Report of Classis Hamilton meeting: Tuesday September 18, 2007
Rev. Bill Veenstra, pastor of the host church, opened the morning with devotions and some comments related to Ancaster CRC’s ministry. He highlighted especially the launch of their small groups ministry on the 2nd and 4th Sunday evenings of each month. He also noted the transitions in the congregation’s staffing and, in that context, introduced and welcomed Jeff Klingenberg who has been serving on staff since Aug 1st.
Rev. John Bouwers served as Chair for the meeting, while Rev. Bill Veenstra served as Vice-Chair and Shawn Brix as Reporter.
Classis was able to hear a number of reports. Judy Cook reported on behalf of the Classis Hamilton Safe Church team. She highlighted the need for every congregation to have a Safe Church policy. Part of the policy should include police checks for all church leaders who work with children, especially those who take children off-site. She also made delegates aware of a new two-session Sunday School program published by Faith Alive called Safekeeping: Session Plans for Developing Abuse Awareness in Kids. Ed Witvoet reported on behalf of the organizers of the 2008 Sea to Sea Tour. The bike tour will begin June 28/08 and run for nine weeks until Aug 31/08. The tour, beginning in Seattle and concluding in New York City, will pass through Classis Hamilton enroute. The goals of the tour are 1) to increase awareness of poverty-related issues worldwide, 2) to encourage people and churches to actively participate in God’s mission to care for the poor, and 3) to raise funds to support programs aimed at ending the cycle of poverty. The Classical Youth Ministries Report was presented by Rev. Martin Dam. The committee hopes to ensure a minimum of eight youth worship services per year within classis. Andrew Zantingh reported on behalf of The McMaster Chaplaincy Committee. He highlighted the upcoming environmental stewardship lecture by Calvin Dewitt on October 11th. Churches were also encouraged to provide meals for this ministry; food is an important means of bringing students together for fellowship.
In classical voting, Rev. Trevor Payton was elected to serve on the Classis Hamilton Finance Committee. Rev. Andrew Zantingh and Rev. Kevin DeRaaf were elected to serve on the Classis Ministry Committee. Rev. James Poelman and Rev. Shawn Brix were elected to serve on the Calvin Theological Seminary Board as delegate and alternate delegate respectively. It was also noted that Rev. Shawn Brix has been appointed from the Pastor-Church Relations office to serve as Regional Pastor in classis alongside Rev. Henry Kranenburg.
Classis spent some time reflecting on Classis Hamilton’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the CRCNA on Sunday, Sept 16, at Mount Mary Retreat Centre in Ancaster. Words of appreciation were expressed to the committee that planned the service. The message from Rev. Jerry Dykstra (Executive Director of the CRC), the blended style of worship, and the testimonies from our two church plants were especially highlighted in the comments made by delegates.
Classis also asked the CIC to implement the decision of Synod 2007 to seat delegates from emerging churches at our Classis meetings.
The Classis Hamilton Finance Committee presented a classis budget for 2008. The budget was amended so that an additional $3000 was made available to the Living Mosaic church plant in 2008 (for a total of $21,000). Classis also approved the creation of a “future church plant fund” and requested that, for 2008, $4000 from the classis reserve fund be transferred into this new fund. With these changes, the budget was approved with the result that classical ministry shares for 2008 will be just over $48.00 per member.
In response to correspondence from the Ancaster CRC requesting all restrictions with regard to delegating women office bearers to Classis Hamilton be removed, the Overtures Committee noted that the decision of Synod 2007 has already made that opportunity available. As a result, it was agreed that no action on the Ancaster CRC letter was required.
Shawn Brix, Reporter