Classis Michigan

Report on the meeting of Classis Michigan of the URCNA

Convening at Covenant United Reformed Church of Byron Center — March 14, 2023

The Lord blessed delegates from the 13 churches of Classis Michigan of the URCNA with a productive spring meeting.

Convening on March 14 at Covenant United Reformed Church of Byron Center, the highlight of the meeting was the candidacy examination of Mr. Elijah Anderson.

A graduate of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary of Grand Rapids, Mr. Anderson was raised with a close-up view of the ministry, observing his father’s work as a minister in the Grand Rapids area and, later, as a missionary in Mexico. Mr. Anderson, who is a member of Bethany United Reformed Church of Wyoming, MI, has served three internships during his time of preparation: two in Mexico, and one in Costa Rica. At a November meeting of classis, Mr. Anderson sustained six of the eight sections of the candidacy examination, completing the final two sections at this meeting.

After concurring with the ruling of the Bethany Consistory that brother Anderson had sustained his examination, the brothers joined in prayer to ask God to bless him in his continued pursuit of the ministry.

Later in the day, Classis undertook the sobering task of approving the separation of a church and its minister. Walker URC’s Consistory sought concurring advice, in accordance with Church Order Article 11, to dissolve the pastoral relationship between Walker URC and Rev. Sacha Walicord. After hearing details of the request in executive session, the delegates provided the requested concurring advice. They then united in prayer for God to bless all involved in this difficult situation.

The brothers also heard reports on a number of other difficult situations that have resulted in church discipline at various churches in classis. These reports were given in order to seek advice for wisely proceeding with discipline, which advice the delegates provided.

Classis was blessed to receive greetings from the Presbytery of Michigan and Ontario of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, delivered by Rev. Bob Van Manen. As pastor of Little Farms Chapel in nearby Coopersville, Rev. Van Manen is well known among the United Reformed congregations of Classis Michigan, and his greetings were warmly received.

The delegates also reappointed three ministers – Rev. Casey Freswick, Rev. Jephthah Nobel, and Rev. Matthew Nuiver – to new terms as church visitors. Elder Josh Nijenhuis of Covenant URC in Byron Center was appointed to serve as alternate delegate to the Website Oversight Committee.

Officers for this meeting of Classis Michigan were Rev. Mitchell Dick as Chairman, Rev. Matthew Nuiver as Vice-Chairman, and Rev. Doug Barnes as Stated Clerk.

The next meeting of Classis Michigan is slated for October 10, with the Consistory of Trinity United Reformed Church of Caledonia serving as the convening and hosting consistory.

For further information, contact Rev. Doug Barnes, Stated Clerk of Classis Michigan,
by telephone at 269-331-7120 or 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.

Report on the meeting of Classis Michigan of the URCNA

Convening at Bethany United Reformed Church of Wyoming, MI — November 1, 2022

Delegates to a recent meeting of Classis Michigan had a full day, as they witnessed and participated in the examination of two men who aspire to become ministers and transacted other business needed for the support of the churches. Convening the meeting an hour earlier than is typical for meetings of Classis Michigan, delegates to the November 1 meeting quickly began the ordination examination for Mr. Jacob London. A candidate under the supervision of Cornerstone URC of London, ON, Mr. London sustained his candidacy examination in Classis Southwestern Ontario in September. He then was called to serve Trinity United Reformed Church of Caledonia, MI, where Mr. London has served as an intern.

In God’s providence, the delegates were able to complete Mr. London’s exam by noon, declaring that the brother is eligible to be ordained as a minister of the Word and sacraments in the URCNA. Following a prayer of thanksgiving, Mr. London and his wife, Lisa, were congratulated by the delegates.

The afternoon and a bit of the evening were devoted to conducting a candidacy examination of Mr. Elijah Anderson, a graduate of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and a member of Bethany United Reformed Church of Wyoming, MI. Mr. Anderson gave good account of the ministerial preparation God has provided for him, for which the delegates expressed gratitude to God.

Following the examination, the Consistory of Bethany URC declared that Mr. Anderson had sustained six of the eight areas of the examination. The delegates to Classis Michigan concurred. Mr. Anderson will have 13 months to be re-examined in the two remaining areas of the examination.

Much of the remaining business of Classis Michigan was relatively routine. One unusual action involved the Classis Michigan delegates to the URCNA Missions Committee. At the recently held Synod Niagara, it was decided to reorganize the URCNA Missions Committee into two committees: one focused on foreign missions, and the other oriented toward home missions. Classis heard from its committee members their preferences, then designated Rev. Casey Freswick to serve on the URCNA Committee for Foreign Missions and Mr. Paul Wagenmaker to serve on the URCNA Committee for Home Missions.

Officers for this meeting of Classis Michigan were Rev. Sacha Walicord as Chairman, Rev. Mitchell Dick as Vice-Chairman, and Rev. Doug Barnes as Stated Clerk.

The next meeting of Classis Michigan was set for Tuesday, March 14, at 9 a.m. Covenant United Reformed Church of Byron Center has been designated as the convening consistory.

May the Lord bless the decisions made at this meeting of Classis Michigan, unto His glory and the well-being of His church!

For further information, contact Rev. Doug Barnes, Stated Clerk of Classis Michigan,

by telephone at 269-331-7120 or 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.

Report on the meeting of Classis Michigan of the URCNA

Convening at Immanuel Fellowship URC of Kamalazoo — 8 March 2022

Delegates to Classis Michigan enjoyed a productive meeting on March 8 as they convened their first meeting of the year at Immanuel Fellowship United Reformed Church in Kalamazoo.

Prominent on the spring agenda were three overtures, along with numerous reports. Classis approved all three overtures, after careful discussion and with minor amendments.

The first overture, from Bethany URC of Wyoming, sought to revise the mandate and description of the Classis Michigan Missions and Church Plant Committee (CMMCPC). The revision was aimed at empowering the committee to proactively cultivate and encourage missions and church planting work. Previously, the CMMCPC guidelines made it largely a reactionary resource, providing information and assistance for those who sought its help.

The new guidelines empower the CMMCPC to investigate and recommend potential church plant opportunities, advising and consulting with involved parties to better facilitiate such works. Likewise, the committee is encouraged to more helpfully assist with the starting and care of foreign missions works. Details also were added regarding the use of a Classis Michigan Church Planting Financial Assistance Fund.

A second overture, sent by Grace URC of Alto, will call on Synod 2022 to amend the URCNA Church Order and the Regulations for Synodical Procedure in order to establish national synods, in addition to the general (international) synod currently employed.

By means of amendments to three articles of the Church Order and the addition of a new article, the changes of this overture would establish national synods to which each church would send delegates, while general synods would receive fewer delegates, appointed by each classis. These changes would provide a number of benefits. By reducing the number of delegates at the URC’s broadest assembly, the deliberative character of the assembly would be promoted. It is anticipated that this would help to ensure that decisions would be reached through careful consideration and debate, rather than through a party spirit. Meanwhile, the creation of national synods would ensure that each church has a voice in matters affecting it, while promoting the principle that matters are best addressed as closely as possible to the local level.

The third overture, also sent by Grace URC of Alto, will ask Synod 2022 to adopt pastoral advice regarding the relationship of church, state, and family. In URC polity, “Pastoral Advice” is “Synod’s application of the Scriptures, the Ecumenical Creeds, and the Three Forms of Unity to particular circumstances in the life of the churches” (Regulations for Synodical Procedure, Appendix D).

The pastoral advice sought by Classis Michigan includes nine “Affirmations Governing the Relationship of Church, State, and Family.” These were prompted by the societal changes currently afflicting the United States and Canada, including the infection of the American church by moral decline and broadening of civil government at the expense of citizens’ rights. The affirmations of this overture are intended, within that context, to help clarify and strengthen the churches’ commitments.

Along with these matters, the brothers received greetings from three fraternal visitors. Rev. Ken Kok brought greetings from Classis Ontario West of the Canadian Reformed Churches; Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven spoke on behalf of the Heritage Reformed Congregations; and Rev. John St. Martin appeared for the Great Lakes Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America. The assembly was grateful for the greetings, responding with prayer for each of these church federations.

Time was spent hearing reports from a variety of functionaries and committees, enabling Classis Michigan to hold accountable those tasked with serving the churches. Time also was set apart for offering advice and prayer regarding discipline matters brought by three consistories.

Through all of this business, Classis was ably led by Rev. Talman Wagenmaker as Chairman and Rev. Jephthah Nobel as Vice-Chairman. The delegates also were blessed by the warm hospitality of their hosts at Immanuel Fellowship URC in Kalamazoo.

The next meeting of Classis Michigan was set for Tuesday, May 24, at Walker URC. The Consistory of Bethany URC is slated to serve as Convening Consistory for that meeting of Classis.

May the Lord richly bless the work of the churches, as they seek to serve and honor Him!

For further information, contact Rev. Doug Barnes, Stated Clerk of Classis Michigan,
by telephone at 269-331-7120 or 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.

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Churches of Classis Michigan

Stated Clerk: Rev. Doug Barnes