Summary of Recent Classis Meeting
Classis Central U.S. Press Release
April 9, 2025
On the evening of April 7, Classis Central U.S. of the United Reformed Churches in North America met at Redeemer United Reformed Church in Saint John, Indiana for its 59th meeting.
After an evening meal including fellowship among the delegates, the assembly picked up its work under the able leadership of Rev. Benjamin Davenport of Christ Reformed Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with Rev. Paul Freswick of Grace United Reformed Church in Waupun, Wisconsin serving as vice-chairman. The meeting began with all the delegates rising to assent to the Form of Subscription indicating their whole-hearted adherence to the Three Forms of Unity.
The majority of Monday evening was spent in receiving routine reports from classical and synodical functionaries and committees. By way of recommendation from the Classical Committee on Home Missions (CCHM), classis determined to give on-going official assistance to the Latino Mission of Cornerstone URC in Sanborn, Iowa, including $35,000 a year of financial support, and on-going official assistance to Christ Reformed Church in Sioux Falls for the work of planting a daughter church, Providence Reformed Church.
Monday evening also brought the occasion of receiving fraternal greetings from Rev. Lane Keister of the Presbytery of the Midwest of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and written fraternal greetings from Classis Manitoba of the Canadian Reformed Churches. Tuesday morning, April 8, gave opportunity for an update on Rev. Austin Reifel’s work in Indianapolis including the Reformation Ohio Valley church planting labors.
During Tuesday morning, the assembly considered three overtures, adopting all three. Two overtures related to classis’s Rules of Procedure. One of these overtures adjusted how frequently reports are received from consistories concerning mission work. It is now stipulated that these reports are to be received at each meeting of classis. The other overture specified that all overtures to classis that request funds from classis clearly detail the financial commitments such an overture would require. A third overture, that will be forwarded on to the next synod, requests the federation’s treasurers to send statements to the diaconates of the churches within the federation reminding them of the annual “askings” that are due.
This meeting of classis included the request from Oak Glen United Reformed Church for two emeritations in line with Church Order Article 10, that of Rev. Edward Marcusse, after 34 years of service within five pastorates, and that of Rev. Mark Vander Hart, after 45 years of service within one pastorate and as professor at Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Both requests received concurring advice and gratitude and prayers were offered for the years of faithful service by Reverends Marcusse and Vander Hart.
Classis gave advice and concurring advice to a number of consistories seeking such before setting its next regular meeting of classis for September 15 & 16 to be convened and hosted by Cornerstone United Reformed Church in Sanborn, Iowa. Classis also determined that a special meeting of classis would be held on June 9, 2025 by and at Covenant Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa for the purpose of a candidacy examination for Mr. Daniel Hofland.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rev. Greg Lubbers, Stated Clerk
For further information, contact Rev. Greg Lubbers, Stated Clerk of Classis Central US,
Please note that this report is an unofficial summary.
For the official and complete summary of business transacted at classis, see the official minutes of classis.