Delegates to Synod 2005:
Rev. Gordon Pols 1st delegate;  Rev. John Bouwers 1st alternate
Rev. Kevin DeRaaf 2nd delegate;  Rev. Jim Pot 2nd alternate
Elder Cor Visser 1st delegate;  Elder Dick Kranendonk 1st alternate
Elder Homer Lensink 2nd delegate;  Elder Arie Van Eek 2nd alternate

Classis Hamilton: meeting held May 17, 2005
Report to the Churches

With thanks to the officers of Classis, and to the host church of Immanuel CRC, the May Classis meeting for Classis Hamilton was completed in good spirits, in good order, and in good time.  It was a full day, with all the reports, administration, networking and visioning to be completed.

It wasn’t long in the day before Classis recognized significant changeover in the pastors of Classis Hamilton.  Classis noted the transfer of the ministerial credentials of Marvin VanDonselar to Bethel CRC in Iowa, and Siebert Van Houten to First CRC in Barrie.  It was also noted that Richard Grift and family have taken a call to Second CRC in Brampton, Ontario, and Bart Veldhuizen and family have taken a call to Scarborough, Ontario. Steve Baarda (Simcoe), Jeff Janssen (Flamborough), and Paul Vandenbrink (Dundas) were all seated as delegates representing their church for the first time.  It was after dealing with some of the administrative details of the movement of these pastors that Classis paused to remember these pastors, their families, and the churches they serve in prayer.  It was only the first of several times during the day when Classis reacted to joys and concerns with a time of prayer.  It was recognized with congratulations that Martin Dam (York) will be married on Friday, May 27.

A number of reports were made to Classis, including representatives from “Sea to Sea with the CRC” who made a presentation about the excitement and media coverage generated as cyclists prepare to cycle across Canada to raise funds and awareness for church plants.  Kevin DeRaaf made a presentation on behalf of the Eastern Canada Leadership Development Network, and suggested a visit to their website for more information: www.ecldn.ca.  Mike Fallon, the Classis Hamilton Campus Ministry chaplain, made a presentation on how this ministry has been blessed over this past year.

Classis Hamilton continued to review its current practices and reflect on its vision and purposes when the Classis Review and Visioning Committee led Classis in a small group exercise.  This exercise was designed to provide action steps for the “mutual accountability” purpose statement of Classis Hamilton.

An overture from Javis Ebeneezer requested Classis to overture synod with regards to the report of the “Committee to Review the Practice of Appointing Ethnic Advisors to Synod”.  The overture addressed a concerned about the Committee of Synod’s recommendation that “by Synod 2011 all classis will delegate at least one ethnic minority to Synod each year.”  When discussing both the overture and the report, it was clear that all delegates at Classis Hamilton desired our denomination to continue to be “one in which people from all nations joyfully worship and serve our Savior”.  The discussion surrounded how best to make this vision real.  Classis agreed not to overture Synod, but to send a communication outlining Classis’ concerns to the “Committee to Review the Practice of Appointing Ethnic Advisors to Synod”.

In preparation for this Classis meeting, Councils of Classis Hamilton had been asked to respond to Article 41 C.O. question 3.  Members of the host church, Immanuel, compiled the responses and presented it to the churches as Classis.  Church Councils are now expected to read and reflect on these responses and prepare a response/reflection to be sent to the next Classis meeting.

The next Classis meeting is to be held on Tuesday, September 20, at Mount Hamilton Christian Reformed Church.  The Deadline for that agenda for that meeting is August 9, 2005.  (Please Note:  Financial requests and Budgets that must go to the Classical Finance Committee must be submitted to them by June 15, 2005.)

Rev. Jeff Janssen, Reporter