Hope Protestant Reformed Church

January 11, 2006

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at the Hope PRC. Each church was represented by two delegates. Rev. W. Bruinsma served as chair of this session. Students in the church history classes at Covenant Christian High School were in attendance for part of the morning session.

The business of classis was, for the most part, routine for a January classis. Classis devoted a good deal of time voting for synodical delegates and the other functionaries of the classis. Elected to serve as delegates to Synod 2006: Ministers—Primi: A. denHartog, C. Haak, K. Koole, J. Slopsema, R. VanOverloop; Secundi: M. Dick, D. Kleyn, R. Kleyn, W. Langerak, J. Laning. Elders—Primi: G. Kaptein, H. Langerak, D. Ondersma, T. Pipe, D. Rau; Secundi: P. Adams, T. DeVries, A. Rau, J. VanBaren, B. Zandstra.

In other voting, Rev. W. Langerak was elected to a three-year term on the Classical Committee, Rev. C. Haak to a three-year term as a primusdelegate ad examina, Rev. D. Kleyn to a three-year term as a secundus delegate ad examina. Revs. K. Koole and R. VanOverloop were elected as church visitors, with Rev. C. Haak as alternate.

The report of the church visitors was read. The church visitors reported that there is peace and harmony within the congregations of Classis East.

Subsidy requests were received from Covenant, Kalamazoo, and Wingham. These requests were approved and will be forwarded to Synod 2006. Classical appointments were granted to Kalamazoo and Covenant.

Considerable time was given to a discussion on the continued viability of the Covenant PRC. In the context of continued subsidy to small churches, Synod 2005 asked the classis to inquire again into their viability. A special committee of classis recommended that Covenant be granted subsidy for 2007. Classis adopted this recommendation and will forward its findings to Synod 2006.

Classis was in closed session to consider a matter of discipline.

Classis bid farewell to Rev. Bruinsma, as he will soon be taking up his work as home missionary in Pittsburgh. Rev. Bruinsma thanked the classis for the fellowship he has enjoyed in the meetings of this body.

Expenses of classis amounted to $1,593.46. The May 10, 2006 meeting of classis will be held at Byron Center PRC.

Respectfully submitted,

Jon J. Huisken,

Stated Clerk