The Idea of Church Polity The careful definition of terms is helpful in any consideration of a topic. “Polity” is defined as “a particular form or system of government,” and, when added to the noun “church,” gives a phrase meaning “the science of church government” or “church government.” Identifying principal truths of the Holy Scriptures, […]
The Idea of the Church Order One of the main instruments for the proper exercise of church polity is a Church Order, more precisely in our context, the Church Order of the United Reformed Churches in North America. This Church Order can be easily accessed at the United Reformed Churches in North America website, www.urcna.org, […]
The Standing Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise of the Canadian Reformed Churches and the Psalter Hymnal Committee of the United Reformed Churches in North America met in joint session beginning Wednesday evening, October 25, through Friday morning, October 27, at the Bethel URC church building in Jenison, Michigan. Rev. Douwe Agema, […]
Present were Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, Rev. William Pols, Rev. Ronald Scheuers, and Rev. Raymond Sikkema representing the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA), and Dr. Gijsbert Nederveen, Mr. Gerard J. Nordeman, Rev. John VanWoudenberg and Dr. Art Witten of the Canadian Reformed Churches (CanRC). Mr. Harry VanGurp representing the URCNA was unable to attend […]
On March 22–23, 2006 the committees for ecumenicity of both the OPC and the URCNA met in Willow Grove, PA to further their ecumenical dialogue. Present from the URCNA: John A. Bouwers, Chuck Dykstra, Gary Findley, Casey Freswick, Don Hoaglander, Todd Joling, Ralph A. Pontier, William Van der Woerd, Harry Zekveld. Present from the OPC: […]
In just a shade more than eight hours, delegates to a recent meeting of Classis Central US approved the addition of one church and two ministers, as well as addressing requests for advice in more than a dozen discipline or pastoral matters. On Tuesday, March 21, Classis Central US convened in the sanctuary of Grace […]
The Delegates of Classis Michigan met at the Covenant United Reformed Church in Kalamazoo on June 6, 2006. Chairman for the day was Rev. Art Besteman, with Rev. Brian Vos serving as Vice-Chairman and Rev. Wybren Oord serving as Clerk. After the chairman led the delegates in singing and prayer, the business of the day […]
The 17th meeting of Classis Southwest U.S. was held in Ripon, California, “The Almond Capital of the World,” June 26, 2006. Delegates from nineteen organized churches came together as the broader assembled to examine a man for ordination, candidacy, deal with an overture, as well give concurring advice to several churches in their labors to […]
His Christian family and his upbringing as a member of the Covenant – that’s the soil from which Nick Smith’s desire to enter the ministry grew. His desire became serious when, Mr. Smith said, during his high school years, as he developed a love for Reformed theology. Encouraged by his pastor, he enrolled at Covenant […]
On October 10, 2006, the twenty-second meeting of Classis Michigan began. It was a beautiful, sunny, autumn day. For many, the drive to Walker United Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan was a spectacle of God’s work in creation. As the meeting progressed, it was clear that the Lord was also at work in His […]