Classis Michigan

Report on the meeting of Classis Michigan of the URCNA

Convening at Faith United Reformed Church building in Holland, MI — March 3, 2026

Classis Michigan convened on the morning of March 3 in Holland, Michigan, for its spring meeting. Because of a full agenda, delegates gathered an hour earlier than usual. The agenda included the completion of a candidacy examination, a colloquium doctum, consideration of four overtures, and several additional matters.

After preliminary matters, classis completed the candidacy examination of Mr. Joel Haan. At the October meeting of Classis Michigan, Mr. Haan had sustained six of the eight areas of examination. At this meeting he was examined in the remaining two areas and sustained one of them—Biblical Exegesis. A prayer of thanksgiving, guidance, and continued growth was offered up for Mr. Haan.

Classis then proceeded to a colloquium doctum for Rev. Dr. Jared Poulton. Dr. Poulton is ordained in the PCA and has recently begun serving as Executive Director of the Institute for Reformed Biblical Counseling. Cornerstone URC requested the colloquium doctum in connection with its desire to call Dr. Poulton involving him in counseling and teaching. Dr. Poulton gave a clear account of his biblical and confessional commitments as well as his ministerial competence. He sustained the colloquium doctum, and classis declared him eligible to receive a call from Cornerstone URC.

Classis also considered four overtures, each of which was approved with minor revisions.

The first overture proposes amendments to Church Order Articles 8 and 47, as well as Appendices 4 and 5, in order to bring greater consistency to the language for who supervises and who calls ministers. This overture will be forwarded to Synod Calgary 2026.

The second overture amended the Classis Rules of Procedure to require that exegesis papers (for candidacy examinations) and sermon manuscripts (for all examinations) are provided with the agenda materials. It also specifies who is responsible for presenting an evaluation of the sermons during the examination. Because these changes pertain only to the procedures of Classis Michigan, the overture will not be forwarded to synod.

The third overture proposes amendments to Church Order Article 64 in two respects. First, it clarifies when it is appropriate to transfer a member versus releasing a member, depending on the level of ecclesiastical relations the URCNA maintains with the receiving church. Second, it codifies that a member under discipline may request departure from his current church while also clarifying that a consistory may decline any request for departure. This overture will be forwarded to Synod Calgary 2026.

The fourth overture proposes the adoption of doctrinal affirmations stating that animal death did not occur prior to Adam’s first sin. This overture will also be forwarded to Synod Calgary 2026.

Additional matters included the reappointment of Rev. Casey Freswick as a church visitor and the appointment of Rev. Ed Marcusse as a church visitor. Rev. Marcusse is an emeritus minister who recently moved to Michigan. Classis expressed its thanks to Rev. Jeph Nobel for his service as a church visitor. Finally, five churches requested advice for the proper government of the church, and classis provided the requested counsel.

Rev. Eric Van Der Molen served as Chairman, Rev. Doug Barnes served as Vice-Chairman, and Rev. Talman Wagenmaker served as Clerk.

Classis Michigan is scheduled to convene next at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, at the Cornerstone URC building in Hudsonville, Michigan.

May the Lord bless the decisions made and counsel given by his servants in Classis Michigan.

For further information, contact Rev. Talman Wagenmaker, Clerk of Classis Michigan,
via e-mail at [email protected]

Please note that this report is an unofficial summary.

For the official and complete summary of business transacted at classis, see the official minutes of classis.

Churches of Classis Michigan

Stated Clerk: Rev. Talman Wagenmaker