All Articles For Report of Classis West

November 5, 2019 Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met in a reconvened session on November 5, 2019, in Calvary PRC (Hull, IA). Rev. Ryan Barnhill again chaired the meeting. The reconvened session was due to the fact that Classis was not able to finish its agenda in September and more time was needed by a committee of pre-advice to prepare its advice. Classis had before it a request from a consistory for the concurrence of Classis in deposing its minister ac­cording to Articles 79–80 of the Church Order for his teachings on providence and sanctification, and an ap­peal...

Morning Session Rev. Verhil conducts the usual opening exercises after which the credential let­ters are brought to the table. It appears that there are delegations from all the consistories with the exception of Bell­flower, whose delegates were not able to attend, and Redlands. A letter was read from Rev. Vos expressing his regrets that due to a death in his congregation he could not be present. Rev. P. Vis assumes the presidency for the day and Rev. Verhil masters the minutes. The committee anent the Testi­mony to certain churches has finished its work of distributing its former report, in mimeographed...

Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met from September 25–27, 2019, in Calvary PRC (Hull, IA). The meeting was capably chaired by Rev. Ryan Barnhill (pastor of Peace PRC), who was serving in this capacity for the first time in his ministry. Noticeably absent from the meeting was one of the elder delegates from Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB), who remained home to support a family in the congre­gation whose teenage son had recently died in an auto­mobile accident. The night before Classis convened, the delegates gathered with the Calvary congregation to worship God and to hear the specimen sermon...

Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met on March 6-7, 2019, in Heritage PRC (Sioux Falls, SD). This small congregation did a fine job of hosting the delegates over two full days. The meeting was capably chaired by Rev. Stephan Regnerus, who was serving in this capacity for the first time in his ministry. After opening devotions and the constituting of Clas- sis, routine reports of the stated clerk, classical committee, and reading sermon committee were read and approved. The church visitors also reported on their work over the last year and the presence of unity, peace, and love...

Classis West met in regular session on August 29-30, 2018. The meeting was hosted by Peace PRC (Lansing, IL), but all sessions were held in the facilities of the neighboring Crete PRC, since Peace is in the process of transitioning to a new building. Rev. John Marcus chaired the meeting. The highlight of this meeting was the examina­tion of Pastor-elect Jona­than Langerak, who had re­ceived and accepted the call extended to him by Heri­tage PRC (Sioux Falls, SD). Mr. Langerak led a worship service on the night before Classis, expounding God’s Word from Proverbs 3:5­6. He was then examined the...

MORNING SESSION Rev. P. Vis, president of the former Classis, opened the meeting with usual preliminaries. Delegations appeared from all the congregations with the exception of Bellflower. Rev. Vos is chairman of the day and Rev. Vis scribe. After extending a word of welcome to the delegates the classis gets down to its routine business. First there appears the report of the committee which was to examine the matter of correspondence with other churches. After hearing the report and weighing tire various matters involved, in such correspondence, Classis decides to table the matter indefinitely. Next the committee on travelling expenses...

The Rev. Gerrit Vos opens the meeting with prayer after the brethren sing a psalter number and the chairman reads Gen. 28. From the credentials coming to the table of Classis it appears that ten consistories are represented with nineteen delegates. Bellflower was absent with the opening but the Rev. L. Doezema came in the afternoon, having experienced travelling difficulties. The Rev. Blankespoor assumes the presidency and Rev. Vos masters the minutes. Advisory vote is extended to Rev. L. Vermeer who visits with us. Minutes of the previous meeting are read and their transcription approved. Church visitors are called upon...

Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met in Loveland, Colorado, on March 7, 2018. Thirteen ministers and seventeen elders represented the churches. Rev. Dennis Lee chaired the meeting. After opening devotions and the constituting of Classis, routine reports of the Stated Clerk, Classical Committee, and Reading Sermon Committee were read and approved. The church visitors also reported on their work over the last year and the presence of unity, peace, and love prevailing in the churches. In closed session, two consistories explained their labors with impenitent members and requested that Classis approve their proceeding to the increase of censure...

Classis West held a special meeting on Wednesday, November 29, in Lynden PRC. The purpose of this meeting was to examine Pastors-elect Brian Feenstra and Stephan Regnerus, who had accepted the calls extended to them by Immanuel PRC (Lacombe) and Lynden PRC, respectively. The night before Classis, Lynden held a special worship service at which Pastor-elect Regnerus preached a specimen sermon on Romans 12:1-2. On Wednesday morning, after Classis was constituted, Pastor-elect Feenstra preached a specimen sermon on Revelation 5:1-17. Classis approved both sermons, and then proceeded to examine the men in ten different subject areas for 20 minutes each....

Morning Session The Rev. A. Cammenga conducted the usual opening exercises. It appeared from the credentials that all the consist­ories were represented. Rev. H. De Wolf who had come and was already in Hull, received a telegram from his congrega­tion notifying him of the death of Mr. N. Kimm, and the brother had to return before the Classis convened. A word of welcome is addressed to two minister brethren present for the first time. Rev. De Boor coming from Classis East now pastor of Redlands and S. Cammenga, pastor of Orange City. Rev. S. Cam­menga become s president for the...