With December at its mid-point, it is a good time to update you with news from "Seminary hill."

This past week was the final week of classes for the professors and students. Next week they face exams according to the schedule posted on the Seminary website. Pray for the students as they take their finals, that they may prepare well and give a good account of themselves to the Lord of their talents and studies.

Following exams the Seminary will be on a two week Christmas/New Year break (Dec.22- Jan.2). Seminary will still be open during that time and staff will be available to assist you with any needs. Please call ahead if you have any special needs (616-531-1490).

On January 5, 2015, the Seminary Interim course will begin, running from 9-11:30 a.m. daily until Jan.14. Prof.R.Cammenga will be teaching a special class on "The Theology of John Calvin." Visitors are welcome but must call the Seminary by Jan.2.

Senior Ryan Barnhill is completing his internship in Edgerton PRC, and he and his family will be returning to Grand Rapids the week of December 29. He will take his final courses during the second semester and begin peparing for his synodical exam at the PRC Synod 2015, to be held at Faith PRC, Jenison, MI June 9.

Second semester classes are set to begin, D.V., on Tuesday, Jan.20, 2015. The schedule of classes is attached here for your interest and information. Look for a notice soon about classes that may be audited.

Though the busy Fall Reformation lecture season has ended, our professors continue to be active in the churches preaching and leading special societies. They count it a great blessing to be involved in the churches in this way.

Finally, the next Seminary Journal (Vol.48, No.1 - November 2014) is set to arrive from the printers on Tuesday, Dec.16, and will be mailed out that week. This issue will contain the speeches given this past summer at a theological conference on the covenant between the PRCA and the EPCA (Evangelical Presbyterian Churches of Australia).

If you are not currently a subscriber and wish to add this Journal to your reading material, contact the Seminary office. This issue will also be posted on the Seminary website next week.

Report of Classis East

September 10, 2014 with a continued Session on October 15, 2014
Grandville Protestant Reformed Church

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 with a continued session on October 15, 2014.  All the churches were represented by two delegates.  Rev. R. VanOverloop was the chairman for these sessions.

What occasioned the continued session on October 15^th was the decision of the September 10^th session to place four protests against the decision of classis at its May, 2014 relative Article 67 of the Church Order.  At the May, 2014 meeting, an appeal of a consistory’s decision to change the date of its Prayer Day service was treated.  At the May meeting, classis upheld this appeal and decided that any change to the meeting date of the Prayer Day service should be sought by overture to the broader assemblies.  Four protests—three from consistories in Classis East and one from an individual in Classis West—were lodged at the September, 2014 meeting of classis against this decision.  Classis then placed these protests in the hands of a committee of pre-advise whose report was received at the continued session on October, 2014.

Classis received the majority and minority reports of this committee of pre-advice at the October continued session.  Classis adopted the advice of the majority report, namely, that classis uphold the protests received and therefore rescind its decision of May, 2014 that a decision to change the date of the annual Prayer Day service should be sought by way of overture to the broader assemblies.  The grounds (summarized):

1. 1)      The letter, spirit, and historical interpretation of Article 67 of the Church Order do not require the churches to celebrate Prayer Day together on a specific date.  Further, the consistory’s decision to change the date for its Prayer Day service does not constitute a substantial change to Article 67 of the Church Order
2. 2)      The consistory’s decision to change the date for its Prayer Day service does not violate Article 86 of Church Order as the May decision asserts since, as stated in Ground 1 above, the decision of the consistory did not substantially change Article 67 of the Church Order.

At its September session, Classis granted classical appointments to Faith PRC and First PRC.  At its October session, Classis granted a request from a consistory to increase censure to the second step for one of its members.

The expenses of both sessions amounted to $366.24.  Classis will meet next on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at the First PRC of Holland, MI.

Respectfully submitted,

Jon J. Huisken, Stated Clerk