Meeting March 4, 2026

Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Doon PRC (Doon, IA). The thirteen churches in the Classis were represented by nine ministers and seventeen elders (one of the ministers of the classis was not able to be present as he and his wife had just welcomed a new baby the day before the meeting).

After opening devotions by the president of the previous meeting, Rev. A. Brummel assumed the chair by alphabetical rotation. Four elders who were attending classis for the first time signed the Formula of Subscription. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved, the questions of Article 41 of the Church Order were asked and satisfactorily answered, and routine reports from the stated clerk, classical committee, and reading sermon library committee were read and approved. The church visitors reported on their visits to the consistories in the past year, indicating in their report that unity, peace, and love prevail in the churches of the classis. Six committees of pre-advice were assigned, and then classis recessed for those committees to prepare their advice.

Classis treated in closed session a protest of an individual against the decision of the previous meeting of classis regarding the discipline work of a consistory with the individual. Classis did not sustain the protest.

In open session classis treated the appeal of an individual. The individual had protested to a consistory regarding the doctrinal writings of a minister. Not satisfied with the answer of the consistory, the individual appealed to classis. Classis declared the appeal not legally before it on the ground that the appeal did not meet the requirements of Article 46 of our Church Order, since past synods of our churches have made settled and binding decisions on the doctrinal point at issue.

In closed session classis treated the report of the special committee assigned to help a consistory. Classis gave advice to the consistory involved, approved the work of the special committee, and mandated the committee to continue its work.

Classis approved the subsidy requests for 2027 for three congregations and forwarded them on to Synod 2026 for its approval.

Classis provided a schedule of pulpit supply for the three vacant congregations (Calvary—Hull, IA; Heritage—Sioux Falls, SD; and Hope—Redlands, CA), and also provided a small measure of supply for the Covenant of Grace Fellowship in Spokane, WA.

Throughout the meeting classis conducted its annual elections. Rev. J. Engelsma was reappointed to three-year term as stated clerk, and Rev. R. Smit was appointed to a three-year term as assistant stated clerk. Rev. M. DeBoer was reappointed to a three-year term on the classical committee, and Rev. S. Regnerus was appointed to fill the remaining one-year term vacated by a minister moving to another classis. Classis appointed Revs. A. Brummel, D. Kleyn, J. Marcus, and R. Smit as church visitors, with Revs. H. Bleyenberg and J. Engelsma as alternates. Rev. R. Smit was appointed to a three-year term as synodical deputy primus, and Rev. M. DeBoer was reappointed to a three-year term as synodical deputy secundus. Ministers delegated to Synod 2026 are Revs. H. Bleyenberg, J. Engelsma, D. Kleyn, J. Marcus, and R. Smit, and their alternates are Revs. A. Brummel, M. DeBoer, A. Haveman, M. Koerner, and S. Regnerus. Elders delegated to Synod 2026 are Kevin Brummel (Crete), Wayne DeJong (Calvary), Glenn Feenstra (Hope), Chester Hunter, Jr. (Edgerton), and Philip VanBaren (Crete). Alternates are Ted Andringa (Crete), Marlin Feenstra (Hope), Duane Huisken (Hope), James Lenting (Crete), and Keith VanDrunen (Crete).

The expenses of the meeting totaled $7,765.93.

Classis approved having its next meetings on September 30, 2026, at Hope PRC (Redlands, CA), and on March 3, 2027, at Loveland (CO) PRC.

Classis finished its work a little before 8:30 p.m.

Rev. Joshua Engelsma

Stated Clerk, Classis West