The last week in August was a beautiful time to be in northwest Iowa. The weather was delightful, the fields were rich with crops ripening for harvest. There was abundant evidence of God’s blessing. It was an appropriate setting for the fall meeting of the board of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and the annual seminary festival which is held in conjunction with the beginning of a new school year. Board members from various professions and with a rich background of experience gathered from California, Washington, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and the province of Alberta.
I cannot recall having attended a board meeting of any institution or agency at which there was manifested a more positive attitude and greater excitement about the faithfulness of God. Throughout the sessions of the board meeting reference was made again and again to divine guidance experienced and blessings received beginning with the meeting at which the idea of Mid-America Reformed Seminary was conceived to the time of her founding and throughout the first four years of her existence.
The business of the board was conducted under the capable leadership of the Reverend Edward J. Knott, vice-president of the board . Early in the meeting a request from the Reformed Church of the United States to have representation on the board was considered. The R.C.U.S . has for the past several years sent an observer to the seminary board meetings and a member of her clergy is now on our staff. The R.C.U.S. is also encouraging her ministerial students to attend Mid-America. A very cordial relationship exists between the seminary and the R.C.U.S. The executive committee was instructed to study the request in conjunction with our by-laws and to prepare a recommendation.
The board approved the position of Coordinator of Educational Resources. The person occupying this position will, among other duties, serve as theological librarian, develop a library of audio-visual resources as well as a library of catechetical church education resources. The faculty development committee was also instructed to give priority to securing the services of a full-time faculty member in the field of systematic theology.
A crucial issue before the board for consideration concerned the question of the autonomy of the seminary. After careful study and lengthy consideration the following statement was adopted:
“Whereas the practice of placing licensure and candidacy matters under the authority of a board violates Reformed church polity, in that the authority of consistories and classes is displaced,
“Therefore we the Board and Faculty of Mid-America Reformed Seminary pledge ourselves to work in cooperation with consistories and/or classes to have this matter brought into line with proper Reformed church polity by having classes license and examine candidates.
and
“Whereas our current academic curriculum and Ministerial Apprenticeship Program constitute an adequate seminary preparation for the work of the gospel ministry, and whereas our educational program meets course and field work requirements pertaining uniquely to the Christian Reformed Church (polity, history, catechism preaching, etc.), and therefore additional training is superfluous,
“Therefore we the Board and Faculty of Mid-America Reformed Seminary pledge ourselves to work in cooperation with consistories and/or classes to have the synodical rule requiring additional training changed with regard to graduates of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and we also pledge ourselves to work in cooperation with consistories and/or classes to secure licensure and ordination for those of our students who aspire to the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the Christian Reformed Church.”
May the king of the church who has so richly blessed the founding and beginning of Mid-America Reformed Seminary bless also the implementation of this policy.
On Friday afternoon members of the seminary association gathered from several states for the annual business meeting. It is always encouraging to note the commitment of our constituency whose generous support not only enables us to meet our budget of nearly a quarter of a million dollars but whose added gifts during the past summer also permitted the installation of a computer system at the school. By the time installation was completed all the funds needed for payment had been received.
The seminary chapel was filled to overflowing for the convocation exercise which was held following the business meeting. The processional hymn “Praise to the Lord” was a joyful expression of the theme which filled the hearts of those present for this impressive service. The convocation address given by Professor Nelson Kloosterman was entitled “Clement of Alexandria’s Ethic of Wealth as an Ethic of Grace.” The presentation demonstrated not only Professor Kloosterman’s ability as a scholar but also his deep-seated commitment to the Reformed faith.
The chicken supper which has become a popular feature of Sem Fest was once again well attended. It was followed by the inspirational rally which was held at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church of Orange City, Iowa. A large audience heard the Reverend Rein Leestma speak on the subject “False Questions and False Answers.”
Professor Mark Vander Hart of the seminary faculty spent the past summer studying on the east coast. His experiences of the summer were reflected in his report as administrative dean as he wrote: “What impressed me after these summer studies out east is the utter spiritual bankruptcy of liberalism in its various forms. Liberalism had nothing to say to the world since in its rebellious autonomy it rejects the Bible as the written Word of God. I am convinced that the academic program which we offer at Mid-America is fully adequate for preparing men for the ministry of the Word. An ongoing challenge facing us is to get the message out to all concerning what we stand for and what we can offer.”
God grant that the challenge may be met.