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Paul VanderKlay

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More Signs of a Classis Ripe for Change

Posted on February 6, 2012, 4:56 pm

Have you ever thought of what 5 words you would use to describe your classis? Encouraging? Supportive? Enjoyable? Helpful? Stimulating? Or how about slow, frustrating, boring, irrelevant, sclerotic? Read more »

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	Healthy Classis Part II Posted on January 24, 2012, 9:55 am What starts a classis on the journey to renewal? What factors can contribute to getting a classis started on the journey? Happily, many of these factors we can learn from the experience of classes that are already on the journey! Read more »
	Bishops in the CRC Posted on January 9, 2012, 12:06 pm \| 2 comments We have no titles, hats or golden staffs in the CRC, but don't be fooled, the CRC has bishops and I praise God for them. I think we might benefit from chilling a bit on our egalitarian and libertarian culture and find ways to recognize how to employ this natural dynamic of leadership for the benefit of the church. Read more »
	Healthy Classis – How to Get There, Or at Least Close Posted on January 4, 2012, 4:45 pm \| 1 comment What are the factors that can really help a classis experience positive change? I’ll be the first to say I’m no expert, but I’d like to put forth a few thoughts for discussion. OK, I know you’re going to ask, “Yes, but what IS a healthy classis?” What are its “essential” characteristics? How do you get there? Read more »
	Fat Bureaucracies vs Flat and Fluid Networks Posted on December 13, 2011, 10:57 am \| 7 comments We're not alone in focusing on congregational health. What's not so clear is how "middle judicatories" like the classis figure in. I can't help but wonder - is the classis a potential key as we try to balance all the organizational dynamics we're trying to address? Read more »
	Peer Group Spurs Classis Renewal Posted on December 6, 2011, 8:06 am \| 2 comments Here's an amazing story of transformation in one powerful paragraph! Stan Workman of Classis SEUS (no relation to the Doctor) wrote a testimony about his peer group’s experience and its effect on his classis. What’s so great is how many different people connected and Read more »
	The Article 17 Flag Posted on November 28, 2011, 2:33 pm \| 24 comments In church order language Article 17 is a no-fault divorce between a pastor and their church. Churches and pastors avoid invoking Article 17 because they don't want the stigma of this flagging system? Ought we to keep the flags or lose them? Read more »
	Raising CANE Posted on November 22, 2011, 9:07 am I was never as upset after a classis meeting as I was after my first meeting of CANE. The meeting was toxic, petty, negative, and I could go on. Classis was all about blame and taking sides, partly relative to women in office but also showing a deep distrust on the part Read more »
	What's a Classis for Anyhow? Posted on November 1, 2011, 1:19 pm \| 2 comments The CRMT is committed to help foster fellowship, prayer, and spiritual growth at the classical level. To what end? So that classes can do a better job of creating and sustaining the health of their member congregations. To what end? Read more »
	Does Your Classis Collaborate or Compete? Posted on October 25, 2011, 1:50 pm \| 2 comments Are egos getting in the way of church collaboration? Do local CRC congregations see themselves competing with each other for a limited membership pool? Read more »
	The Classical Interim Pastor Posted on October 10, 2011, 11:34 am What is the cost to your classis if one of your larger, key established congregation implodes? How can a classis do its best to promote healthy senior leadership transitions in important congregations? Consider hiring a Classical Interim Pastor. Read more »
	How to Change a Classis Posted on September 26, 2011, 2:07 pm \| 3 comments In my brief time as guide for the Classis network I’ve encouraged its readers to give voice to the frustration and angst I often hear about Classis in the CRC. A comment that’s been repeated both on and off line seems to reflect the perception that Classis is often resistant to influence and leadership. I very much imagine that observation to be true. Read more »
	Praying for that Which Only Exists When... Posted on September 14, 2011, 1:41 pm \| 1 comment I was told that the synod and the classis don’t really exist. These are not organizations that exist over time; they were not intended to become pieces of bureaucracy. They only exist when they are in session. They are decision making bodies that are convened to do specific business, and then they go out of existence until the next one happens. Read more »
	When Bad Classis Happens to Good Leaders Posted on August 25, 2011, 7:16 pm \| 4 comments Is your classis merely perfunctory? Is it dying like the village goat tied to the post? Are a few pastor/roosters using classis to play pecking order games? Is classis about some old men talking about "glory days" long gone? Tell your favorite classis horror story (no names please) or what you did to fix it. Read more »
	The Secret Society Posted on August 17, 2011, 10:55 am \| 1 comment Is your classis a secret society? Are only a select few "in the know"? Do classical committees have a secret handshake? The CRC opposes secret societies. Make sure your classis doesn't become one. Read more »
	Drama Queen Posted on August 10, 2011, 2:23 pm \| 11 comments The denominational structure is a drama queen that too often distracts Synod from where its focus should be. Let's trying thinking outside the box. What if we got Synod out of the agency management business? Could shifting resources from the denominational to the classical level better serve the church by reinvesting in local ministry? Would local ministry flourish if your classical budget were two to three times its current size? Read more »

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	Healthy Classis Part II Posted on January 24, 2012, 9:55 am What starts a classis on the journey to renewal? What factors can contribute to getting a classis started on the journey? Happily, many of these factors we can learn from the experience of classes that are already on the journey! Read more »
	Bishops in the CRC Posted on January 9, 2012, 12:06 pm \| 2 comments We have no titles, hats or golden staffs in the CRC, but don't be fooled, the CRC has bishops and I praise God for them. I think we might benefit from chilling a bit on our egalitarian and libertarian culture and find ways to recognize how to employ this natural dynamic of leadership for the benefit of the church. Read more »
	Healthy Classis – How to Get There, Or at Least Close Posted on January 4, 2012, 4:45 pm \| 1 comment What are the factors that can really help a classis experience positive change? I’ll be the first to say I’m no expert, but I’d like to put forth a few thoughts for discussion. OK, I know you’re going to ask, “Yes, but what IS a healthy classis?” What are its “essential” characteristics? How do you get there? Read more »
	Fat Bureaucracies vs Flat and Fluid Networks Posted on December 13, 2011, 10:57 am \| 7 comments We're not alone in focusing on congregational health. What's not so clear is how "middle judicatories" like the classis figure in. I can't help but wonder - is the classis a potential key as we try to balance all the organizational dynamics we're trying to address? Read more »
	Peer Group Spurs Classis Renewal Posted on December 6, 2011, 8:06 am \| 2 comments Here's an amazing story of transformation in one powerful paragraph! Stan Workman of Classis SEUS (no relation to the Doctor) wrote a testimony about his peer group’s experience and its effect on his classis. What’s so great is how many different people connected and Read more »
	The Article 17 Flag Posted on November 28, 2011, 2:33 pm \| 24 comments In church order language Article 17 is a no-fault divorce between a pastor and their church. Churches and pastors avoid invoking Article 17 because they don't want the stigma of this flagging system? Ought we to keep the flags or lose them? Read more »
	Raising CANE Posted on November 22, 2011, 9:07 am I was never as upset after a classis meeting as I was after my first meeting of CANE. The meeting was toxic, petty, negative, and I could go on. Classis was all about blame and taking sides, partly relative to women in office but also showing a deep distrust on the part Read more »
	What's a Classis for Anyhow? Posted on November 1, 2011, 1:19 pm \| 2 comments The CRMT is committed to help foster fellowship, prayer, and spiritual growth at the classical level. To what end? So that classes can do a better job of creating and sustaining the health of their member congregations. To what end? Read more »
	Does Your Classis Collaborate or Compete? Posted on October 25, 2011, 1:50 pm \| 2 comments Are egos getting in the way of church collaboration? Do local CRC congregations see themselves competing with each other for a limited membership pool? Read more »
	The Classical Interim Pastor Posted on October 10, 2011, 11:34 am What is the cost to your classis if one of your larger, key established congregation implodes? How can a classis do its best to promote healthy senior leadership transitions in important congregations? Consider hiring a Classical Interim Pastor. Read more »
	How to Change a Classis Posted on September 26, 2011, 2:07 pm \| 3 comments In my brief time as guide for the Classis network I’ve encouraged its readers to give voice to the frustration and angst I often hear about Classis in the CRC. A comment that’s been repeated both on and off line seems to reflect the perception that Classis is often resistant to influence and leadership. I very much imagine that observation to be true. Read more »
	Praying for that Which Only Exists When... Posted on September 14, 2011, 1:41 pm \| 1 comment I was told that the synod and the classis don’t really exist. These are not organizations that exist over time; they were not intended to become pieces of bureaucracy. They only exist when they are in session. They are decision making bodies that are convened to do specific business, and then they go out of existence until the next one happens. Read more »
	When Bad Classis Happens to Good Leaders Posted on August 25, 2011, 7:16 pm \| 4 comments Is your classis merely perfunctory? Is it dying like the village goat tied to the post? Are a few pastor/roosters using classis to play pecking order games? Is classis about some old men talking about "glory days" long gone? Tell your favorite classis horror story (no names please) or what you did to fix it. Read more »
	The Secret Society Posted on August 17, 2011, 10:55 am \| 1 comment Is your classis a secret society? Are only a select few "in the know"? Do classical committees have a secret handshake? The CRC opposes secret societies. Make sure your classis doesn't become one. Read more »
	Drama Queen Posted on August 10, 2011, 2:23 pm \| 11 comments The denominational structure is a drama queen that too often distracts Synod from where its focus should be. Let's trying thinking outside the box. What if we got Synod out of the agency management business? Could shifting resources from the denominational to the classical level better serve the church by reinvesting in local ministry? Would local ministry flourish if your classical budget were two to three times its current size? Read more »