All Articles For Spronk, Clayton

CLASSIS EAST REPORT Meeting September 10, 2025 Classis East met September 10 in the sanctuary of First Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Rev. Bill Langerak chaired the long meeting that adjourned around 11:30 p.m. Classis began with the routine matters of approving the credentials of the delegates, signing the Formula of Subscription by first-time delegates to classis, asking the questions of Church Order Article 41, receiving reports from the stated clerk and the Classical Committee, and appointing five committees of pre-advice. The Classical Committee, which acts on behalf of Classis East between its meetings, proposed an examination schedule...

Georgetown PRC (in Hudsonville, MI) hosted classis for three days. Rev. Nathan Decker served as the chairman of the meeting. Through his leadership classis worked its way through all the matters on the agenda in a careful and brotherly manner. Rev. Audred Spriensma requested approval for emeritation (retirement from active ministry) from Cornerstone PRC (Dyer, IN). After a consistory approves the retirement of a minister, it must also be approved by classis and synod. Classis East concurred with the decision of Cornerstone to approve Rev. Spriensma’s request and approved a decision that states, “That Classis express its deep appreciation and...

At 8:00 a.m. on January 11, 2023 thirty-eight delegates from the nineteen member churches gathered together in Grandville PRC to conduct the business of Classis East (CE). The meeting began with Rev. J. Maatman, chairman of the previous meeting, reading I Peter 5 and opening with prayer. He read the names of the delegates from the credentials sent by their consistories and asked for a motion to accept the credentials. After the motion carried, Rev. Maatman declared classis properly constituted and turned the chair over to Rev. J. Mahtani (next in line alphabetically). Rev. Mahtani presided over the rest of...

The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled “In 10 Years, Pope Francis Has Disrupted the Catholic Church.”1 We take a brief amount of space to note that this title misleads when it refers to the institution that Francis rules as the “Catholic Church.” Francis rules the Roman Catholic Church. Francis has no jurisdiction over the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church (to which we belong as Protestants) over which there is one Ruler, Jesus Christ. Duly noted; now we turn to the description of Francis as a disrupter. Francis certainly has instituted changes/disruptions in the Roman Catholic Church. The...

May 2023 Classis East Report Classis East convened Wednesday May 10, 2023 at Faith PRC in Jenison, MI. Rev. McGeown served as chairman. Eight elders served at classis for the first time and signed the Formula of Subscription, a vow to uphold the teaching of Scripture summarized in the Reformed Confessions. The routine matters treated by classis included approving the work of its Stated Clerk and Classical Committee (this committee does work on behalf of classis when classis is not in session). A schedule for classical appointments for Georgetown, Hudsonville, and Zion PRCs was adopted. The expenses for the meeting...

In the Standard Bearer and many other forms of media exists a recorded testimony to the truth of God that can and will be used against us by the world. It is sobering and a little frightening to realize that anytime the powers that be in the world (government, media, big-business, and more) want to attack us, our families, and our churches, they already have plenty of material that they can use. A recent article on christianitytoday.com illustrates the reality that enemies of the truth can and will use what was said by us or by the church we are...

May 11, 2022 First PRC of Holland, MI hosted Classis East in the Redeemer Christian School building in Zeeland, MI. After Rev. Bill Langerak declared classis properly constituted, Rev. Dennis Lee assumed the chair and presided over the business of the meeting. Recognizing the importance of making decisions in harmony with Scripture as set forth in our Reformed confessions, classis requires every first-time delegate to sign the Formula of Subscription. Two delegates attended classis for the first time and therefore signed the Formula. Classis exercises mutual oversight by receiving answers from each member church to the questions found in Article...

Providence Protestant Reformed Church hosted Classis  East’s January 12, 2022 meeting. The meeting convened  with Rev. Joe Holstege, chairman of the last meeting,  leading in devotions. He made opening comments about  loving the church of Jesus Christ. Two delegates from  each of the nineteen churches of Classis East attended  in person, including the two delegates from Wingham,  Ontario, Canada. After Rev. Holstege declared classis  properly constituted, Rev. Bill Langerak took over the  chair. With Rev. Langerak presiding over the meeting, classis  received reports from its stated clerk, church visitors,  and classical committee. Then classis took a break from  meeting in...

The Texas Heartbeat Act On September 1, 2021 the Texas Heartbeat Act, which was approved by lawmakers in May, went into effect as the law of the state. Some describe this law as the toughest anti-abortion measure in the United States. The law prohibits abortionists from performing an abortion “if the physician detected a fetal heartbeat for the unborn child.” The law has a unique provision for its enforcement that is garnering much attention. It bans state officials from enforcing the law but allows for private citizens to bring charges in civil courts against anyone who performs an abortion banned...

Classis East  September 8, 2021 The beginning of the meeting Classis East convened at 8:00 a.m. at Grandville PRC. Rev. Joe Holstege presided as chairman. Two delegates represented each of the eighteen churches of Classis East. Eight elders were present as delegates at classis for the first time and signed the Formula of Subscription. Rev. M. McGeown, pastor of Providence PRC, also signed the Formula. Providence PRC reported that Rev. McGeown was installed on September 5, 2021 as their pastor and thanked Classis East for sixteen months of pulpit supply for their congregation. The questions of Article 41 of the...