does not bind the other churches but rather is a substantial change from the letter, spirit, and historical interpretation of Article 67 of the Church Order which is that the churches celebrate Prayer Day together on the same date.  Evidence was given that historically this has been the case in the Netherlands and the United States.  2)  It is the way of wisdom, decency, and good order that any substantial change in the meaning, interpretation, and even established practice with regard to the church order, be done by the broader assemblies. 

The consistory involved and any other churches that have made a change in the date of the Prayer Day service are being permitted to observe the 2015 Prayer Day service as they have decided.  This will give any consistory time to decide if they wish to appeal to or overture the broader assemblies on this issue.

Classis granted classical appointments to Faith PRC and First PRC.  A discipline matter was considered in closed session.  Expenses for this session amounted to $311.85.

Rev. James Slopsema was in attendance at his last meeting of classis as a delegate.

Classis took note of this and expressed words of appreciation for his work in our churches and for his leadership on many issues that arose in the classis.

Classis will meet next on September 10, 2014 at the Grandville PRC.

Respectfully submitted,

Jon J. Huisken, Stated Clerk

 

Report of Classis East Meeting Held Jan.8, 2014

southeastClassis East met on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, in Southeast PRC in Grand Rapids.  The following is the Stated Clerk's public report of this meeting. It is also attached here in pdf form (see below). May the King of His Church bless these decisions for the good of the churches.

Report of Classis East

January 8, 2014

Southeast Protestant Reformed Church

 

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at the Southeast PRC.  The churches, with the exception of Wingham, were represented by two delegates.  The Wingham delegation was unable to attend because of the weather.

 

Classis did the usual January duty of elections.  The following were elected to serve as delegates to Synod 2014:  Ministers: Primi:  G. Eriks, C. Haak, K. Koole,

W. Langerak, R. VanOverloop; Secundi: N. Decker, A denHartog, M. DeVries,

J. Slopsema, A. Spriensma.  Elders: Primi: J. Decker, N. Kleyn, H. Langerak,

G. VanBaren, P. VanDerSchaaf; Secundi: D. DeMeester, R. Drnek, R. Faber,

M. Ophoff, D. Rau. 

 

In other voting, Rev. R. VanOverloop and Rev. D. Holstege were elected as delegates ad examina to three-year terms as primus and secundus delegates respectively. Revs. K. Koole and A. Spriensma were elected as church visitors with Revs. Haak and VanOverloop as alternates.  Rev. H. Bleyenberg was elected to serve a three-year term on the Classical Committee.  The Stated Clerk and Assistant Stated Clerk were appointed to another three-year term.

 

Classis heard an appeal from a brother about the change of date of the Prayer Day Service by a consistory.  Classis referred this matter back to the committee of pre-advice with the instruction to do further research on and to establish relevancy for the past rulings of broader assemblies on this issue.

 

In other business, classis heard the report of the church visitors.  The visitors reported that the consistories were doing diligent work and that there was peace and unity among the churches.  Classis granted classical appointments to Faith PRC.  The 2015 subsidy requests from Wingham PRC and Kalamazoo PRC were approved and will be forwarded to Synod 2014 for approval there.

 

Classis received a request from Rev. James Slopsema for his emeritation effective July 1, 2014.  First PRC concurred with this request.  Classis expressed its heartfelt thanks for Rev. Slopsema who has served as a capable and dedicated undersheperd in our churches for 39 years, 27 of which have been in Classis East.   

 

The expenses of classis amounted to $147.49.  Classis will meet next on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at the Trinity PRC.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Jon J. Huisken

Stated Clerk

Classis East Meeting - Byron Center (MI) PRC

byroncentrePRCClassis East is meeting today for its regular session in the Grand Rapids area at Byron Center PRC. The agenda is light. Rev.James Slopsema, pastor of First PRC, Grand Rapids, will lead the meeting according to the scheduled rotation. May the Lord bless this church work of our pastors and elders and the decisions reached for the good of the churches.

The stated clerk's public report is also now available (see below). It is also attached as a pdf.

 

Report of Classis East

September 11, 2013

Byron Center PRC

 

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at the Byron Center PRC.  Each church was represented by two delegates.  Rev. J. Slopsema was the chairman for this session.

 

The business was routine and classis was finished early.  As the chairman noted, this is a sign that the churches have peace and unity in their midst. 

 

Classical appointments were given to Faith PRC.  There were no expenses for this session.

 

Classis will meet next on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at Southeast PRC.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Jon J. Huisken

Stated Clerk

Classis East meeting May 8, 2013

Classis East met this past Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at Faith PRC. The agenda was light and the men completed their work in short order. Rev.D.Overway (Hope PRC) chaired the meeting. A classical appointment schedule for Faith PRC was approved. The September classis is to meet at Byron Center PRC. 

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