Vol 68 Issue 18

Rev. Heys is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Last time we considered that work of God’s grace whereby He made a sharp distinction between Jacob and Esau, blessing Jacob even though he did not deserve it, and revealing that there was absolutely no blessing for Esau. We also noted that God very clearly revealed to Rebekah, their mother, that He determined before these sons were born that the elder son would serve the younger one of these twins. Esau, the firstborn, would serve Jacob, who came forth out of his mother’s womb with his hand holding on to...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Schlissel Deposed Classis Hudson of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) at its regular meeting, May 13, deposed Rev. Steven Schlissel, pastor of Messiah’s Congregation Christian Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York. This means Schlissel no longer holds the office of the ministry of the Word and Sacraments in the CRC. Schlissel was suspended by a special meeting of the Classis on April 2. The vote to suspend was 22 – 5, the vote to depose was 16 – 12. The four basic grounds for deposition were the same...

June 16, 1992 Dear Friends in Christ: Last week the Synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches made some important decisions affecting our seminary. Synod approved “the schematic drawing of the proposed addition (with full basement) at an estimated cost of $439,880.” The ground for this decision is: “The plan adequately meets the needs for: the additional library space (bookshelves), a quiet study area for the students, and a separate study area for the professors who use the seminary as their place of work.” We might add that the planned addition also contains much needed storage space for the archives of...

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan.

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, May 13, 1992. Each church was represented by two delegates. A special welcome was given to Rev. D. Kuiper, pastor of Southeast PRC, who came to the classis from Classis West. Rev. M. Kamps was the chairman of this session. The agenda for this session was light-with one exception. One case of discipline regarding the censure of a member was brought to the classis. Classical appointments were granted to Grandville; Venice, Florida; and Northern Ireland. The following schedule was adopted VENICE: May 31, June 7 – Flikkema; June 28, July 5 –...

Rev. Woudenberg is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Galatians 5:15 No sooner had the letter of Prof. Holwerda been published in the Standard Bearer than the life of the denomination began visibly to fragment. It was ironic. Those were the very days during which we were celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of our churches, and great effort was being made to demonstrate our strength and unity as a small but thriving Reformed denomination. And indeed from many points of...

Mrs. Lubbers is a wife and mother in the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith… II Timothy 4:7 The Olympic torch has been extinguished in Albertville. The jagged, snow-capped slopes, rising from virtual anonymity to worldwide recognition, lie in pristine silence once again. This small French village, so recently a kaleidoscope of color, resumes its quiet, small-town ways. The torch has not yet been lit in Barcelona. Even now the runners, holding lighted torch aloft, are hastening towards this Mediterranean city to open...

A Southern “Other” Asks about Organs I am writing to address two subjects. First, like Craig Miklosik of Coos Bay, OR, I too am one of the “other” (see “Letters,” the Standard Bearer, May 1, 1992; and “As Others See Us,” the SB, March 15, 1992). I could so easily relate to his letter and to the way he felt when he attended a PRC worship service and had fellowship with those of like precious faith. I, too, have “. . .come to adore many of the PRC distinctives: exclusive use of the King James Version; particular grace; the unbreakable bond...

The annual synod of the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC) met in South Holland, Illinois from June 9 through June 16. In the absence of the president of the previous synod, the pastor of the host church, Rev. Charles Terpstra, preached at the pre-synodical worship service on the evening of June 8. His text was Philippians 1:27. The officers of synod were Rev. Gise VanBaren, president; Rev. Ron Cammenga, vice-president; Rev. Barrett Gritters, first clerk; and Rev. Ron VanOverloop, second clerk. Missions The Foreign Mission Committee (FMC) reported on an investigatory trip that two of its members made to Ghana, Africa. Synod...

Rev. Terpstra is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: …that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27 The apostle Paul had a great concern and desire for the believers in the church at Philippi. That was that their conversation, their manner of conduct, their walk of life, be worthy of the gospel of Christ. He did not want them in any way and to any degree to have a conduct that was...