Report of the September Meeting of Classis East 2024

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 thanks to God for the 43 years of Rev. Spriensma’s dedicated service in the ministry and chaplaincy, and especially for his faithful work as both foreign and domestic missionary” (Article 15, II,D).

The churches of Classis East received reports of sexual abuse from an organization that synod hired to help investigate child sexual abuse in the Protestant Reformed Churches. The Church Visitors and Providence PRC brought recommendations for how Classis East could provide accountability for how consistories respond to these reports. Providence PRC’s recommendation, which came by way of overture, was approved by classis. Classis appointed a committee of ten elders (with three alternates) to work with the Church Visitors “to provide accountability, ensuring that consistories respond rightly to the reports from Guidepost” (Article 26, II,A).

In closed session classis spent much time on a protest. The substance of the case is sensitive and cannot be explained, but the fact that there are seven articles in the minutes about this case reflects how much time classis took to handle the sensitive matter carefully.

A special committee report was also treated in closed session. The special committee was appointed by classis to assist a consistory on a sensitive case. Classis approved the labors of the committee and mandated that the committee continue in its work.

Another special committee submitted a report in May, 2024. Classis did not treat the report in May in order to take more time to read and reflect on the report. The report reflects on a specific case of child sexual abuse and explains lessons that can be learned from this case about how the church should handle disclosures of child sexual abuse. Classis decided to receive the report and to make it available with a cover letter for the officebearers and members of Classis East. The report and cover letter has been sent to the councils of Classis East for distribution. [The link to this report may be found here.]

Rev. Smidstra brought an overture that was approved by the Consistory of First PRC of Holland, MI asking that Classis East and Synod adopt a rule “allowing protestants and appellants to speak on the legality in their cases” (Article 18, I,A). Classis approved the request and adopted the rule for its own rules. The overture has been sent to synod with the approval of Classis East for synod to consider adding this rule to the Rules of Synod.

Classis also treated several matters that are commonly part of its work, including deciding that its next meeting will convene January 8, 2024 at Zion PRC (Jenison, MI) at 8:00 a.m.

[The link to the open session minutes of this meeting may be found here.]

In Christ’s Service,

Rev. Clayton Spronk
Stated Clerk, Classis East

Synod Day Six Report

Today Committee 3 presented its advice for treating several appeals to Synod having to do with doctrinal issues.

The first recommendation of the committee advised synod not to sustain three appellants. Classis East ruled in February of 2024 that the Consistory of Grandville PRC “erred when they made a judgment that Rev. Ken Koole was guilty of the public sin of teaching false doctrine without proving this from Scripture or the Confessions.” The three appellants asked synod to overturn this decision of Classis East. On the basis of two grounds synod approved the advice of Committee 3 not to sustain the appellants and to uphold the decision of Classis East. Ground 2 succinctly states, “None of the appellants have proved that Grandville’s original decision of April 22, 2021 was carefully grounded in Scripture and the confessions.”

The second recommendation of Committee 3 advised synod to sustain an appeal of Grandville PRC’s Consistory against a decision of Classis East. Grandville contended that Classis East did not give a proper ruling on a statement quoted and explained by Rev. Koole, namely,“Scripture teaches that something must be done that we may be saved.” Synod decided to adopt the advice the committee and made the judgment that the statement “a)…is erroneouswhen referring to our good works, and b) Rev. Koole’s explanation and use of [the statement] was erroneous” on two grounds.

The third recommendation of Committee 3 advised synod to sustain an appeal of Grandville’s Consistory against a decision of Classis East regarding a second statement quoted and explained by Rev. Koole, namely, “We must accurately distinguish between a right to life and the possession of life. The former must be assigned to the obedience of Christ, that all the values of our holiness may be entirely excluded. But certainly, our works, or rather these, which the Spirit of Christ worketh in us, and by us, contribute something to the latter.” Synod also approved this recommendation making the judgment that “a) Statement #2 is erroneous, and b) Rev. Koole’s promotion of the statement was erroneous” on two grounds.

The fourth recommendation of Committee 3 advised synod not to sustain an appeal of Grandville’s consistory against the decision of Classis East regarding a third statement quoted and explained by Rev. Koole, namely, “Hence, I conclude, that sanctification and its effects, are by no means to be slighted, when we treat of assuring the soul as to its justification.” Synod approved the recommendation and made the judgment that “a) this statement, although not a clear statement of orthodoxy, is not erroneous, and b) Rev. Koole’s explanation and use of the statement were not in conflict with Scripture, the confessions, and Synod 2018” on the basis of two grounds.

The fifth and final recommendation of Committee 3 advised synod to sustain Grandville Consistory’s appeal against a decision of Classis East advising the consistory “to publicly retract its decision to charge Rev. Koole with the public sin of teaching false doctrine.” Synod adopted the recommendation to sustain Grandville Consistory, which means that the consistory does not have to retract publicly its decision. The two grounds were adopted by synod with a lengthy section of explanation that is not copied here for the sake of space but should be carefully read when the Acts of Synod 2024 are published. The important points to be noted include 1) it was proper for the consistory to require of Rev. Koole a public apology for publicly teacher error, 2) there is no evidence that Rev. Koole deliberately or purposely was seeking to teach contrary to the Scriptures and the Reformed Confessions, and 3) Grandville’s Consistory never sought to use Articles 79 and 80 of the Church order to charge Rev. Koole with deliberately and persistently teaching contrary to Scripture and the Reformed confessions.

After concluding the advice of Committee 3 synod treated advice from Committee 2 that had been recommitted for reformulation. Synod adopted the recommendation of the committee to provide financial assistance to the Berean PRCP for a downpayment for a parsonage for the congregation.

Synod also adopted a recommendation from Committee 2 to provide each family in the PRCA with a total of three copies of the revised Psalter (earlier synod decided to provide each family with 1 copy and decided on 2 more copies today).

Professor Doug Kuiper read to synod a letter accepting its appointment for permanent tenure as Professor of Church History and New Testament in our seminary.

Synod ended the day by treating a number of recommendations from Committee 5. Some highlights:

1. Approved emeritation requests for retired ministers and their wives.
2. Approved of subsidy for 6 needy churches for 2025.
3. Adopted a budget for 2025. The total of budgeted expenses is $2,911,326. The synodical assessment per family in 2025 was set for $600, the same as in 2024. Note: the estimated number of families used for these assessments in 2025 was 2,100.
4. Appointed Faith PRC as the host of Synod 2025 to convene on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 8:00am. Faith looks forward to hosting synod for the examination of Seminarian Aaron VanDyke, a member of Faith!

Synod is in recess until 8:00 am on Thursday. Committee 4 will be working until then to prepare advice on the six protests of the decision of Synod 2023 to approve the hiring of a third-party organization to investigate sexual abuse within the PRCA.

I should have mentioned this earlier, but it must be said that Trinity PRC, the custodians and kitchen committee especially, has done an amazing job hosting the sessions of synod.

Please continue to pray for the delegates and the work of synod.

For Synod 2024,

Rev. C. Spronk, 2nd Clerk

And a lighter moment of synod. Rev. W. Langerak, president of Synod 2024, with a special cup.