Report of the September 23, 2003 Meeting of Classis Hamilton Held at Burlington Christian Reformed Church (New St.)

Classis began with Pastor Shawn Brix of Burlington New St. CRC welcoming us to their church, reading 1 Peter 3:3-18, and focusing on God's desire than no one perish but everyone to come to repentance. In the context of this passage, Pastor Shawn reported on some of their new hopes and initiatives for making numerical and spiritual growth their number one priority, even as they celebrate 50 years of God's faithfulness. Included in these initiatives are a clearly Spirit led change of plans for Coffee Break to host an evangelistic Alpha session this Fall.

After officially opening Classis, the chair, Pastor John Bouwers, welcomed all guests, including Pastor Pieter Sinia from the Dutch Reformed Church in Rijsbergen, The Netherlands, a denomination with whom we share ecclesiastical fellowship. At Pastor Sinia's request, Classis decided to begin the process of getting to know him better, and his pastoral gifts, with a view to potentially declaring him eligible for a call in the CRC of North America.

Throughout the day we heard numerous reports on the good work of many ministries which our churches support. Included among these reports was a reminder of the good work of the Toronto Lighthouse which focuses especially on giving diaconal care to new immigrants to the inner city, mainly of Hispanic, Vietnamese and Chinese descent. In the name of Christ they show compassion to the disadvantaged with the hope that some will hear and respond to the gospel of salvation. We also heard from the Abuse Response Team which is far enough ahead in its ministry to serve as a model of both abuse prevention and intervention for other Classes. By this committee each church was encouraged as to the importance of having an abuse prevention policy in place as soon as possible. We heard of the good and consistent care given by our Shalom Manor Chaplain, George Van Arragon, and of the honest struggles and triumphs of the Hamilton Asian Church and the Hamilton Laotian Church. Pastor Nhai, of Hamilton Laotian church, requested a greater connection with the churches of Classis Hamilton, including invitations to evening services to share in worship and to share their ministry with us.

Our CRC Canadian Ministries Director, Rev. Bill Veenstra, highlighted the rapidly declining number of ministers in the CRC and challenged each church to recognize and encourage potential pastors to consider God's call to parish ministry. He also highlighted our declining birth rate and the need to intentionally engage in evangelistic outreach, not only because it is a fundamental calling, but also because we must if we are to survive as a denomination.

We heard of the progress being made in the new church plant planned for North Burlington and of a new Leadership Development Network designed to train lay leaders for church ministry, who are unable to seek formal training at Bible College and Seminaries. We also appointed a "Classical Review and Visioning Task Force" to "assist Classis in discovering and defining its purpose and vision" and to propose "some options to change classical structure or practice that will enable Classis to more effectively fulfill its vision". One new task Classis had already decided to engage in is a deeper examination of the ministry questions of Church Order, Article 41, to which each council is asked to respond to before each Classis meeting. The question we focused on this meeting was "Are the council, consistory, and deaconate meetings regularly held according to the needs of the congregation?" A fruitful discussion followed with many good ideas, to be sent to each council in the near future.

We thank God for the work he is doing among and through us and pray his continued blessing on his ministry through the Christian Reformed Churches of Classis Hamilton.

......Humbly submitted by reporter Pastor Richard Grift.